Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've kept veileds for the past 2 years but I recently had my first clutch hatch. The problem is that most of my babies have squinted eyes that don't appear to be open or have deformed looking eyes. What could have caused this? I tried dabbing their eyes with a moist paper towel but it did not help. Can any of you give me some ideas?

>>I've kept veileds for the past 2 years but I recently had my first clutch hatch. The problem is that most of my babies have squinted eyes that don't appear to be open or have deformed looking eyes. What could have caused this? I tried dabbing their eyes with a moist paper towel but it did not help. Can any of you give me some ideas?

Could you provide some pictures?
How long was the incubation? What temps did you keep the eggs at?
Can you describe the set-up you have the hatchlings in? Please include temps, plants, etc. How often are you misting them?

We have only been breeding veiled for 4 years (about 13 clutches hatched so far), and we haven't seen anything like what you are describing. We know there are breeders out there who have been doing this for a decade or more - hopefully they might have some input. We can check with some of the breeders we know, and perhaps gain some insight as to what the problem might be.

Hope someone can help,
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I haven't seen this myself, but I know of some that have had this happen. Veilds will hatch at just about any temps. Most of ours hatched at 70-75 degrees, when we were new, we incubated them in the 80's and had good hatches(but not AS good)
I have seen babies born with kinked tails. Lots of these seemed to be attributed to weak/calcium efecient mothers.
eye problems could be due to vitamin A defecient mothers. What suppelements were given, and what was gutloaded in their prey?

I have had one or two babies not open an eye for the first day or so, but they all eventually opened. Having a large amount in a clutch leads me to think it was either they hatched a bit quick;y(high inc. temps.) or the other was deficient in vitamins (A in particular ). I'm leaning towards Hypovitaminosis A.
Eric A

I can't get any pics of them because I don't have a good enough camera.
I feed all my veileds crickets (gut loaded with Fluker's Cricket Quencher - Calcium Fortified, potatoes, carrots, and greens)wax worms, silk worms, butter worms, and meal worms. All cricket feedings are dusted with T-rex bone aid.
For lighting they have EXOTERRA 5.0 UVB Bulbs (replaced every 3 months) and given a chance to bask in the sun once a week.
My female was gravid for 29 days before she laid her eggs and they were removed and put into moist vermiculite spaced about 1 inch apart. They were then placed in a reptile Hova-bator at 75-80 degrees with 90% humidity. They started to hatch after about 8 months. They are now in a 10 gal tank with fake vines and misted twice a day and fed fruit flies and 1 week old crickets. I've seen them drink but not eat. some are over a week old though and still alive so I asume they are eating.

When they walk around they seem to be reaching out aimlessly for something to grab. Is this just a baby thing or do you think they're blind?

I feel awefull about this happening. I hope this info helps because my female is one week gravid again and I don't want to repeat my mistakes.
Thank you all very much!

It sounds like the parents weren't under-nourished....
BUT... babies are in a 10 gal tank?
How many babies???

We keep 2 babies per 10gal tank - and those are jacksonii.
Our veiled are in 128qt tubs... with live plants. We keep the whole clutch in there for 2 weeks, then start to seperate them into smaller groups.

It could be stagnant air - poor circulation and the dye in the fake plants (if they are inexpensive silk vines).

Don't assume they are eating.... look for tiny droppings.
How are you keeping the fruit flies in the tank? Are you using hydei flies? You need 1wk crickets too..

Reaching out aimlessly is not a baby thing. Are they needing more highways to climb on? If their eyes are irritated, maybe getting them away from the fake vines and into a larger, airier tub will help. Be sure to mist with warm water (the mist should be body temp).

Get a big tub at WalMart... about $6-7
Cover the bottom with paper towels (white)
Get one or two 6" hanging plants, sit them down in the tub (be sure not to drain the plant water into the tub - we use large margarine tubs to sit the plants in).
Place the babies in there and mist... don't over wet the paper towels. Damp is good - but don't swamp the bottom.
Be sure to provide proper lighting and a cool basking area (we use a 40watt light bulb)

Hopefully they will improve... we will keep you in our thoughts.
Keep us posted... okay?
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