How long to let them go?

[Jeff H.]

My first clutch of ball python eggs ever was laid on 2/15/10. I got 12 large eggs that were all fertile. Today marks Day 60 for them. The temperatures range from 87-89 degrees. They're all denting in (for the last few days). I'm starting to wonder if I should just slit them or let them hatch on their own.

I was planning on slitting once one pipped...but nothing as of an hour ago.

Here's the original post:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...d.php?t=113361

[B.P.D]

Right now you could cut them yourself, or you could wait a couple more days and one might slit. Since you said you were incubating 87-89 it takes longer for babies to develop. At 60 days the babies should be more then ready to come out. If it were me I would cut them just to prevent anything from drowning in the egg.

[XSReptiles]

Good luck with those eggs Jeff.

[Jeff H.]

I slit the eggs on 4/17 (Day 61). The hatchlings had a small yolk sac still (size of a dime). All 12 eggs have live hatchlings in them. I checked on them today and the yolk sacs are gone, so they should come out any time now. I will post pictures once they do.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Oddly, I have found that incubation temperature doesn't play as big a role in development speed as I would have thought. I had clutches incubating at 90 that hatched a little late, and others incubating at 88 that hatched a little early. I suspect other factors are involved in development speed that may be more important than specific temperature, so long as temps are within the recommended range.