Second Ball Python Clutch.. Incubation issues???? duw

So.. same pastel(possible genetic granite) male to a different female.

My first clutch was 10 eggs, and only 5 lived.. the last died at last minute, fully formed etc.

I had incubated low, assumed my issue..


THIS time I incubated well and trued to make sure not to screw up.

Clutch of 6 eggs..


this time.. 3 lived. This is before their first shed though.


here are the 3 that DID make it

Beautiful babies but damn. Another bum clutch? So sorry to hear that.

Those are pretty babes, sorry to hear you're having issues with hatch-rates. My last clutch of 2 (boob-eggs) didn't survive, but I kind figured they wouldn't... the eggs themselves were way too funky.

Hope you are able to isolate the cause of your incubation woes... usually that far along is about excessive moisture in direct contact with the eggs. This can be averted by sprinkling a dry layer of vermiculite over the moist to act as a barrier. If the eggs that are going term are not in direct contact with the medium, that may be what's going on with your situation... if not extreme temp or humidity fluxuations will also cause trouble.

Here's to an even better year next season.

Bah brandi! That is no good.

Seems alot of people really were having issues this season. But hey! look on the bright side, you still have a bunch of babies,and a bunch of SWEET granite ones!

I know.. After the first clutch being screwy due to temp issues, I was very careful with this one..

no moisture issue, no temp flux.. nothing.. just ... dead babies.. the last of them died this morning..

but at least this time I got pastels HA HA HA HA AH

I DO have one more clutch.. in a DIFFERENT incubator.. so lets see if they fair better!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Miss Tuniwha

I DO have one more clutch.. in a DIFFERENT incubator.. so lets see if they fair better!!!!!!

I really hope they do! Maybe that incubator gets funky when you are not around?

is the heat source close to them? *above, below, to one side?*

the heat is above.. I got it from a friend that breeds balls, and has used it for a few years, so .. he is certain it isn't the incubator itself.. but I am not.. maybe shipping mucked it up??


anywho.. my last clutch is of.. 5 eggs.. same pastel male to a reduced pattern female.. so I REALLY wanna see what comes out!



and I STILL have to sex the dang granites.. I sold one female to a friend, but plan on keeping the rest..

Originally Posted by Miss Tuniwha

the heat is above.. I got it from a friend that breeds balls, and has used it for a few years, so .. he is certain it isn't the incubator itself.. but I am not.. maybe shipping mucked it up??


anywho.. my last clutch is of.. 5 eggs.. same pastel male to a reduced pattern female.. so I REALLY wanna see what comes out!



and I STILL have to sex the dang granites.. I sold one female to a friend, but plan on keeping the rest..

For educational purposes: What kind of incubator is it?

*I must have missed the mention of it*

No Deb, I never really said what kind, just said it was top heat based

it is a Hova bator. says hova bator on it anyhow. LOL

I have heard/read that those Hova bators are not the greatest incubation equipment for BP eggs due to their tendency to dry out the eggs.

IMO, if you need to use that incubator, I would either try half covering the eggs with the hatching substrate that was a bit more wet than usual or ditch it and create a temporary incubation environment till you are able to get a better one.

Honestly, some people swear by them, and some just seem to hate the things. I would ask the people that had the greatest success what they were doing different.