Grinning Geckos
Tegan onboard.
- Messages
- 2,515
- Location
- Chicago-land
I got another hatchling today, with deformities, AGAIN. I'm really feeling like a steaming pile of crap right now.
I'm pretty much convinced it must be the supplementation, though the heat problem I had isn't completely ruled out. This one has the same father as the others, but a different mother. I pretty much have zero hope for the rest of the eggs I'm waiting on.
At first, I thought the outlook was good for this one. The eyelid is malformed on one side, and not the other. I spent a good deal of time testing the bad eyelid for function. While at first, it appeared non-functional, that eye is able to close most of the way.
I found it very curious that it was so tolerant to me messing with that eyelid (I was using a fine-tipped paint brush to irritate the area above the eye). You would expect a hatchling to run like nuts, but this one stood still nearly the whole time.
I sat and observed it for quite some time. At this point I don't think the lungs are fully formed. This little guy would heave it's whole body, and severely compress it's ribs to take a breath. It was painful just to watch. I watched long enough to be sure it's not just stress, but an actual physical difficulty.
Finally, during one of the few times it did move with some vigor, I caught sight of the abdomen. I don't know what I'm looking at ... I just know it's not good.
This really, really sucks. :bigcry: I'm kicking myself because I'm fairly certain that had I had a different supplement schedule, all of these little ones would be alive and healthy. Lesson learned....I just wish like hell it didn't hurt so bad.
I'm pretty much convinced it must be the supplementation, though the heat problem I had isn't completely ruled out. This one has the same father as the others, but a different mother. I pretty much have zero hope for the rest of the eggs I'm waiting on.
At first, I thought the outlook was good for this one. The eyelid is malformed on one side, and not the other. I spent a good deal of time testing the bad eyelid for function. While at first, it appeared non-functional, that eye is able to close most of the way.
I found it very curious that it was so tolerant to me messing with that eyelid (I was using a fine-tipped paint brush to irritate the area above the eye). You would expect a hatchling to run like nuts, but this one stood still nearly the whole time.
I sat and observed it for quite some time. At this point I don't think the lungs are fully formed. This little guy would heave it's whole body, and severely compress it's ribs to take a breath. It was painful just to watch. I watched long enough to be sure it's not just stress, but an actual physical difficulty.
Finally, during one of the few times it did move with some vigor, I caught sight of the abdomen. I don't know what I'm looking at ... I just know it's not good.
This really, really sucks. :bigcry: I'm kicking myself because I'm fairly certain that had I had a different supplement schedule, all of these little ones would be alive and healthy. Lesson learned....I just wish like hell it didn't hurt so bad.
I am so sorry you are having such rotten luck. Poor babies, not prolonging it is the right thing to do even though it really stinks.