Day 63 and no pips. Question!

[SaintTawny]

I began pairing my (at that time) virgin Mojave female (Gerudo) with my Pinstripe male (Vrtra) in the beginning of November. I ceased the pairing in late January, and she laid 6 healthy eggs on May 15th, 63 days ago. My significant other and I decided to maternally incubate, and have kept the temperature inside the clutch at 87-88 fairly steadily. The eggs are not particularly pretty looking, but I've heard that's not uncommon with maternal incubation. They've had some slight creasing since about the 4th week, but nothing severe, and all 6 eggs still candle well as of yesterday. Of course, I'm getting antsy and I'm ready for babies, so the notion of cutting is growing more and more tempting with each passing day. If/when I cut them, I will be transferring the eggs to an incubator for the duration of the hatch so that mama doesn't disturb them. While admittedly a part of my desire to cut is impatience, I'm also growing increasingly concerned about the risks of drowning, and the possibility that creasing of the eggs is making it difficult for the babies to pip themselves.

So my question is, what would you do? Do you think I should continue to ride it out?

[bcr229]

I would give it a few more days before cutting. My female laid three eggs on 5/16, the clutch pipped yesterday, and they were incubated at 88.5-89.0.

[SteveySingle]

I think maternal incubation tends to take a bit longer than artificial. If u post a pic of how much th eggs are dimpled/creased then maybe someone will be able to give more insight-I've heard of eggs being too hard for the babies to pup and they end up dying inside the eggs, I'd assume the humidity would be less during maternal incubation so it could possibly affect the eggs "hardness"

[SaintTawny]

I think maternal incubation tends to take a bit longer than artificial. If u post a pic of how much th eggs are dimpled/creased then maybe someone will be able to give more insight-I've heard of eggs being too hard for the babies to pup and they end up dying inside the eggs, I'd assume the humidity would be less during maternal incubation so it could possibly affect the eggs "hardness"

I've read that it's not unheard of for maternal incubation to go as long as 70 days, and that's what's stayed my hand so far, but like I said, it's part impatience and part concern that has me probing you all for advice. If the general consensus is that I should ride it out, at least a little longer, it'll be difficult but that's what I'll do.


Anyway, I took a picture. It's all I could get without disturbing mama too much, although she's been infinitely patient with me through this whole process as I peek and count and candle periodically.

[kylearmbar]

I wouldn't worry, those eggs look great compared to most eggs I have seen of maternal incubation

[SaintTawny]

On the advice of a friend, my SO cut one of the eggs. Of course, he did so without telling me he was going to, probably because I would have been hovering obnoxiously over him like a hawk... But anyway, it looks like he picked a winner! We're going to give the rest a few more days, depending on what this little one does. Once they're all out I'll be making a new thread for baby worm pictures!

[Crazygecko]

Nice looking baby. Congrats.

[joebad976]

Congrats...based on the color on that baby I would say they probably have another week or so before hatching.

[SaintTawny]

Congrats...based on the color on that baby I would say they probably have another week or so before hatching.

Thank you. This is my first clutch ever, although my SO has hatched more snakes than I could hope to count, all of his snakes are colubrids. I know the color will darken over the next few weeks, but seeing as they may be going longer than I anticipated, would you suggest any maintenance for the one we've cut? We transferred it to a small tupperware container on damp sphagnum moss and are keeping it at the same temperature as the rest of the clutch.

[joebad976]

As long as the temp and humidity is at an acceptable range I think you will be fine. He will probably hatch out in 7 days or less.