Need Reassurance On A Problem Clutch / Freaking Out a Little

[hotelvoodoo]

So, it's hatch week for our third clutch of the season! And our most anticipated of the season. Black Pastel (het ghost) X Black Pastel (het ghost). Going for the super black pastel ghost ( a world's first I think).

A little background about mommy. We started Drusilla's season at 1500g and bred her twice until it was clear that she wouldn't be eating for the season and she started dropping weight. Despite our halting her breeding season, she decided to lay eggs anyway. So our little 1420g female laid a slug, three healthy eggs and a boob. All four live eggs candled strongly and have incubated without any issue at all.

Day 55 came and went and two days later our impatience got the best of us. I mean, Black Pastel X Black Pastel; anyone would be a nervous parent. All four hatchlings appear fully formed from the small window we cut, and we have a super something () in the last one. It is now day 58 and no developments on the eggs. The interior of the eggs look murky and the hatchlings aren't moving around or anything. They don't look especially dead or anything, and like I said, we only cut a little window, but I have a huge knot in my stomach. I feel like it would be unusual for all four hatchlings to have died in the egg, but I can't shake this feeling that something is wrong.

So my question is, (I know this is going to sound paranoid), but when do I start to worry for real and what can I do to confirm their vitality?

Any advice at all is appreciated. This is my dream clutch; I don't want to lose it.

[RellesReptiles]

Have you tried touching them at all to see if there is movement? Maybe push on the sides of the eggs a little to see if they react at all if the window isn't big enough to really touch directly?

[RichieBoo]

Pics would help...

[dr del]

Once you cut eggs you need to take care of them to prevent infection and other nasties getting in.

Hope the little guys are ok.

[hotelvoodoo]

Once you cut eggs you need to take care of them to prevent infection and other nasties getting in.

Hope the little guys are ok.

What's the best way to take care of cut eggs? I've never cut before, just let them pip naturally. My paranoia got the better of me this time...

[Peoples]

Here eggs care 101,:
1. once you cut the egg be sure to watch for infection
2. if it starts to look a bit funky flush it with distilled water, this will not hurt the babies
3. if the eggs start to dry out a bit you can top it up with distilled water.
4. See step #1
I would also poke them to see if they are moving, you can do this by gently squeezing the sides of the egg, they will react to the slightest touch.

Key Note:
This is also one reason I now wait till I have pippers, its a lot less stressful for me

[hotelvoodoo]

So came home and poked a bit at the hatchlings. Two are responding and look to be alive and well. =) The boob child and the super did not respond to q-tip poking. It can't see either of their heads in the egg, which makes me more nervous. Both were roll outs, so we really don't have a good idea if they are right side up or not.

When do I start worrying? Is there any way I can fix any issues?

[hotelvoodoo]

Sorry these pictures are so bad. Hatchlings in egg are no fun to photograph.

First off, these are the eggs....


This hatchling appears to be moving around a doing fine. I couldn't photograph the other one. Too much darkness and wiggling.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...99147036_n.jpg

The tiny boob hatchling. White mass at the bottom of the egg.
https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/...65777890_n.jpg

Our motionless super. Veins look healthy and whatnot. Trying not to be prematurely crushed.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...98324933_n.jpg

[hotelvoodoo]

Also, when do I know to throw in the towel and open the egg up totally and fish them out? I've looked at all the drowned hatchling threads, but haven't seen how people know when it's time to pull them out and check for life manually.

[dr del]

Also, when do I know to throw in the towel and open the egg up totally and fish them out? I've looked at all the drowned hatchling threads, but haven't seen how people know when it's time to pull them out and check for life manually.

When the smell is so bad you know for certain they are dead.

Until then put a bottle of water ( or a water sprayer ) in the incubator so that you are flushing and topping up with water the same temp and use a q-tip to fish out any large patched of mould or bits of substrate.

They look like they need topping up already but wait till the water is the right temp.

They tend to turn head up a day or so before they would naturally pip from what I have seen.

Also what temp was your incubator - cooler takes longer to hatch.