Waiting...and swearing not to cut.

[GoldSheep]

Quick candling on the remaining 4 eggs revealed that they are fine and are moving and well developed. I did a minor clip (2 mm) on the super collapsed egg because I'm not sure how much air is in there. But that's as much as I interfered. From the candling they don't have much in the way of resources in there.Maybe 1/8 of the egg is left?

The middle one stuck its head out. I still can't fully tell if it's a pastel or not. I thought I saw a green eye, but then I could be deluding myself. (All my snakes have blushing...)

I care more about their safety more at this point.

Eating time crocheting.

[GoldSheep]

Well, in the evening of Day 60, the second egg pipped. I also helped it out by clipping a larger opening. Then I made small cuts in the others, not to see what was inside, but just big enough for a head along the line I predrew by candling earlier so I wouldn't cut a major blood vessel. (Came up with the idea after seeing the veins with candling and several breeders saying "oops... well there that goes--cut a blood vessel" =P Not so much a fan of putting the egg into danger.

So in the middle of the night, the third hatchling stuck its head out, but the head was stuck, so I cut along the line a little further, very carefully and its head went back in. The second egg had a second cut in it so I cut to that too. Took a picture.

Based on that, I cut the opening on the other eggs (also on the predrawn line) a little bigger so their heads wouldn't get stuck.

This morning the fourth one is pipped. I saw its head. Definitely a pastel. Has the markings.

The one I'm worried about is the super collapsed egg number 5, which hasn't done much of anything. Was moving before (before day 51), and I hope it's OK, but, I'm not sure. I don't see a twisted umbilical and it looks really well developed (no kinks or anything), Kinda has the pattern of one of the fathers (which has a granite fade to him), but isn't moving or breathing much... might be because it's simply cold and doesn't have to breathe yet. Hoping it's fine. If it isn't there was nothing I could have done for it. Because the egg attached to it did just fine. I'm leaving it bee and not poking it on the hopes it's still OK. (there were veins yesterday on it before the cutting...)

So far Egg #1, Pastel. (absorbed a ton of its yolk overnight and seems to have actually grown?)
Egg #2, Normal (has closer to momma's pattern and color)
Egg # 3 Normal
Egg # 4, Pastel
Egg # 5 Normal ??? on survival.

Considering this was a normal x normal and a normal x pastel, (both males Graziani line, according to the seller) I'm thrilled to have two live pastels, no birth defects.

=P Hope the last one survives now I can sleep normally.

What I've learned (so far):
- Sleepless nights worrying about a 94-96 degree spike is worth it.
- Must have air conditioner. (bought one solely for the eggs)
- Having a Herp Stat is a must. (Used Hydrofarm, but was fussing with it all the time to trick it to stay between 88-89) Less insomnia~
- Lower temps are less a concern than higher temps.
- My area needs to put more vermiculite in the top layer 'cause it's arid. (I only got up to 60% at most, and that's condensation, which is dangerous anyway...)
- Know where your towel is ('cause I had a marble slab to cushion spikes and tipping it over, but the temp increase and decreases were too much and held for too long... so the towel helped ease that)
- Not cutting was so worth it. 4/5 so far... hoping for 5/5
- cooler worked better for me than a Hoberbator (last year was a nightmare)
- Maglite is the best for candling.
- Drawing lines to cut on while candling is a good idea. (so you don't cut major blood vessels)

When you don't have an air conditioner: ice, a bathroom with tile and a fan with indirect cooling works well, but you have to watch it like a hawk.

I'm not poking and prodding at all 'cause I don't want to get this far and then infect them... Pictures later. Hoping for the best on egg number 5... But I don't see movement. TT

[Pyrate81]

Gratz on pipping and updates! Good luck with the 5th egg.

[GoldSheep]

I have a photo album online of the whole thing, from the parents to being gravid, to the eggs pipping. I'll be adding the hatchling pics later.

I have to say, FOR ME, not cutting was sooo worth it.

As a bonus, I have pictures of candling and you can actually see one of the baby snakes developing and swimming around in the egg. (Maglite flashlights... I have a cheap 3 dollar one) Only candled 4? times.

http://photobucket.com/goldsheep-ball-python-2012

Oh and fifth one stuck its lazy head out. Worried me there. None of them are out yet, but that's fine.

[fishdip]

Im confused why not let them stay with mom and her do all the work?

[GoldSheep]

Im confused why not let them stay with mom and her do all the work?

Mom was underweight this year. She weighed in at around 1350-1400 when she laid? So I didn't want to risk losing her to hatch the eggs. Sometimes females don't eat when they incubate the eggs... When she's up to 2000 grams and comes down to 1600, then I'll let her incubate.

In general, artificial incubation tends to be more stable... and I couldn't have cooled the eggs when there was a heat spike...

My girl is still not up far enough to get to 2000 grams. Maybe in a few years.

[fishdip]

I see well thank you for the info I am still new to this so I had no idea. I am happy for you tho on your success of the new baby snakes.

[Pyrate81]

Thanks for the slideshow/pics. Nice pic documentary of how things went.

Babies are looking good, gratz!


Love how you have (not for sale) on the parents' pics. lol.

[GoldSheep]

Thanks.

I figure I can set it up for craigslist later since people want to see the parents, but I don't want to sell the parents.... but some people don't get that unless you write it out.

Though I'm strict about whom I sell to. (Must be able to handle a 5 foot snake and have all equipment ready at sale date. Willing to take care of animal for its life, no instant! reselling.)

Kid said he wanted to buy snake, but his father didn't like large snakes. No sale, dude. Get permission first. Snake before you. Do not need the snake to end up in a shelter amongst idiots who can't sex it.

Woman wanted snake but couldn't afford the underbelly heating (Maximum 50 bucks? Minimum 25?)... Uhh... how are you going to afford the rats later on? No sale.

All sales also come with ability to ask questions and if there is trouble, they can always sell back for what I sold them to... 'cause snake is important, not the money.

Anyway, if you haven't seen it, the male pastel (Hatchling #1) is up. 77 grams. Is a mix of his mom and dad. More like the pattern influence is from mom in his back half and dad in his front half. I think he'd mix well with a splatter or a lesser. Almost no spots on his sides. Personality is more like his mom though, at this point. *would not let go of hand* *Would not go into hide box* *took a while to get to go into hide*==Mom. Daddy is more stay inside all the time and freaks seeing the light.

Others will follow once they are out. Hoping to hit the first female, 'cause previous owner of male snakes said none of them sired a female, ever, which according to snake biology is weird. (female determines the sex).