Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, this morning I found one of my little hatchlings dead. He/she was not as active yesterday but managed to drink a few drops of water so I'm not sure what happened. I still have one super healthy baby that chases and eats crickets and feels nice and plump. The third hatchling seems weak today. It drank a small bit of water but I'm not sure if it ate. It's not running around the cage or moving much. I hope I don't loose another baby. Any suggestions to help the weaker one?

Is there anything in the tank that they can eat and get plugged up? sand,anything they can get in there mouth, I lost almost a whole cluch of babies last year, they were about two weeks old and doing great, I dusted there crickets, and with in a week all but two had died, before they died they were draging there back leggs and then unable to lift there head, so no more dusting for me till they get a little older.

try giving them a warm bath

Good luck
Cecil

Thats always super sad to lose a new babe, so helpless so tiny.

What are your temps for the little ones? They are on paper towels right? Are you using a uvb light on them?

As far as what cecil said, are they in any way losing control of back legs, looking paralized in any way? Hunching their backs?

OR are they just seeming to become weak, and dying?

Also I don't know how you are giving the drops of water but I would not put it in the mouth, you can drown them, it can get ito the lungs if it is not put way in or off to the side towards back of mouth. I use a very very shallow plastic yogart lid, and fill the middle with water, like puddles and let them just walk through it and find it them selves so to speak, and they drink. You may have to put small amounts in the lid several times a day if it drys.

*Sometimes one is just not as strong as others and will die, I have had them hatch be fine for a few days and lose one. But if it starts to happen to more than one, then check everything three times over, otherwords, look at everything and see if theres something you may be missing. Just do the best ya can, I hope the others will get srtonger and do well , let us know.
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PHEve / Eve

Thanks for the responses. They are in a 40 gallon breeder with two heat lights and uvb. The temps are 100 at the hot side and 80 cool side. I have been leaving the lights on 24/7. Should I turn them off at night? They have a shallow lid for water that I fill up twice a day. I also put a drop of water on the top of their head twice a day since I have not seen them drink from the lid. Neither of the two in question seemed paralyzed but maybe hunched over a small bit. The the one I lost and the one I'm concerned about just started running around less and seemed constantly sleepy. I just gave them a warm bath and put them outside in a clean plastic container to get some real sun. It's a pretty day here and I'll monitor them outside once I finish this post. The weaker one seemed to like being outside but as it tried running it seemed real wobbly and flipped over on it's back. I put it on it's stomach again since it just laid like that for over a minute without righting itself. Something is definitely wrong with the smaller one.

I don't even know where to start this. Both of the remaining hatchlings are dead. They were not even outside 15 minutes while I typed my last post and when I checked on them they were both dead. The weak one I could understand but one was so strong and healthy. I cleaned the plastic container that I sat them in outside thoroughly with water but apparently there must have been something in it. Nothing else could have killed the healthy baby in a matter of minutes. Before I placed them outside the healthy one was crawling up my arm and being cute. I won't be on the forum for a few days but thank you for all of your help and advice the last few months.

That is just so darn sad, oh my goodness when this kind of thing happens you rack your brain trying to figure out what the heck went wrong. You may never know buddy, just one of those unbelievably horrible things that happens.

I won't bother you right now as I have been there and ya need some time away from it all. We can talk when ya feel better.
Very Sorry about the kids.
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PHEve / Eve