Hi everyone,

My partner and I are first time breeders. We wanted to start with some regular ball pythons to see how we did.

To avoid verifying obvious info, our process was as follows;
- Both male and female were appropriate weight to start
- We successfully produced a clutch of 5 fertile eggs, no slugs
- We took them from the female and placed in moist vermiculite substrate, buried about ½ way
- We did not shake, role, flip or otherwise disrupt the contents
- We have kept them in an incubator at 88°F
- After 56 days, we were advised it was okay to cut the eggs, but we waited until day 58 (none had pipped on their own, which was a concern, but we had also read that it was dangerous to let them go over 60 days)
- Without removing the eggs from their substrate, we gently cut a section about the size of a toonie off each, careful not to tear the amniotic sac or veins
- Then we waited for them to emerge
- We have continued keeping them in the incubator (it circulates air from the room, so no, they are not being deprived of oxygen)

We have now been waiting 5 days. We can see that they are alive (moving in their eggs) but none are coming out. The amniotic fluid is becoming cloudy and starting to smell. We decided to sacrifice one and try helping him out. We rinsed him but did not cut the umbilical cord from the yolk sac and placed him in a small container with a moist paper towel. He died. We have spoken to a friend who breeds hundreds and says he has never had this problem. I am afraid they might all die if they don’t soon come out on their own.

Has anyone else had this happen? We are open to any advice people might have. I am going to be very sad if we lose them all!