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.

[sho220]

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.

That's an interesting theory, especially since it goes against what I've heard from many breeders much more experienced than I. Their thoughts are that it's better to cut early so you can fix any problem with the cord being tangled/knotted prior to the babies pipping. Then again, I've always suspected a lot of those guys were simply trying to justify cutting eggs early.

Definitely food for thought.

And, no, I don't check my egg boxes a hundred times a day!




yeah...yeah I do...

[SquamishSerpents]

It's definitely worth looking more into. Like I said I personally have not had any tangled cords in non-cut eggs.

I am a very, very small little particle of dust in the wind in the grand scheme of things, but like I said, that's my personal theory.

Unfortunately there are very few breeders who do not cut at all, so conducting a survey on weather they've had a tangled cord in a non-cut egg could prove to be very difficult. I'll put my thinking cap on though and maybe get something going with that.

[sho220]

It's definitely worth looking more into. Like I said I personally have not had any tangled cords in non-cut eggs.

I am a very, very small little particle of dust in the wind in the grand scheme of things, but like I said, that's my personal theory.

Unfortunately there are very few breeders who do not cut at all, so conducting a survey on weather they've had a tangled cord in a non-cut egg could prove to be very difficult. I'll put my thinking cap on though and maybe get something going with that.

Good info...

[SquamishSerpents]

I certainly do not want to hijack the OPs thread (though I kind of did, so sorry! I do apologize!)

But I was thinking a lot about this theory and decided to put up a thread pertaining to this topic, to hopefully get some more discussion going. You can see it here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-tangled-cords

OP, good luck with the rest of your babies!!! Hope to see some photos of them soon!

[xtian228]

I certainly do not want to hijack the OPs thread (though I kind of did, so sorry! I do apologize!)

But I was thinking a lot about this theory and decided to put up a thread pertaining to this topic, to hopefully get some more discussion going. You can see it here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-tangled-cords

OP, good luck with the rest of your babies!!! Hope to see some photos of them soon!

Thanks! I have a few more clutches cooking so I will certainly read through your post to help me decide whether to cut or not. More thoughts to consider now... I will post pics from this clutch and others as soon as they shed

[angllady2]

I can just about prove that cutting early caused a twisted umbilical for me last season. And I know for a fact it cost me my first pied baby, that one had a twisted umbilical as well.

I guess my thoughts on this are, read up on it, because the knowledge can help save a baby if the worst happens. But as to cutting early? When I do cut now, it's only after one pips, and only the tiniest of openings. I don't do that whole top of the egg off thing I see so much of.

Gale

[Andybill]

I remember Justin Kobylka doing a video of egg cutting to see if he had hit on the Dreamcicle (sp?) and he said once he cuts he leaves the eggs alone because he believes too much interaction can cause the baby to become tangled in it's umbilicus basically he believes the same as Squamish Serpents and it's a point that makes sense to me.

[MrLang]

When I wake up on the weekend and the sun is shining through the window, if you pull the covers off me before I'm ready to wake up...

I get tangled in the sheets.

[Don]

Even if you do cut, you can miss a problem with the cord, unless you cut a really big hole. Then, you leave the egg exposed for a whole set of new problems. It is a personal preference and I have no issues with an experienced keeper cutting eggs. My concern is the inexperienced keeper cutting too early, then not knowing what to look for or how to fix problems. I just hate to see lost clutches because of issues that could have been easily avoided. For me, I don't really see a need to cut any longer - guess I've just learned patience.