Need help ASAP! Hatchling came out with most of yolk still out...

[Blue Apple Herps]

I cut this clutch Sunday at day 52. Two came out yesterday, with another two about halfway out. This morning I checked on them and found this guy like this. It looks like he came out with most of his yolk sac still unabsorbed.

I moved him to a tub with moist paper towels on the bottom. What else can/should I do.

This is the only pied from my het to het clutch so I really really don't want to lose him.

[JasonG]

First off... Is the cord tied in a knot anywhere from his belly to the sac? If not then leave him be... he should absorb some more yolk.

If its in a knot you could try to untangle it. But if that fails you'll have to cut the cord. I had to do this with one of my babies this year. She was real skinny and didn't absorb any yolk. So I had my wife tie the cord off with thread and then gave her a few days to rest. Maybe 2. Then I took an egg out of the fridge and let it get room temperature. I then separated the yellow yolk from the egg, mixed it up and used a children's medicine dispenser and pumped some yolk into the snakes belly via its mouth. Just like assist feeding.

I had to do this 3 times. Fast forward a month and she is still a difficult eater, but has survived and is growing at a great rate. I soon hope to see her change her feeding habits around but the yolk really did help her...

[Emilio]

I read in the barkers book that when this happens they make sure there's plenty of water in the tub.

[Blue Apple Herps]

First off... Is the cord tied in a knot anywhere from his belly to the sac? If not then leave him be... he should absorb some more yolk.

If its in a knot you could try to untangle it. But if that fails you'll have to cut the cord. I had to do this with one of my babies this year. She was real skinny and didn't absorb any yolk. So I had my wife tie the cord off with thread and then gave her a few days to rest. Maybe 2. Then I took an egg out of the fridge and let it get room temperature. I then separated the yellow yolk from the egg, mixed it up and used a children's medicine dispenser and pumped some yolk into the snakes belly via its mouth. Just like assist feeding.

I had to do this 3 times. Fast forward a month and she is still a difficult eater, but has survived and is growing at a great rate. I soon hope to see her change her feeding habits around but the yolk really did help her...

As far as I can tell, its not tangled up. Just a big blobby sac.

And as for "a lot of water", any idea how much that means? Right now the paper towels in the bottom are moist, but they're not sopping wet.

[lillyorchid]

It should be fine. He should absorb it in the next few days. Just make sure to change out the wet paper towels daily. I've always seen the paper towls pretty wet when this has happend.

[Royal Morphz]

From what I have read and seen in the various youtube vids, think about how wet it is in the egg and try to replicate that in the tub

[boasandballs]

That is a pretty pied. Just clean wet paper towels and it will absorb most of the yoke sack. Some will probable not be absorb but don't worry about it. When it dries up and falls off try to feed him/her. I have had a lot of bps eat before their first shed.

[Blue Apple Herps]

When I checked on him one last time before I went to work he was laying on his side, looking almost dead. I gently touched him and he immediately contracted into a ball, like a normal bp would do. But seeing him laying on his side has me even more worried. Anyone see anything like this under similar circumstances?

Maybe I'm just being a worry wart, but this guy is (supposed to be) the highlight of an otherwise terrible breeding season for me.

That is a pretty pied. Just clean wet paper towels and it will absorb most of the yoke sack. Some will probable not be absorb but don't worry about it. When it dries up and falls off try to feed him/her. I have had a lot of bps eat before their first shed.

Thanks for the compliment. When I snipped the egg and saw white I was beyond thrilled!! But now this has happened and it has me worried. HOpefully you're right and all will be OK with him/her.

[Freakie_frog]

If it were me I'd put it in a deli cup with the lid on (like the ones people use at shows) on moist or wet paper towels and either put it in the incubator or in the tub. You don't want it moving around to much it can still injure itself..

[jkobylka]

If it were me I'd put it in a deli cup with the lid on (like the ones people use at shows) on moist or wet paper towels and either put it in the incubator or in the tub. You don't want it moving around to much it can still injure itself..

Excellent advice. This is what I do first when this happens for me to prevent the snake from injuring itself.

If it is apparent that the cord is twisted, untwist.. if it is still not absorbing at all after 12-24 hours, tie it off and cut the yoke away. At that point you need to have it in a 1/8-1/4" of water so it can hydrate.

Justin