since no one else is responding..

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Posted by dg on July 06, 2000 at 01:02:56:

In Reply to: URGENT!!! early hatching babies!...... posted by kris on July 05, 2000 at 19:21:41:

Hi Kris,
Although I have never hatched any Asian rats, I do have some experience with american rats of the obsoleta complex. Please take my suggestions with that in mind.

: 1) How long is it going to take the little ones to come out of their shells after they first stick their noses out? --if they keep sticking their noses out, then crawling back in, are they in any danger? should I try to hurry the process in any way (currently I'm assuming not)

Typically baby rat snakes will pip and then remain in the egg for 24-48 hours. Of course the is no set rule, I have had neonates pip and emerge the same day, and others that hung out in the egg for 3-4 days. The main thing is to let them come out of the egg on their own. If they haven't emerged 4 days after pipping, then you should investigate why.

: 2) How long between the time the first one hatches and the last before I start to get concerned? (keeping in mind that the eggs are hatching early to start with)

This depends on several factors. Sometimes, a few eggs are "deeper" in the vermiculite and tend to stay warmer, and therefore hatch quicker. If a clump of eggs are stuck together, usually the ones closest to the heat source or buried the deepest will hatch first. Use your best judgement before becoming concerned and "cutting" open an egg prematurely. I would wait at least four days after the first egg pipped, perhaps longer if the egg was not "buried" as well as the pipped eggs. Maybe someone else will give some input on a general time between first pip and final hatch of a clutch. Personally, I have had eggs of a clutch hatch a week after the first one had pipped.

: 3) Do the new hatclings need any special care...ie are their requirements different than the parents?

Most neonates need more moisture/humidity, especially the first week or two after hatching. They usually become opaque just after hatching and shed within the first week or ten days of life. It is usually after this shed that most snakes will begin to feed, although there are exceptions. In my opinion, each neonate should be housed individually after hatching. This will reduce stress on them, and allow a better feeding response to develop.

: Anything else I need to be aware of???

Expect them to be nippy, most baby rat snakes are.

Also, keep in mind that what I posted is based on my experience with american rats.

Hope it helped,
dg

Elaphe obsoleta

Follow Ups:

Re: since no one else is responding....Very good DG... J Yohe 07/06/00 (2)
- Re: Hatching beauties. Rob and Amy 07/08/00 (0)
- THANKS!! ..... kris 07/06/00 (0)

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: Hi Kris, : Although I have never hatched any Asian rats, I do have some experience with american rats of the obsoleta complex. Please take my suggestions with that in mind. : : 1) How long is it going to take the little ones to come out of their shells after they first stick their noses out? --if they keep sticking their noses out, then crawling back in, are they in any danger? should I try to hurry the process in any way (currently I'm assuming not) : Typically baby rat snakes will pip and then remain in the egg for 24-48 hours. Of course the is no set rule, I have had neonates pip and emerge the same day, and others that hung out in the egg for 3-4 days. The main thing is to let them come out of the egg on their own. If they haven't emerged 4 days after pipping, then you should investigate why. : : 2) How long between the time the first one hatches and the last before I start to get concerned? (keeping in mind that the eggs are hatching early to start with) : This depends on several factors. Sometimes, a few eggs are "deeper" in the vermiculite and tend to stay warmer, and therefore hatch quicker. If a clump of eggs are stuck together, usually the ones closest to the heat source or buried the deepest will hatch first. Use your best judgement before becoming concerned and "cutting" open an egg prematurely. I would wait at least four days after the first egg pipped, perhaps longer if the egg was not "buried" as well as the pipped eggs. Maybe someone else will give some input on a general time between first pip and final hatch of a clutch. Personally, I have had eggs of a clutch hatch a week after the first one had pipped. : : 3) Do the new hatclings need any special care...ie are their requirements different than the parents? : Most neonates need more moisture/humidity, especially the first week or two after hatching. They usually become opaque just after hatching and shed within the first week or ten days of life. It is usually after this shed that most snakes will begin to feed, although there are exceptions. In my opinion, each neonate should be housed individually after hatching. This will reduce stress on them, and allow a better feeding response to develop. : : Anything else I need to be aware of??? : Expect them to be nippy, most baby rat snakes are. : Also, keep in mind that what I posted is based on my experience with american rats. : Hope it helped, : dg

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