Maternally Incubating - Concerned about Disturbing Female to Feed Her

[StillBP]

Fair question... these 2 snakes are technically my 10 year old daughter's snakes so my feeling is that by feeding them outside of their environment they would never expect that when I (or she) reach my hands in I'm potentially feeding them. It's never been an issue I just put them in a large storage bin, dangle a thawed frozen rodent in front of them and put them back in their terrarium after they eat.

I can understand that.
But on the same argument is every time you take them out of their tank they will expect to be fed. I have more than a few snakes and have never had a issue with any being agressive when i reach into their tub.
Now i will not even attempt to tell you how to feed your snakes. You do what ever makes you the most comfortable
But there is no true advantage to feeding them in a different tub.
Again tho do what makes you the most comfortable
And again if you feed her while on eggs. Just do it in her tank. Not worth the risk of stressing her over a meal she may or may not eat

[tacticalveterinarian]

I would recommend feeding her within the enclosure so that she can stay close to the eggs and also not stress her out too much. I've incubated and hatched dozens of babies using maternal incubation and in every single case I've offered mom food while she was directly coiled around the eggs. If she's hungry, she will eat!

[piedlover79]

That was a great video. I love seeing her coiled back around her eggs!

[hatchcrab]

I hope you have a THERMOSTAT with the UTH!!

I don't and I am a bit worried so I'm being as careful as I can. The UTM is only half-way under at best and the eggs are "off" of it to the left. I can pull the pad out/in to adjust. The temp probe only shows 88 right over where the pad is so I'm hoping the temp is ok. We'll see - first time dad - newbie mistake if I botch the clutch. Uggh.

[piedlover79]

Thermostat is a MUST not just for the eggs but for your snake. Those heat mats can go haywire and cook your snake if even the slightest thing goes wrong.

[hatchcrab]

So great news! On day 61 they started hatching. One is completely out and there are at least 2 others trying to hatch. I'm temped to take mom out of the enclosure but I'm thinking at this point I shouldn't disrupt the process. My only concern (see pic) is, that while mom has moved some coils and isn't as tight around the clutch, she seems a bit clueless about the head position of the babies. As you can see in the pic her main coil is in contact with 2 that are trying to poke there heads out. Is there any risk (breathing or physical damage to necks) in allowing her to remain around the clutch as they hatch over the next couple days?

[hatchcrab]

So - perhaps partially answering my own question... the babies emerging seem pretty capable of wiggling around enough to make mom "jump" away so they get get air and emerge. I have a feeling all is well and I should leave them as is especially considering she's been maternally incubating for the last 2 months. I'm up to 4 out of 7 confirmed live babies. Hopefully more to come!

[cheosamad]

Thermostat is a MUST not just for the eggs but for your snake. Those heat mats can go haywire and cook your snake if even the slightest thing goes wrong.

I second this. Glad to see you have babies though!! Pictures please when they're all out!

[hatchcrab]

Will do regarding thermostat. I see people talking about the "Jump Start Thermostat" on amazon. I will pick one up unless you have another brand suggestion.

So I now have 6 out of 7 confirmed to be hatching. Hopefully they will all make it. I can't tell if the 7th is in the process of hatching due to the fact they are under a hide inside the tank. Here is a quick pic of one being born. So far it looks like one pastel and a couple spiders. I'm hoping to get a bumblebee or two.

I will post more once I've taken out momma and they have all made it out of the eggs.

[hatchcrab]

I posted some pics of the hatchlings in a morph sub forum. Feel free to help me identify the morphs! I love the super-light pink ones. I'm not sure what they are.

We have 6 of 7 hatched and the 7th is taking its sweet time. Hopefully by the AM he will come out of the egg.

The mom is a spider and the dad is a pastel.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...lp-me-ID-Morph