I cutted the eggs earlier =S help

[greghall]

nobody's mentioned incubating temps...they are definitely something to consider when talking about cutting eggs...

yep day 50 if cooked at 89-90 degrees,any less oh no!

[aalomon]

I think it was moving it out of the incubator. Cutting that early is risky but Ive rarely heard of it killing a snake. However, taking eggs out of the incubator would definitely do it.

[davidnizmo]

ok i am also a first time breeder and did lost of research before i decided to go into breeding my snakes i have one cluch cooking right now its not that he cut the egg its that he took it out of the incubator i have friends that will cut day 30 or day 45 not for me i will wait til they pip but everyones different if u do chose to cut early make sure u can close it back and leave it in the incubator no need to move it oonly move it when its fully out of the egg and roaming around

[angllady2]

So where can I do this?

There are lots of books on the subject of reptile breeding as well as tons of information on the internet, you just have to look.

First we'll talk about books. There are lots of books on reptile breeding as well as ball pythons specifically. If for some reason you cannot afford to buy a book, that is what libraries are for.

Next, the internet. This one is trickier, since there is a lot of dubious information on the 'net. But, you can visit any one of the big ball python breeders websites and find a wealth of information on breeding. If you don't know who the biggest breeders are, you can ask. Ralph Davis, NERD,and 8-ball, are just three of them, there are dozens more. There is also a ton of information on this site. It is very easy to do a search here and find out anything you need to know.

I am sorry if I came off a little bossy or rude in my first post. And I am sorry you lost that baby, I know it must have been difficult for you. But people who breed a pet without learning what they need to know really rub me the wrong way. I saw too much of it when I used to breed birds, I guess.

The good news is, you can learn form your mistakes and hopefully not repeat them. You have a chance to do right by the rest of your babies by taking the time to learn what you need to do to care for them.

One site that was helpful to me was 8-Ball pythons: http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal.htm

Gale

[bman123]

Curiosity killed the cat and you killed your snake. I don't understand why people can't just wait for the darn things to hatch on their own.

[twan]

Alote of info hear.

[stevepoppers]

Gale,

Thanks a lot. I've been reading about these animals for a few weeks now online, and I still don't know much about breeding. I just came across the thread about washing and disinfecting the tub after the female lays the eggs, because the smell will keep her off feed. I had no idea, and haven't seen that kind of detail anywhere else. I'll check out the breeder sites.

[BAMReptiles]

If I am not mistaken, the OP removed the egg from the incubator after cutting. If you did, I can just about promise that is why it died. The developing babies need the heat and humidity, take that away and the baby will die.

You need to study some more on taking care of your eggs and hatchlings, I think. This should never have been an issue, cutting early or not. If you didn't know enough to leave the baby in the incubator, you really need to learn more about this process. Period.

Gale

amen, common sense tells you to leave it in there til the snake is out of egg. or so i would have thought.

as for egg cutting, id have to agree on waiting longer to cut, especially if its your first time, id say at least wait til 1 pips then cut the rest

[vivaz9000]

UPDATE...

Another egg just died, it had to much mold..

2 dead - 3 alive

[Bill Buchman]

You're still not answering WHY you choose to cut that early? I'm seriously trying to understand that part. Is it because you can't wait seven days longer to cut at day 52? Is it because John (Jas) does it (I saw you cited him as doing so in an earlier post)?

My personal opinion, I think you've been very lucky cutting that early - there's too much of a window of opportunity for harmful bacteria to get into the egg while the snake continues to mature for another week to ten days. Even cutting at Day 52, my eggs can get pretty ugly on the inside by the time the babies decide to exit their eggs, I can't imagine how they'd be with another week exposed to "the elements". And I don't even cut windows, I cut small "V's" to allow the snake to sucessfully exit the egg.

What one chooses to do with their eggs is entirely their business, but I think encouraging others to make risky calculations like this and stating unequivacally that there's no problem with doing so, is not the best advice to give - especially with all the newer breeders emerging each year with zero prior experience that look to these forums for advice.

I agree with Robin pretty much. Cutting at 45 days serves no benefit for the snake. No Ball is going to looking to come out at 45-50 days --regardless of cooking temps.

I cut most of my eggs -- NONE outside a 3-5 day window of them coming COMPLETELY OUT on their own. I cook at 87 degrees. My guys are coming out at around 58-61 days. I am not cutting these days until 56 days or later. I leave ALL my hatchlings in their egg box on fresh wet paper towels and water dish until AFTER their fist shed.

Cutting 10+ days before snakes would pip on their own serves no purpose other than WE want to see inside earlier than would be "best"!!!