Is this normal movement? At Day 49

[Meredithm115]

Hi guys! As you know, this is my first clutch and I have been so paranoid, I had some humidity issues in the beginning and a couple of temp fluctuations when my cat unplugged everything twice (a week apart) allowing temps to drop to 82 for 24 hours before noticing (has me very nervous), but I slowly rewarmed them each time so as not to shock them and we have been at a fairly steady 88.5-89.4* range. Now I'm just wondering if any one could tell me if this seems like normal movement? I'm so afraid a poor baby will be deformed and am not sure what normal movement looks like at this stage?
Any and all help will be appreciated!

[Meredithm115]

This is what they look like today! The top egg right in the center is the one being candled.

[Bogertophis]

I may be wrong, but I don't think "movement" (or lack thereof) is a good indicator of defects, unfortunately. But I would surely "un-plug" the cat.

[Meredithm115]

Darn! I was hoping maybe a difference in jerky or smooth/fluid movements could indicate a potential issue, it would put me at ease lol

[Bogertophis]

Darn! I was hoping maybe a difference in jerky or smooth/fluid movements could indicate a potential issue, it would put me at ease lol

Hatching snakes is mostly a "wait & see". And candling eggs to excess (especially causing motion) may actually cause detrimental issues. Leave them be. I've only ever candled briefly, just to see the redness/veins- to know they're good eggs.

And I wouldn't say it can "hear" you but for sure it can feel the vibrations of your voice- again though, not a good thing to do, IMO.

[Lord Sorril]

I don't candle my eggs because I can't control what happens inside.
I have no frame of reference other than peering through windowed eggs, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong...doesn't that embryo in the video looks super small for 49 days?
I wouldn't consider cutting that one until day 80 even if all the others pip at day 60.

[Bogertophis]

...doesn't that embryo in the video looks super small for 49 days?....

Yes, now that you mention it. Probably due to the temperature fluctuations- slowed the growth.

[nikkubus]

Sometimes one can be developing slower than the rest of the clutch, sometimes there can be actual problems and one doesn't make it. The more you mess with them, the worse it's going to be though. Try your best to leave them alone besides checking temps/humidity and for pips once a day at most. I wouldn't be opening up the clutch box at all unless I saw mold and needed to treat it or pull bad eggs.

The temps dropping to what they did is not going to hurt anything at all, it's still in the correct range, it just means that for that 24 hrs, they were developing more slowly, so it may add a day onto the hatch time. In nature, they are not getting perfectly stable temps at the most optimal temp for quick hatching.

It's really tough to leave them alone and not worry, it's really exciting and nerve wracking your first time, but there really is nothing you can do besides keeping temps/humidity correct and treating mold. You just have to let nature take its course. I agree with Sorril, I wouldn't cut that egg and give it extra time if it needs.

[Meredithm115]

You're so right, I've been candling every other day the last week bc I want to be aware of any veins disappearing or changes in movement and I need to lay off, I will do my best to leave them be!

[Meredithm115]

Oh no, I worried they were behind a bit because of my lower temps at times but I didnt think they looked that small! I was hoping for pips by days 60-65, but 80!? I thought they were good so long as they fill up like half to three quarters of the egg by now, and I wasnt planning on doing any cutting until the first one pips, if at all, only if I felt it was neccessary