Recent Hatchling

RepGurl

New Member
Messages
137
Location
Missouri
My most recent hatchling is a little, shall we say...off. His eyes seem to small and look like they are to far down (toward his nose). His head looks a little to big for his body, but he doesn't seem to have a problem holding it up so that is not my main concern. The other thing that worries me is his right front leg doesn't seem to be able to support his weight. It collapses under him. It tears me up to see him. What do you guys think may have caused this? This was the first season for both the male and female and since they started late in the season this is the first egg from them that has hatched (the clutch mate has not yet) What do you think I should do? Obviously I would never breed it, but do you think it is best to put it down? I hate the thought, but I don't want it to suffer. I will let you know how the clutch mate looks. I'm not sure what to do guys....any advice? Opinions:main_huh:
 

Halley

Senior Member
Messages
4,670
Location
Missouri
I’d personally cull it, it sounds as if it is having trouble walking. I wouldn’t want to live with a leg falling out from me all the time, and my eyes a little off set making it hard to see, and therefore hard to catch prey.

Wait for other opinions before making your final decision, though.
 

hybrid

New Member
Messages
683
Location
Oklahoma
Maybe he just needs strength. I wouldnt put him down but thats just me. Id wait until he was a lil bit bigger to determine that. He may just need some extra care
 

Sandra

New Member
Messages
630
Location
Spain
I would give him some time and the chance to eat, and see how it goes. If it moves, eats and all (or at least it tries) I would give him a chance (if you don't mind giving him some special attention, will need it). But if you see it's apathetic, shows no interest in food, etc... Well, I don't see the point in keeping alive an animal that has lost the will to live.
 

acpart

Geck-cessories
Staff member
Messages
15,118
Location
Somerville, MA
I have had about 5 hatchlings with abnormalities this season. My general policy is to preserve any hatchling that seems to be able to carry out its daily functions with little or no intervention and to put down any hatchling that can't. My brother is a vet and is prepared to euthanize humanely in those cases. The only ones I've had to euthanize so far were a hatchling with an umbilical hernia (intestines coming out) and a banded gecko juvi that was so ill and close to death that I wanted to put it out of its misery. To date I have the following hatchlings with deformities:

one born with severely foreshortened front legs that was adopted by "cwazy" and last I heard is doing well

two born with mildly deformed front leg which I will sell at reduced price, not for breeding

one born with malformed eyelids that needs its eyes moistened daily. I have been hand feeding this one because she's still very small, and will adopt her out to someone who will take care of her. She seems to be able to see, is very feisty, and is using her poop corner regularly.

Aliza
 

rubym

New Member
Messages
1,525
Location
indiana
2 weeks ago we had our 1st baby born with a deformity. He was 1 gram at birth and has a deformed front foot. He is a little slow so I crush the heads of the crickets and pinch the mealies middles so they can't go fast. He is eating and is up to 4 grams. He has trouble shedding so I have to help him. I will probably have to do this for however long he is alive but I helped bring him into this world so he is my responcibility.....perfect or not. The vet said that he doesn't appear to be in any sort of pain from his deformed fot and he appears to be small but healthy. As long as he isn't in pain, I see no reason to terminate his life.
 

RepGurl

New Member
Messages
137
Location
Missouri
So does anyone have any idea what might have cause the problems? I got a good close look at him today (I was trying not to stress him out) and in addition to his eyes being small and slightly out of place I dont see any eye lids. I have read a lot of posts where people talk about geckos not having eyelids or missing one eyelid, why does this seem to be so common? I completely agree with the people who are saying give him a chance and since I brought him into the world I should do what I can, however the combination of eye problems and not being able to walk right seems like a real bad thing to me. I have my doubts that he will be able to catch insects. I am going to see if the front leg seems to get stronger, but right now its not looking so good. Could he have internal problems that I am not seeing that may be even worse then the external ones? I really feel for this little guy and hate to seem him suffer.
 

Greyscale_Geckos

New Member
Messages
651
Location
Oregon, USA
I think you should give the little one a chance. However, if it seems to be in pain and unable to live comfortably... Then you probably should put it down. I vote for definitely giving it a chance though, lots of special needs geckos turn out okay and can still enjoy life. They just take a little extra work.

Edit: Do you have any pictures of the hatchling?
 

Kristi23

Ghoulish Geckos
Messages
16,181
Location
IL
I"m so sorry your little one is having problems. I would try everything I could to help him out. I hope he is able to make it for you.
 

Sandra

New Member
Messages
630
Location
Spain
Eye deformities can be due to the mother lacking vitamin A. I don't know of any other specific deformities caused by deficiencies, but I guess any deficiency in the breeding female can have an impact on the embryo.

Wide temperature fluctuations during incubation can result in deformities too.

Also, I don't know if you were aware of this but there was a batch of mealworm bedding that was contaminated with pesticides, resulting in mild poisoning of the geckos that ate the mealworms that were grown on that bedding. Because of this, many breeders in the USA have had problems with deformed hatchlings. If you use mealworms as a staple and don't breed your own, this may be your problem.

There are animals that are just incompatible, and produce deformed offspring because both animals carry the same hidden undesirable mutations. This is common between relatives, but very very rare between unrelated animals.

It could be just bad luck too. Deformed hatchlings will appear from time to time due to sudden mutations, and there's not much you can do about it.

I can't think of anything else right now... I guess contaminated water or incubation substrate could be a cause too. But anyway, I hope it was just bad luck and the rest of the hatchlings do well for you.

Ps: If it doesn't have eyelids you will need to moisten its eyes as Aliza does with her gecko. And even if it can't hunt the insects, maybe you can feed it with tweezers or teach it to eat from a dish, I don't thing the eyes or the leg would be a problem for that.
 

RepGurl

New Member
Messages
137
Location
Missouri
Thanks for all the info Sandra, and thanks everyone for your help and well wishes. I hate to report that the clutch mate never hatched and the egg started to dent and mold, so I slit it and the unborn one looked just like the one that made it out. Small eyes and no lids. I didnt take it all the way out so I am not sure about the size of the head, and I have no way of knowing about its legs but I assume they both had the same problem. There is no way the parents were related, but the incubator temps did fluctuate some early on (we had a power outage). As I said this was the first season for both the parents and they did laid twoclutches before these two eggs that were not fertile. The female seemed fine weight wise, and I did a vitamin supplement as well as the calcium but who knows right? What brand of supplements do you guys use? As far as the little hatchling goes, it is not looking good. Its in the process of shedding, and not the least bit interested in eating. The leg doesn't seem to be getting stronger. I am fairly sure the poor thing cant see, at least out of one of its eyes. Sorry to bum everyone out, this is getting long so Ill stop. I hope everyone else season is going better then these poor guys are, maybe Ill have better luck with the last four eggs in the incubator.
 

Sandra

New Member
Messages
630
Location
Spain
What brand of supplements do you guys use?
I think the most used supplements in the USA are Rep-Cal products, and I've heard good things about them.

I'm sorry to hear that the clutchmate died and the little one isn't doing well. It seems that you'll have to make a decision soon :(
 

dprince

Mod Squad Member
Messages
4,270
Location
California
I would just give the little one some time. Some new hatchlings - even healthy ones - don't eat for a good while. If he/she can't thrive, then it's time to look at other options. :(

I'm so sorry about that. Deformities suck big time. :main_thumbsdown:
 

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