Posted by:
thamnophis
at Tue Feb 8 14:17:18 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by thamnophis ]
I would appreciate any insights to my recent difficulties. I have two Jackson's that are about 8 months old. I inherited the clutch and managed to save half of them from starvation. I only mention that because I think it may relate to my current problem. I gave most of them away, and have kept two, both of which are having difficulty using their tongues.
When I returned from a two week vacation, I realized that the lizards were not using their tongues as they always had. Now, they run around on the stubstate and the screen cage chasing after crickets. They hardly use their tongues for catching prey. The female can manuever well enough to catch dusted crickets, but the male's horns get in his way. I have been feeding them by hand, and trying to persuade them to use their tongue by holding the crickets at incremental lengths from their snout, but it hasn't been working.
These lizards are most likely the result of a brother-sister mating, so I'm sure they are fairly well in-bred. They ate fruit flies effecitvely after they were born, and the transition to crickets was very easy. I have never had diffulty feeding them until recently. They are still very interested in food, but rely on mouth capture instead of tongue capture. I don't think it's a hydration issue as they get misted regularly.
I dust the crickets with Miner-All Ca supplement, and they get natural sunlight through an open window. But is there something else I should try?
I'd appreciate any thoughts........thanks in advance!
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 My Jackson's have stopped using their tongues! - thamnophis, Tue Feb 8 14:17:18 2005
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