Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I checked the incubator when I got home and one had pipped the egg. I left it alone and about an hour ago I checked again and no change. I opened the egg to find a full grown hatchling dead.

thats sooo sad. im sorry.

I had an egg that should be ready to hatch pip today. It had already been denting, and is "on time" to hatch. Worried it would drown, I just finished opening it up. It looks fully developed but the yolk sac is not absorbed. I think it is dead but am not sure, so I put it in the incubator.

She has not moved. One eye is open, one shut. I am leaving her in the incubator just in case, but I think she dies for some reason. I hope I did not kill her by opening up the egg, but the egg was pipped already. Someone please tell me I didn't kill my gecko baby.

I very much doubt that you killed your baby... I opened an egg a couple weeks ago that was not even piped yet (had a large growth on the side) and the baby is doing great.

I've also had a couple babies pip the egg and then die before hatching out... I think what happens is they can't find the slit and drown, always a sad discovery.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Red Striped Tangerines, Carrot Tails and Screaming Amel Fat-Tails

Because I didn't see the pip until I candled it yesterday, I think by picking it up I may have pipped it. But once it pips, the gecko has to get out or drown, right? I still feel like I caused it somehow. I thought I saw it moving yesterday.

Definitely not your fault... unfortunately, not every one of these geckos is meant to "make it".

And I think your right about the pipping, once they slice the egg they need to wiggle out shortly thereafter.

I'm sorry your little one didn't make it.
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-Ross Payan - www.LeosAnonymous.com

Leos Anonymous

Red Striped Tangerines, Carrot Tails and Screaming Amel Fat-Tails

Next time, if I see an egg pipped and no nose I'll try to help it earlier. I thought I saw the shell jiggling a couple hours before I opened it up.

Very, very sorry to hear that... its a sad time to find any of your geckos nolonger with you.. I had the same problem with a patternless, emerged halfway from the egg, and for some reason died while it was absorbing the yolk sac.... - But on the bright side, I had her sis, and two more from another patternless hatchout okay... - Very sorry to hear about your loss...