umbilical cord still joining gecko and egg

[lytlesnake]

I just checked the incubator and saw an Amel Fat Tail hatching. It was most of the way out of the egg, but not quite all the way out. It looked like it might be stuck, so I kinda held the egg still so the gecko could squeeze it's rear legs and tail out. Now it's all the way out of the egg, but the umbilical cord is still attached. The gecko is dragging the egg around the incubation container. It's on vermiculite.

What do I do? Just leave it in the incubator and check it every few hours, or carefully remove the gecko and egg together and put it in a hatchling tub with moist paper towel substrate? Hopefully the umbilical cord will detach on it's own. I'd rather not have to cut it or anything, but I will try that if I have to. I hope I didn't screw up by helping it out before the umbilical cord had a chance to detach, but I was worried that it might get stuck and die if I did nothing. Thanks for the help!

 

[dprince]

I would carefully move the hatchling and egg together onto paper towel substrate. :main_yes:

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Agreed. Keep the little one on moist paper towel until it absorbs the yolk and the cord detatches.

 

[lytlesnake]

Thanks Debbie and Marcia! I put the little gecko in a tub and it seems to be doing fine, so hopefully it will detach from the egg soon.

 

[lytlesnake]

Just came home from running errands and checked the gecko. Yeah! It's detached from the egg and looks good. Thanks again for the advice girls. These fat tails sure are small when they hatch out. This is my third of the season so far. The clutch mate to this one hatched yesterday.