What to do with a standing egg when it pips?

[Focal]

Anyone ever experience this? I've always been good about catching clutches before I go to work in the AM and separating them so they can be laid out. (Pic at bottom)

This clutch wasn't ready that early in the morning and I had to come home on a lunch break to put it in the incubator. When I got home, the eggs had settled and one was standing upright. I did not want to separate this one and lie it down for obvious reasons and incubated it upright.

Here we are 58 days later and they should pip today or tomorrow. During the last few days of incubation, it started to lean and fall so I propped it up with another egg. Now when they pip, can it be laid down? Is there going to be a potential problem with the yolk absorbing or twisted umbilicus?

I figure I am just worrying over nothing and just want to see what you do when this happens. Thanks.

 

[Focal]

 

[Focal]

Found a solution that should keep it upright:

 

[Dale Porcher DVM]

Egg

I think that you would have been fine either way.Good luck and hope that it's a special snake that comes out of that egg!.

 

[Philip451]

I think your solution is just fine, and I wouldn't worry.
Let us know what you come up with!

 

[Reptile Frenzy]

Hey nick everything looks good to me. When you pulled that clutch was that egg propped up with another egg? Sometimes clutches come out and the eggs will be all over each other so by looking at your pic i assume thats how they were laid in the 1st pic. If thats the case everything is perfectly fine.

 

[Focal]

Thanks guys!

The standing egg was sitting up on the outside of the clutch. As the end neared, it started to separate and fall over so I propped it up with another egg. I was worried about the lower egg pipping and that the standing egg would push the fluid in the lower egg out. I kind of like this new trick because it may catch the fluid. I can't stand the smell of egg fluid after a few are out lol.

 

[Reptile Frenzy]

Yeah deff stinks after awhile!

 

[Mickeyblueyes]

How long after being laid do they settle? What's the time window on pulling them apart?

 

[Focal]

Maybe an hour or so, until they dry some, then they're stuck. Some that are barely touching get seperated with plain dental floss. I'm not sure when they settle but I try to keep them just how I found them. They also pull apart real easy days before pipping.