Past Due

[MemphisReptiles]

I have an egg that has been incubating on perilite in a deli cup for over 60 days. The temps have been 86-88 degrees. I am using a hobavator. The egg looks like it has gotten wet, it has a transparent look on the sides and bottom. Is this egg dead? I candeled it and it is very red inside.

 

[TokayKeeper]

The eggs I incubated at 88°F this season all hatched at day 34. In years past I've had them go from days 35-40.

At 86°F-84°F my eggs this season have been hatching around day 38.

So, if you are genuinely and accurately at 86-88°F you should have seen hatchlings by now. Additionally, this far along at those temps and you candling with the egg showing red then it's a very high likelihood that egg is not going to hatch.

I'd expect leo eggs at 78-82°F to take roughly 60 days to hatch, and even then when candled (unless you're expecting an albino in it) you should see movement and pigmentation within the egg.

 

[MemphisReptiles]

The male was a raptor and the female was an albino. Should I go aheahd and cut the egg ? I have had horrible luck this year. The egg has no mold on it and has not dented.

 

[ElapidSVT]

sweating is often a sign of impending hatching

 

[MemphisReptiles]

Yes ,i know but it isnt sweating the egg is denting ,it looks transparent almost.

 

[ElapidSVT]

my personal feeling about cutting eggs is that it aids in selection of weak animals that aren't fit for life. only the very strongest, most perfect animals should survive so that the genepool is strengthened and the species improved. getting out of the egg on their own seems to me the first test of fitness for survival. on a side note, i kinda wonder if ball pythons will eventually lose their egg tooth and become completely incapable of hatching without help after a few decades of the practice.

i had one dent/sweat earlier in the season and it was dead.

hope your year gets better!

 

[fl_orchidslave]

I had one clutch swell up huge and become transparent in some areas. It was a relief to see them finally hatch, but they weren't overdue. I was just worried they had taken on so much water and possibly drowned. It's my policy that the eggs need to hatch on their own, if they're going to hatch. I don't want weak babies. That may sound cold, but struggling babies can have issues that lead to problems down the road.

 

[im faster]

87 degrees took 37 days for me

 

[MemphisReptiles]

Thanks guys ,I wont toss it or cut . Im getting bummed out this year its my male raptors first year breeding and I have only got a handful eggs.


On a side note:
I never cut my ball python eggs until they pip and it is just to aid them in escaping the egg.Just had 7 100% het albinos hatch earlier this week.