Day 58

[rabernet]

The one definitely looks to be wrapped in it's umbilical. You may have to try to remove that snake and untangle if it does not start absorbing some of that yolk.
I think you may have been a little too aggressive on the cutting. You really don't need to totally cut a big piece off like that. Just a slit is the best way to go. Good luck.

Agreed - I cut a V shape in my eggs, just enough to allow the animal some air and to peek in and see what I've got. I then pretty much lay it back down over the animal.

[Bruce Whitehead]

You definitely have a wrapped umbilicus... fourth pic to the left of the blood vessels you can see it. (have had 3 myself).

I would not advise popping him out of the egg... do a search on "hardbelly" on the forum.

I untangled one this seaon that was near the head, by simply nudging the snakes nose, and she retreated to the other side.

But it looks like this one may be further down the body.

And it looks like a tight one too... I have been told that it is possible to untagleh in the egg, but I do not know how. yet I have seen it done in retic videos. And in those cases the snakes were removed from the egg and then popped back in.

So not entirely sure to what degree you can remove them, but personally I would not do it. Again, that is just me.

You can tie the umbilicus off with dental floss, and then cut it (messy). You have to then sop up the blood before it gets mixed in the yolk and then scoop off the top layer of scum. (Qtips work great for quickly absorbing the blood).

Your priority may then be getting a meal into him sooner then the others, but I have talked to one breeder that simply cuts the cord and waits till the first shed. Offers food sooner, but says they can do fine, skinnier, but will do OK.

Again, that part is heresay.

I had to cut 3 and lost two.

First snake I lost to hardbelly. I removed her from the egg.

Second snake, was kinked, so I had to put her down. The cutting was not relevant, but I euthanized her prior to her first meal.

Third snake, I cut, and waited till his first shed. I did assist him at the time the others were taking their first meal.

Hope this helps a bit? Research any key points so you are making an informed decision, and treat this simply as hearsay.

Good luck!
Bruce

PS: if anyone can clarify, add to, or disspell anything I said, feel free.

[Bruce Whitehead]

addendum... q tips works great for that bit o blood you get when you cut or slit... and getting rid of the blood keeps the yolk from browning out (coagulated blood).

[sho220]

Good info in this thread...good luck with the babies, espeically the little one in trouble. Let us know how it goes...

[muddoc]

I would not advise popping him out of the egg... do a search on "hardbelly" on the forum.

So not entirely sure to what degree you can remove them, but personally I would not do it. Again, that is just me.

You can tie the umbilicus off with dental floss, and then cut it (messy). You have to then sop up the blood before it gets mixed in the yolk and then scoop off the top layer of scum. (Qtips work great for quickly absorbing the blood).

Bruce gave some very insightful information. I quoted Bruce (not his whole post, but what I wanted to comment on).

As Bruce stated, the snake wrapped in the umbilicus definitely looks bad. Hopefully the snake is not dead yet, but it is a possibility. While Bruce does not recommend removing the snake from the egg, I would definitely recommend it, and here is why. It is important to remember that if the animal has not poked it's head up and begun breathing, then that means that it is receiving any oxygen from the blood vessels that are attached to it via the umbilicus. If the umbilicus is restricting blood flow to the animal, it could die, and hence why I stated that it may already be deceased. With that said, I would not tie off the umbilicus and cut it yet.

Here is what I would recommend, and what I personally would do. I believe step one is to remove the animal from the egg, so that it's head is in open air, and it can begin breathing. Once you see the tongue start flicking, it is breathing. I think that some hatchlings can stick there head out and begin breathing, but can then submerge it's head back into the fluid in the egg because it is still receiving oxygen via the blood vessels. After you see that it is breathing, then begin to try getting the umbilicus untangled. If you get it untangled, attempt to put the animal back in the egg. If that does not work, then put it in a very tight fitting container lined with very moist paper towels, and watch it's progress with absorbing yolk.

If you cannot get the umbilicus untangled, then tie off the umbilicus with dental floss, and cut it off between the tie and the yolk. This will keep the animal from losing too much blood. Back to Bruce's post. If you cut the umbilicus before the snake emerges from the egg, and it has not started breathing on it's own, it will surely die in the egg.

I hope that was helpful, and gives you a better chance of success in saving this baby. I wish I could give you a better description of how to untangle the umbilicus, but it is complicated, based on how the umbilicus is twisted, wrapped and/or tied around the animal. Let your eyes be the guide. It is just like trying to untie a knot in a rope. Please keep us informed on how everything went, and good luck with the "procedure".

Hope that helps,

[Animals As Leaders]

Bruce gave some very insightful information. I quoted Bruce (not his whole post, but what I wanted to comment on).

As Bruce stated, the snake wrapped in the umbilicus definitely looks bad. Hopefully the snake is not dead yet, but it is a possibility. While Bruce does not recommend removing the snake from the egg, I would definitely recommend it, and here is why. It is important to remember that if the animal has not poked it's head up and begun breathing, then that means that it is receiving any oxygen from the blood vessels that are attached to it via the umbilicus. If the umbilicus is restricting blood flow to the animal, it could die, and hence why I stated that it may already be deceased. With that said, I would not tie off the umbilicus and cut it yet.

Here is what I would recommend, and what I personally would do. I believe step one is to remove the animal from the egg, so that it's head is in open air, and it can begin breathing. Once you see the tongue start flicking, it is breathing. I think that some hatchlings can stick there head out and begin breathing, but can then submerge it's head back into the fluid in the egg because it is still receiving oxygen via the blood vessels. After you see that it is breathing, then begin to try getting the umbilicus untangled. If you get it untangled, attempt to put the animal back in the egg. If that does not work, then put it in a very tight fitting container lined with very moist paper towels, and watch it's progress with absorbing yolk.

If you cannot get the umbilicus untangled, then tie off the umbilicus with dental floss, and cut it off between the tie and the yolk. This will keep the animal from losing too much blood. Back to Bruce's post. If you cut the umbilicus before the snake emerges from the egg, and it has not started breathing on it's own, it will surely die in the egg.

I hope that was helpful, and gives you a better chance of success in saving this baby. I wish I could give you a better description of how to untangle the umbilicus, but it is complicated, based on how the umbilicus is twisted, wrapped and/or tied around the animal. Let your eyes be the guide. It is just like trying to untie a knot in a rope. Please keep us informed on how everything went, and good luck with the "procedure".

Hope that helps,

Ohh man...

Do I pour the rest of the yolk from the egg into the container if I can't get him back in? Or do I just put him in the container?

[rabernet]

Ohh man...

Do I pour the rest of the yolk from the egg into the container if I can't get him back in? Or do I just put him in the container?

Just put him in the container. The "clear" stuff is probably dirty and filthy now and other than keeping him moist (which your wet paper towels will do), I wouldn't tranfer it to a more clean environment.

[Animals As Leaders]

Alright that was very, very scary!!

Why did this happen to me my first time! Not fair!

Taking him out of that egg was so tough because the huge egg sac next to him. Why was his so big, it seemed a lot bigger then the rest? Anyway, I was able to remove him. I had him laid out on my hands and he wasn't moving I thought that he died while I removed him, but he started moving around. So I coiled him back into his egg. The chord was stretched out when I had him out and just coiled him on top of it. I haven't seen him flick his tongue but he is moving and it seems like he's breathing. His body moves up and down. I can't tell though...All I know is that I am really nervous and hope I did it right. Let me know guys.

Also, I want to say THANK YOU SOO MUCH for really trying and helping me through this! You guys really are taking time out of your day to help me, and if you only knew how much I appreciate it! Thanks sooooo much!

[Animals As Leaders]

Well, he died...

I went back down to check on him, and he's not moving or breathing. I kinda wish I left him alone because he was moving before I touched him, and now he's not. I'm wondering if its better to just leave them alone when something like this happens, because he died 10 min after I messed with him. He was moving around in the egg prior to this so who knows...Just sucks

[BallsUnlimited]

Well, he died...

I went back down to check on him, and he's not moving or breathing. I kinda wish I left him alone because he was moving before I touched him, and now he's not. I'm wondering if its better to just leave them alone when something like this happens, because he died 10 min after I messed with him. He was moving around in the egg prior to this so who knows...Just sucks

dont sweat it man it happens to us all. you did what you could to save him thats all that matters. It always sucks loosing a snake but it is what it is. Thats nature for ya.