1st Time Breeder Help- Lost Baby

[paulh]

... eggs were layed successfully roughly 7 weeks ago. 5 days ago i decided to cut the eggs ....

Untill you know exactly when your hatchlings should pip naturally, and that you can only determine once you have incubated several clutches at the same temp, you should not cut, or you should wait until the first hatching pips. ....

Oh and how early is too early, according to my estimate, the eggs are well into he 50 + day range

First thing done wrong: laying date not recorded. If that 7 week figure is accurate, then the eggs were cut at approximately 45 days and are now about 50 days. But without laying date, there is no way to be certain how long the eggs have been cooking.

For what it's worth, I think Deborah's cutting date recommendation is too early. IMO, cutting the egg shell has no benefit for the snake. Maybe for the human, but not for the snake. Let the baby cut the shell and come out on its own. YMMV.