Babies dying!!!

[kgallego]

I hatched 20 baby Panthers over two weeks (3/6-3/20). One of them died on Sunday, now a second one is dying. I can't figure out what 's going wrong.

Enclosure:12" x 12" x 12" Aluminum Screen Cage, tiny wooded dowels and fake leaves.
Lighting: A single 5.0 UVB Bulb across the back. I heat lamp in the front corner with a 40W bulb, elevated 2" above screen.
Water: Misting them thoroughly - twice a day.
Food: Tons of fruit flies powdered with Repashy's vitamins (same as I've used for years for my healthy adults, I don't have it in front of me, but it's the appropriate vitamins). Fed twice a day.
Temperature: The cage is in room temperature. Daytime room temp 72 deg F, Nightime temp 68 deg F. Heat lamp adds heat in the corner to 90 deg F.
Handling: Zero

The first one that died, I would find him on the bottom of the cage in the mornings for two days, completely black. I would help him into the fake plans and climbing dowels, where he would just sit, showing no interest in eating or drinking. After 3 days of this, he died.

I found the second one on the bottom of the cage today, completely black. It seems to be a repeat of what happened to the first one.

The majority of the other babies are eating, drinking, and appear to be growing. The ones that died do not appear to have grown at all, or grown very little.

I'm out of answers??? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm sorry, but I do not have a picture at this moment.

 

[camimom]

Well the heat lamp in the corner making temps 90 prob isnt helping.

but some babies just dont survive.

 

[CarlC]

Do you have all the babies in one cage? Those dimensions would be ideal for a single baby. Like camimom said 90f is pretty warm for babies. Shoot for the lower 80's with plenty of room to escape the heat if needed.

Carl

 

[ataraxia]

90* basking is fine but the cage is to small. You may also want to try the tote method of keeping neonates. I would make sure you are able to keep humidity up just a tad or add in a extra spraying.

It is normal to lose a few from a clutch no matter how well you do. With panthers i typically see a 20% mortality rate.

 

[kgallego]

Thanks for the input.

Yes, 90 is basking only.

This is my first panther clutch, so knowing that it is common for some babies to die is good to know.

 

[ataraxia]

If you are going to keep the temps you do need to provide a bigger area "cage" for them to thermo regulate. I personally use 110qt sterilite totes with a 90* basking spot..

 

[kgallego]

Temps vary throughout the cage from 90-70 deg.

 

[ataraxia]

Keep them as you wish but a 12 inch cube is not the best for 20 babies.

 

[kgallego]

It's actually 14" x 14" x 12", which is 36% larger than the 12 cube.

I've read that alot of folks use sterlite tubs to rear their clutches. I would think that this would be better. I'd like to hear more of your thoughts if you wouldn't mind.

Thanks!

 

[Carlton]

It's actually 14" x 14" x 12", which is 36% larger than the 12 cube.

I've read that alot of folks use sterlite tubs to rear their clutches. I would think that this would be better. I'd like to hear more of your thoughts if you wouldn't mind.

Thanks!

If you know that there are some weaker babies the first thing I'd do is start separating them into smaller groups. Stress and competition for space, heat, light, water, food could make the difference in how many more you lose.

 

[kgallego]

If you know that there are some weaker babies the first thing I'd do is start separating them into smaller groups. Stress and competition for space, heat, light, water, food could make the difference in how many more you lose.

This is interesting. I try to limit the food competition by offering tons of it, but I can see how competition for space would effect them. They're going to have a new and larger home soon.

 

[fluxlizard]

I actually think it might be the fruit flies if you continue to have problems.
Fruit flies are good as part of the whole, but I've never had babies thrive for long on fruit flies only. Get some pinheads in there too...

 

[kgallego]

I actually think it might be the fruit flies if you continue to have problems.
Fruit flies are good as part of the whole, but I've never had babies thrive for long on fruit flies only. Get some pinheads in there too...

I thought of that. Pinheads are already in the mail.

Thanks,
Kelsey