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Deformed Mojave Hatchling - WARNING! GRAPHIC!

TripleMoonsExotic

TripleMoonsExotic

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Deformed hatchling from Mojave x Normal clutch of four. Clutch pipped a week late and after 2 days of no action from this egg after siblings exited, decided to cut an immediately noticed something wrong. Upper jaw did not form completely, kinking and major organs protected by only a thin transparent layer of skin. The movement you see in the video is the snake's heart beating. Euthanized immediately after filming. No variation in my incubation temperatures were noted, just appears he wasn't meant to be. Siblings (1 Mojave, 2 Normal) appear to be fine.

Every reptile breeder needs to come to terms with the possibility of losing an egg or hatchling at some point. It takes a big person to acknowledge the idea that sometimes animals have to be euthanized for failure to thrive or deformation. It takes an even bigger person to be able to humanely act this out.


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Oh wow, how sad :(

You made the right decision, of course. That little one just had no chance of survival. Thank you for sharing!
 
OMG i am sooo sorry.... now i only wish there was a way of unseein some things. That is so sad but it obvious you did the right thing by euthenizing this little guy :(
 
Thanks for the comments. I've always been realistic about my responsibility as a breeder and what is necessary. It's also one thing to witness a severely deformed hatchling cut from the egg that has already passed, but this is the first time I've ever witnessed anything of this magnitude and have it still be alive.
 
Sorry Steph :( Thanks for sharing though. The living hatchlings look perfect, love that Mojave!
 
That surviving mojave is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing that bad part, too. I think it's important that folks getting into breeding for the fun part of the hobby, be aware of what they might have to deal with. I've had to cull my fair share of animals (if any of them were fair) but I've never experienced anything like the one you just shared. Sorry that you had to. :(
 
Matt2979 said:
That surviving mojave is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing that bad part, too. I think it's important that folks getting into breeding for the fun part of the hobby, be aware of what they might have to deal with. I've had to cull my fair share of animals (if any of them were fair) but I've never experienced anything like the one you just shared. Sorry that you had to. :(
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I felt the need to document it and post it here and on Facebook. Breeding isn't all hearts and stars. Things like this can and does happen regardless of what you do to control it.
 
Wow!! Very sad. Thank you so much for sharing. I dread the day something like this happens to me, but I know it will. Best of luck with the remaining babies. The Mojave is quite a looker.
 
Poor lil guy. You did the right thing. Even if it isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. The remaining mojave is a beauty!

I've only ever lost one snake, a butter male that died in the egg. The day prior the egg was full of veins, the next day one pipped. When I candled his egg I saw no veins and knew what to expect but its never easy to lose a baby. No matter what animal there's always chances of imperfections. Captive breeding doesn't fix this. Its sad this happened. But like said a learning experience for others and for people looking to come into this hobby to see that it isn't as glamorous as they may think.


I'm so sorry this happened to you. But you're now an even stronger person for it, whether you realize it or not.
 
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