Busy Monday part two - Savannah.....

So, right as Molly is finishing delivering her litter I look in the cage right next to her and Savannah is just getting started. At least they waited until the day after a show. ;-)

I'm guessing there's babies in that cage? This litter was a week overdue and the babies left the sacks almost immediately after being born...


You can see mid delivery and they are already off exploring...



There was one born without a sack and I pulled her out. She was so light colored I set her aside and know which one she is...



The rest of the litter all cleaned up (no slime pile shot as they left right away)...




Final count is 11 babies, 3 slugs and one still. And as expected there are some real stunners in the pile!!

What happens if a baby doesnt have a sac?

Originally Posted by Reptile Frenzy

What happens if a baby doesnt have a sac?

It can't breath. They don't need to breath right away but do need to breath soon after rupturing the sack. I believe most still born babies are due to mom working harder to pass slugs, the sacks behind the slugs rupture and the babies suffocate before they are born. Every still born I have seen was out of the sack.

Do they survive on occasion?

Originally Posted by Reptile Frenzy

Do they survive on occasion?

Yes, it's a timing thing. If born in short enough time after the sack is ruptured, they are out and can breath. If trapped inside mom too long, they drown. And reptiles don't breath a lot so is likely longer than you think before they drown.

And this is all my theory based on observations, not proven fact.