Corded hatchlings - How to know the difference & what to do?

[SquamishSerpents]

Oh, i am very sorry to hear about your babies!!

When I used to cut clutches, (because I had seen eeeeeeeeeeveryone do it, and its "the norm") I had a few twisted cords.

Since I stopped cutting completely I have had none of these issues. (nope even after all but one have pipped, I will not cut)

Of course this isn't a fact nor cold hard evidence that twisted umbilicus are a direct result of cutting, I have reasonably concluded it may be a cause and this has led me PERSONALLY to choose not to cut.

Hear me out.

My theory is that when an egg is cut, especially if you remove a large portion of it as though you are carving a pumpkin, the snake has a lot more "wiggle room" for the duration of their yolk digesting period. Perhaps when a snake pips through the membrane after an egg has been cut, they utilize this extra wiggle room, poke out further, and generally "stretch" themselves more than if the egg had remained closed or mostly closed.

Also, of course once you cut the eggs and see what has developed inside, YAY YAY YAY you think you hit your combo! But you just can't be certain until the snake fully emerges. So, you check on the egg box a hundred times a day. Don't say this doesn't happen - we're all guilty of it!

Through the years though, I haves learned patience and to let nature take its course. I only check out egg bins morning, and before bed. Minimal interference time during hatching = less time for the snake to be "startled" and jolt itself back into the egg. You've all seen a scared ball python ball up and hide its head underneath its body. Imagine a ball python doing that while still in the egg, with its umbilical cord and yolk just hanging around.

Sorry I know this is getting long-winded and maybe a bit jumbled up as I'm typing on my phone.

But, with more wiggle room, more back and forth in and out of the egg, I believe this gives them more time to twist themselves up in ways they would not have been able to if their egg had remained mostly closed.