Help From Any Reptile Experts

Animeboye · **on:** June 13, 2015, 01:47:53 AM

Currently I'm working on a chapter of one of my Dragon's World novels and right now I'm at a part where one of my characters (a dragon) is explaining something that happened in his past: his mother had a hatchling who died before he/she (haven't decided on a gender yet) was born. What I want to know is is it possible for a reptile to die in its egg even if they egg isn't cracked? And if so, can the reptile in question still "hatch", per se?

Sorry, I've never had a reptile for a pet so I don't know how this would work.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2015, 08:31:30 AM

I think it would be possible. For example, if the dragon egg contained a conjoined fetus, it could be possible for it not being able to survive long enough for hatching. There have been cases of conjoined reptiles before, so this would be believable.

As for the hatching bit, I'm not sure. If the fetus is dead, then it won't be growing anymore or making any movements. So I think it would be unlikely for it to hatch if it's already dead by that point.

One suggestion I could give is maybe it only dies during hatching. Maybe it's using the last of its strength to break free, but at the final moment, it just gives out and dies. Another is that maybe the mother helps the baby hatch, not knowing it's dead until after she gets it out.

Animeboye · **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2015, 04:37:59 PM

Thanks very much, Darkhououmon. And an extra thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't even thought of those. They're both really good ideas.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2015, 03:19:24 PM

"What I want to know is is it possible for a reptile to die in its egg even if they egg isn't cracked?"

Life is incredibly fragile. Especially in the early years. All sorts of things other than cracked eggs can cause a reptile to die before hatching.

"And if so, can the reptile in question still "hatch", per se?"

Err, I don't think so. Baby reptiles break themselves out of the egg, if they're dead they can't do that. He'd have to either die while hatching or the egg gets broken by an outside force. I'd recommend you look up "egg tooth" for more information.