post egg cut care/question

[Albert Clark]

So got my first clutch going and I cut on day 58 and all looks well. Questions at this point are about how long should i expect the snakes to stay in the egg(im thinking up to 5 days)? Should I wait until they are all out to remove the vermiculite or place the eggs on a paper towel now? And is it normal for them to start to smell after you cut? I use the press and seal on my lids and im opening at least twice a day for air exchange, once in the morning once at night. Thanks for any advice.

Congrats on your first clutch! The time any hatchling will remain in the egg is variable. But it can be 5 days and give or take days will depend on a couple of factors. The main factor being has the hatchling absorbed all of the yolk sac, is the animal truly healthy over the incubation period is another consideration. You can wait until they all emerge before moving them onto moist paper towel however if you cut the eggs and they are exposed you may want to consider changing them sooner than later. No , it's not normal for them to smell after you cut. Remember you should only make a reasonably small slit/ flap as your cut so as to reduce the exposure. Even with press and seal, after day 55 or 58 you only need to vent the tub every few days and not twice a day. Good luck.