Lost 70% of all eggs

[Mr.Snake]

I figured I'd share my season and get some tips and maybe help others avoid some of my mistakes. In short, we have lost about 70% of eggs from all clutches this season.

We incubated this season using 2 Reptibators. Both set up identically, both had the same results. We used Perlite as a substrate, when we put it in we had it reasonably damp, you could clump it a bit. We had a layer of light diffuser on top of it and had a digital thermometer with humidity reading on it, set also on the same level as the eggs for a accurate reading at their level. The eggs were set directly on the light diffuser, they were not in individual small tubs. we kept the digital readout reading 89 degrees, no fluctuations to speak of. The readout had the humidity at 90. Would sometimes be 94 or 95, but never hit below 90.

All 5 clutches had the same results. The eggs seemed fine for a while, but after time most in each clutch got SEVERELY sunken it. Usually the bottom would suck up towards the top of the egg. The eggs that were worst never made it.

My suspicion is that the humidity was too low early on in incubation, maybe the 90% I was getting as a reading was not correct? I think I should have had no substrate in the reptibator, but maybe set them up in individual shoebox tubs with wet substrate with diffuser on top and a lid? I'm open to ideas here

I cut a 5 egg clutch yesterday at day 54 because I was worried how the eggs were getting worse. it was originally a 7 egg clutch. Of the 5, 3 are alive.

I had one more clutch. They are on day 51. I just cut them. The eggs over the last few days have rapidly gotten worse. My thinking is the eggs sinking in so bad is at times running the snek out of room or cutting off the umbilical cord? Of the 8 egg clutch, 4 were dead. The other 4, by cutting them I was able to gently manipulate the egg a bit to give them more room. I only put a small opening in it. I'm not sure I'm right in doing this, but after thinking about it all night and not sleeping I did it out of a desperation move to try and save this clutch. The 4 look alive and now seem to have more room, I'll post the end results with these 50% Het sunset babies as it progresses.

For added info, on the other earlier clutches I had, I cut when the babies started to PIP, which for every clutch has been day 55.

Another side note. I do not support cutting early just to cut, my stomach was in knots cutting at 51, so please understand the nature of this was strictly as a measure to try and offer assistance to the babies....with my biggest fear being they had no room due to the eggs sinking in on themselves. In some cases the bottom of the egg actually sunk in all the way to the top.

ETA we did add water to the substrate regularly