Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My helmeted gecko babies are dying for me. 7 babies have hatched – 4 are dead. The last one died only half an hour ago… it is so sad…

I care so much about my animals and I really want to take care of them in the best possible way – and I hate to see them suffer. I have 8 more eggs in the incubator – I would hate to see those babies die too when they hatch…

I have my three adults (two females and one male) on fine sand and all the babies are on papertowels. The adult geckos seem fine (from what I can see anyway....) Can it be that the papertowels “dries out” the babies even if I mist them twice a day? Shall I change to sand?

My setups: I keep the same temperatures for both the adults and the babies – about 80 F at the cooler end and around 93 F under the basking spot. During the night it is “room temp” (23 F) in the cages. Should I have a heating mat during the night maybe? Could it be too cold at night? I have UVB for all of my geckos. I keep the different sizes separated. I feed the babies *very* small crickets once a day when the lights go off and the adults every other day. I give vitamins once a week and calcium with every other feeding. Every cage have many hiding places and some cork bark to climb on. I mist them once/twice a day. What else can I do?

I would appreciate ANY advice – I don’t want them to die!!! Please help me!

Thanks in advance!

Gunilla

Hi Gunilla,

First off -- I'm going to assume that 23F is a typo!

Here are some tips that might help:

1)It never hurts to keep a temp gradient going at night. I think that we humans really tend to take this temperature regulation thing for granted.

2)Don't handle them. Many people have experience with leos and assume that all geckos can tolerate being picked up. This is true of very few species as hatchlings. They are fragile -- if you need to move them, try to coaxe them into a cup held sideways, after moving, let them walk out when they are ready.

3)Let them hide. Many people are excited when they get new babies, and want to watch over them or otherwise give them attention. For most species this is extremely stressful! Newborn reptiles don't need true parental care, and aren't used to the idea of a giant mammal hanging around.

4)Use distilled water for misting. Many people already do this to avoid having to clean spots off of glass cages. I have found that some baby geckos are sensitive to the chlorine in some city water. Baby geckos dont have the protective scales of bearded dragons, snakes, etc.

5)Don't feed them for the first few days after they hatch. Many geckos wont eat until their first shed, like a snake. Some people think its best to wait for them to shed before feeding.

6)Go easy on the vitamins and calcium. Hatchlings can easily overdose. Make sure you are using a good REPTILE vitamin, and use it sparingly for the first few weeks. Same with calcium.

I think if you reduce the potential stress, and elliminate any toxins in their environment, you should be fine.

And try to get those temps above 23F!!

Good Luck,

Obie

Thank you so much Yoda for your reply!

Hi Gunilla, First off -- I'm going to assume that 23F is a typo!

IIIhhhh! YES – of course it is a typo! Typical me – my apartment isn’t THAT cold! I meant 23 CELSIUS – and that is about 73 F.

Here are some tips that might help:

1) It never hurts to keep a temp gradient going at night. I think that we humans really tend to take this temperature regulation thing for granted.

I will think about that!

2) Don't handle them. Many people have experience with leos and assume that all geckos can tolerate being picked up. This is true of very few species as hatchlings. They are fragile -- if you need to move them, try to coaxe them into a cup held sideways, after moving, let them walk out when they are ready.

I might have been the “nervous mom” and looked at them toooo often… I don’t handle them – but I do look for them – to see if they are alive. I have to admit that I probably do that too often. I worry so much about them… I have to stop that!

3) Let them hide. Many people are excited when they get new babies, and want to watch over them or otherwise give them attention. For most species this is extremely stressful! Newborn reptiles don't need true parental care, and aren't used to the idea of a giant mammal hanging around.

They have several hiding places – but like I said at the first question – I look for them… (Probably too much!

4)Use distilled water for misting. Many people already do this to avoid having to clean spots off of glass cages. I have found that some baby geckos are sensitive to the chlorine in some city water. Baby geckos don’t have the protective scales of bearded dragons, snakes, etc.

Oh – I didn’t know that… We don’t have much chlorine in the water here in Sweden, but it doesn’t hurt to boil it first anyway. I will do that – thanks!

5) Don't feed them for the first few days after they hatch. Many geckos wont eat until their first shed, like a snake. Some people think its best to wait for them to shed before feeding.

I have fed them the second/third day…

6) Go easy on the vitamins and calcium. Hatchlings can easily overdose. Make sure you are using a good REPTILE vitamin, and use it sparingly for the first few weeks. Same with calcium.

People say so many different things when it comes to vitamins etc… I put some calcium at every feeding and vitamins every fourth day or so… Stacy recommended “Miner-all”. I will try that.

I think if you reduce the potential stress, and eliminate any toxins in their environment, you should be fine.

Thank you so much for your help! I will keep you updated!

And try to get those temps above 23F!! Good Luck, Obie

hahahaha – I shall try to raise the temp….!
/Gunilla
Ps. Below is a pic of the first baby - he is 3 months and healthy!

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

Those were just some general thoughts. Pachydactylus is more my specialty. I think you are in very good hands with Stacy!

Also....I want to note that Minerall is excellent and nontoxic in normal amounts (in fact it doesn't even contain vitamins). When I mentioned vitamins being toxic...that was because some people are still using bird or mammal vitamins with too much vitamin A.

Good luck!

Obie

Hi,
I am using "Rep Cal's" vitamins right now. They don't contain any vitamin A at all - only Beta Carotene (spelling?) so it is supposed to be one of the better vitamins. HOPEFULLY that is ok. I can't find MinerALL here in Sweden.

>>Those were just some general thoughts. Pachydactylus is more my specialty. I think you are in very good hands with Stacy!
>>
>>Also....I want to note that Minerall is excellent and nontoxic in normal amounts (in fact it doesn't even contain vitamins). When I mentioned vitamins being toxic...that was because some people are still using bird or mammal vitamins with too much vitamin A.
>>
>>
>>Good luck!
>>
>>Obie

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

Gunilla,

Helmeted Gecko hatchlings normally shed immediately (sometimes while still in the incubator) or within the first 24 hours. The babies will usually eat the second day after hatching....and sometimes even the first day, so be sure to offer them appropriately sized crickets at that time. I suggest that you dust the crickets really well with Miner-All I as the Helmeteds definitely require adequate calcium. Also, be sure to keep them well hydrated.

(I have also responded to you via private e-mail.)

Stacy
Link

Thank you so much Stacy!!!
I will email you privately instead of replying here.

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

I don't know a lot. Go to the website. www.helmetedgecko.com The lady has tons of them and would probably be able to help you out.

Thanks for the kind words! Actually, I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Gunilla at the Expo in Daytona Beach. Hopefully, we will figure out what is going on with her hatchlings and they will begin to thrive.

Stacy
HelmetedGecko.com

Hi Stacy. This is Aaron from the Columbus show. The one that takes lots of pictures. Sory I did not realize you had written him until after I replied. I figured you would know more than anyone around, seeing as how you have tons of them. Best of luck in the future.

Hi Aaron! Thanks for your endorsement! Hopefully, I will see you and any new pictures you have added to your collection at the next Columbus show in September.

Stacy
HelmetedGecko.com

Thanks Aaron! Stacy has already helped me a lot! She has so much experience when it comes to Helmeted geckos - I am convinced that she can help me.

/Gunilla
ps. I am a girl! Gunilla is a very Swedish name.

>>I don't know a lot. Go to the website. www.helmetedgecko.com The lady has tons of them and would probably be able to help you out.

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon