When to cut Ball Python eggs?

[asthonchase]

Can somebody share their experience in when you should cut open a ball python egg? (for the snake not to drown) Usually how many days for the incubation period? TIA

[xdeus]

I'd say it's not necessary to cut the eggs 98% of the time. Just let nature take its course. I'll cut after most of them have already naturally pipped if there are one or two that haven't cut through yet. You can't really go by incubation time because it will vary depending on temps and other factors.

Most people cut just to see what they have.

[ClarkT]

How many of you have cut and pipped through the membrane because they're much slower than the rest of the clutch?

[Quiet Tempest]

I cut some eggs last year because I was just too impatient. I'll not do that again. Seems there is potential for more complications following egg cutting than there are benefits. In my situation, I can't cut eggs unless I have an incubator running to move them to anyway. If I cut my eggs, they are liable to get injured when mom coils around them because cutting destroys the egg's ability to shield and cradle the baby inside. Not to mention that the enclosure can become a gooey mess as the eggs are inadvertently squeeze-spilled.

[Jay_Bunny]

I artificially incubate (though I will try maternal incubation next season) and during my first season, I cut them. This season I'm waiting until after day 60. If they have not pipped by then, I'll cut a small slit to help them, but not expose them completely.

[mechnut450]

I wait until the first pips then cut the rest to se what they are and what not. I had one pip and didn't make it cut large enough and was all caught up on th egg shell and could not pull all way back in ( was fun tring to cut out a snake lol.) I end up cutting a larger ring around the snake and then slowly worked my way up to the slit area.to free it.
Now I had one snake cut the top and bottem of it egg in the same day it was a trip cause it went from plumb and ok looking ot ossing mess as the remaining fluid drain out I wait at least till the day before they due to hatch (example) due to hatch june 21 then I may cut about the 20th if ican wait that long.