New arrival - pic warning

[Wrasse]

I swear, snakes are a drug. You have to keep getting more and when the opportunity arises, you can’t say no.

She (tentatively a she) hatched Friday night 23/01/03 and is captivebred morelia spilota mcdowelli. She is, as yet, still unnamed.

Here are the pics of my new arrival. If you look carefully, you can see her egg tooth in some of the shots. Just like a little spot of glitter on her top lip.

The eggs. The two at the bottom emerged first, they are not twins. The one on the left came up through the top egg from below. I guess, effectively hatching twice.
My little girls nose can be seen top left.


My little girl had decided that she was in no hurry to leave the egg and happily sat in it for hours, watching the activity around her. This was good, as it gave her heaps of time to absorb her yolk sac.


Eventually getting more inquisitive.


Until finally…




Here she is wondering how to get back in.


And today. 2 days old. Her egg tooth is still visible in this shot too.

[Koviack]

what's an egg tooth

[TrowaIkari]

How adorable! I love the picture of her in the egg. Good luck with the little cutie

[Wrasse]

Originally Posted by Koviack

what's an egg tooth

The 'egg tooth' is (as I understand it, correct me if I am wrong) actually a scale that young pythons have on their top lip. This is used at hatching time to 'scratch' at the inside of the egg, thus creating a weak spot or tear, enabling them to push their way out through it.
Usually after a few hours or even days with some species, the 'egg tooth' will disappear. I am not sure if it drops off or the scale shrinks or retracts though. I am still looking that info up. I am hearing both sides of the story, so possibly different pythons 'lose' theirs differently.

[Edit note:] Finally, after much searching and misinformation, I have found the answer I require. The Encyclopedia Brittanica states that : Some lizards and snakes develop a true tooth that projects outside the row of other teeth, helps the young to hatch, and then is shed.
The Encyclopedia goes on to state that this is not the case with crocs, turtles and some lizards however, that instead have a skin protrusion, called an 'egg tooth' that is subsequently reabsorbed into the body.

[reptigirl04]

The pictures are great! I especially love the one of her in the egg!!