So as many of you know, I have two clutches of ball python eggs, the older of the two being about midway through incubation and having been doing well up to this point. I was trying to check on the other clutch underneath as I had added more water to them about 24 hours ago and wanted to see how they were doing, setting the box with the older eggs to the side on my DIY incubator where they seemed stable - until I went to close the lid of the lower egg box, and the other box suddenly tipped over and dropped about 12 inches to the ground, completely flipped over.
I was quick to right the box and they were all right side up (each was marked on the topmost spot, thankfully) with none damaged externally, but I candled them as I fixed the box back up as quickly as possible and noticed a lack of movement inside as well as the fact that it seems some of the veins ripped away from the walls of the eggs. I couldn’t find much input online for this situation, anyone ever experience something similar? Do we think they’ll be okay?
I’m so mad at myself for being so careless. They were doing so well…
Hey Elijah I’m so sorry this happened! Of course I can’t reassure you that everything will be ok as I have zero experience with ball python eggs/clutches but try not to stress too much until someone pops in with advice. What’s done is done but it was purely an accident. Don’t beat yourself up if things go south…….
Thanks, Caron. I keep telling myself that the drop wasn’t that far and it seems that the vermiculite helped keep them from tumbling around too much in the fall, but my mind keeps thinking of all the possible issues that could result from such an abrupt and violent motion to such fragile embryos…
It was an accident, but I still should have been more careful and sat them on the floor directly rather than balancing them on the corner of the open incubator. I guess you live and you learn, and will definitely know better than to do something that reckless again.
There’s really no way to know for now.
I would just keep incubating and see what happens. Hopefully they will be okay but you may have a DIE baby come hatching time.
Accidents happen. I did have an egg drop once when I needed to get a nasty egg out. It did okay but was only about a 5inch drop
Here’s hoping they make it out alright. I’d honestly take a DIE over one hatching out super kinked and needing euthanized, but I also don’t know if that’s really a thing that can happen with a short drop. Thankfully the vermiculite seemed to act as cushion and keep them from getting thrown around too much, because when I flipped the tub back up and opened the lid they were covered in the vermiculite and all top-up. I’ll be so anxious until the next time I check in on them, and probably even still.
Glad your little one ended up okay. 12 inches is a pretty big difference relatively, but still doesn’t seem too bad. Now, if I’d have had them drop from table-height…
FWIW, many moons ago I dropped an egg box from about 1m to the ground and all the eggs bounced and rolled around on the floor. Put them back in the incubator and they all hatched just fine. They really are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for
I’m sorry, Elijah. That’s so stressful. Hopefully they will be all right. Waiting and wondering is so hard.
I would say that if they survived the tumble, they should be fine. I can’t really imagine that they’d be kinked as result. The embryos are cushioned pretty well with fluids. I think you can set that particular worry aside.
I know you’re going to keep worrying and wondering until they hatch. That’s totally understandable. Hopefully they’ll all hatch successfully and healthy.
