HELP (!) w/ premie baby!

[MSMD]

Well, I was surprised/excited to peek into the male incubator today and see a hatchling. I'm pretty sure it's a Raptor...my first!!! Only thing is, I wasn't expecting anything hatching for a few more days. I think he's around 5 days premature . The clutchmate egg got moldy and failed early on (my first egg to go bad so far). This little guy just lays there...moves around a little every once in a while. There's not much yolk sack attached. I put him in a small tub and moistened the paper towel. Any other suggestions? I think he was incubated around 29 days. Anyone have a hatchling this premature actually make it??? My males have been hatching around 34-35 days at 88-89 degrees. All the rest have been totally heathly, active little screamers to date.

Here's a pic:

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Oooohhhh.... it look like a little preemie RAPTOR. All you can do is just exactly what you are doing. If it were my baby, I'd keep it on moist paper towel in it's deli cup and kep it in the incubator for a few days.

There's not a lot of yolk sack left, so all we can hope for is that enough of it was absorbed into it's tummy. Dehydration is a problem with these tiny ones without a belly-full of yolk. By what you describe, it is weak, so keep anything stressful to a minimum and just wait.

I'll keep this little one (and you) in my thoughts and prayers that it will make it through the next few days and gain the strength to survive.

 

[MSMD]

Thank you SOOOO much Marcia! You think it would be too stressful to gently put him into a deli cup and back into the 'bator at this point, then? That sounds like a really good idea. We're so lucky to have you! :main_yes:

 

[eyelids]

I hope it makes it for you...

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Mari, I'd try to pick it up with the paper towel it's on, put it in a deli cup and back into the incubator.

I'll be honest, the odds are against the little one surviving... but they are tough little creatures, and I've been surpised MANY times!

Best of luck with this little one...

 

[MSMD]

Thank you, Marcia and Michael.

I picked him up in the paper towel and gently put him back into the deli cup. I moistened a little piece of paper towel with warm water and draped it over the top of his little body from the waist down (so it can't smother him).

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[PacHerp]

I'll be thinking of you and this little gecko. Lets hope for the best!

 

[MSMD]

Thank you, Britt! I think this little guy needs all the positive thoughts he can get coming his way!

 

[Ccrashca069]

I hope the little cute guy makes it for you. Congrats on your first Raptor. You going to call him Lucky or something like that?

 

[dprince]

My thoughts are with you and your baby, Mari!! Just to give you a little hope, I had one hatch out very similar to that a while back.........one of the tiniest I'd seen. She's eating well and doing great now - she's got some growing to do, but she's a fighter!!

Hang in there..........keep us updated. :main_yes:

 

[tronicsman]

my thoughts are also with you keep us posted he it makes it allright

 

[MSMD]

I lost the little one over the night. :sad2: I stayed up all night with him, making sure he stayed moist. He gave it his all, but was just too weak to make it. I don't know how he even made it out of the egg. It must have been all he had........don't know why he hatched so premie.......

Thank you, everyone, for all of the support. Obviously, this is one of the most disheartening things about breeding these guys. My first Raptor and my first baby lost. *sigh* At least he's in a better place, not having to fight to live any longer.

 

[The Sunset Gang]

Aw.... I am so sorry for your loss. You did all you could do. I am sorry.

 

[Stitchex]

Mari, I'm so sad to hear that ='(. I'm rooting for the others though.

 

[PacHerp]

I am so so sorry to hear that! You will be in my thoughts....

 

[MSMD]

Thank you, Britt, Mary, and Greg. I don't know what I'd do without everyone here!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Oooohhhh, I am sorry the little one couldn't fight for life. I know you are heartsick, and so am I for you. Lots of hugs...

 

[eyelids]

Very sorry to hear that...

 

[MSMD]

Thank you so much, Marcia and Michael. It made for a very somber Easter.

 

[Airilith]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I hope lil bundles of healthy gecko joy enters your life for all of your other eggs.