Can't get week old Meru Jackson babies to eat

[MeruJack]

I was surprised by a batch of 5 Meru Jackson babies born about 10 days ago since I had only had the mother a short time and didn't even know she was pregnant. My problem is I have only seen them eat once in the past 10 days. I am feeding them mostly flightless fruit flies as my shipment of pinhead crickets arrived 90% DOA. At least four of the five of them ate 3 fruit flies about three days after they appeared but I have not seen them eat or drink since. Somehow them are still hanging on. Help! How do I get them to eat???

 

[Action Jackson]

I was surprised by a batch of 5 Meru Jackson babies born about 10 days ago since I had only had the mother a short time and didn't even know she was pregnant. My problem is I have only seen them eat once in the past 10 days. I am feeding them mostly flightless fruit flies as my shipment of pinhead crickets arrived 90% DOA. At least four of the five of them ate 3 fruit flies about three days after they appeared but I have not seen them eat or drink since. Somehow them are still hanging on. Help! How do I get them to eat???

Are you sure they are Meru's? Can you post pictures of the parents? #1 thing I would suggest is make sure the have a good nighttime temperature drop to 50 is good. I only feed fruit flies for the first couple months. There are a lot of variables so it's hard to give specific advice.

 

[MeruJack]

Meru Mom Just Hours Ater Giving Birth

This is Mom after giving birth earlier in the day.

 

[MeruJack]

My male Meru

This is Black Jack, so named because he was very dark for the longest time after he arrived in my home. He's happiest and "greenest" when he is outside of his enclosure.

 

[MeruJack]

This is New Mom

This is Meru (no need to explain the name) exactly one month BEFORE giving birth.

 

[MeruJack]

Baby Meru's and Nighttime Temperature

I have been keeping the nighttime temp at about 60 degrees. I will try to drop the temp to 50 or so (I'll have to use a fan) and see if that increases their appetites. Thanks!

 

[MeruJack]

Screen enclosure...Feeling hopeful

Since I didn't expect any babies for a couple more months (I have a full size Jackson's that is several months pregnant) I wasn't prepared for these Meru babies and had to make due with what I had available which means my babies have been in a plastic enclosure with a screen lid. Well, today their new larger screen enclosure arrived and they seem much happier, are more active exploring their new environment, and their color is better/lighter. Also, the small Reptibreeze fully screened enclosure will probably help the nighttime temperature drop lower than when they were in the plastic enclosure and this may up their appetites as well. I'm feeling much more confident! Thanks!

 

[Chase]

What are their daytime temps?

Chase

 

[MeruJack]

The daytime temp is about 70-75. I am not using a basking light at this time as I read that they aren't able to regulate their own temps at such a young age and could overheat and die.

 

[Action Jackson]

How are they doing? I think the screen cage should really help. I do different things depending on when they are born. If they are born when the weather is good with lows in the 50s and highs no higher than 80 I keep them outside in screen cages with partial shade and misters suspended above the cages. If they are born in the Winter I house them in the garage in screen cages with UVB and 6500k lights and also a 40 watt incandescent bulb suspended above the screen about 1"-2" so the screen doesn't get too hot. I believe some heat helps to stimulate eating.

A couple things I have learned that seem to help is to not put to many FF's in at one time. You need to put a good amount in the cage but not so many that they are crawling all over your Chameleons. Also be careful when you spray them. If you mist them and they freak out and twist and open their mouths this is not good. Spray the leaves and try not to spray them directly. If your using a hand sprayer with room temperature water that would work fine.

I have found with all Jackson's that I have worked with if they make it the first few weeks they should do fine long term.

 

[MeruJack]

Some improvements

Today I saw one eat today and three others were actively hunting but I didn't watch them long enough to see them actually catch anything. Here's a pic of one of the babies I just took before putting them to bed for the night. Thanks for the tips.

 

[MeruJack]

Update on Surprise Meru Babies

Well, all five of my surprise babies have survived and are now 17 days old. It is still rare for me to actually catch them eating or drinking but I did see the smallest one eat two fruit flies yesterday and one of the babies activity seek out the dripping water today. They have been in a small Reptibreeze screen enclosure for a week now and no longer spend a lot of time hanging from the top screen but are climbing around and hanging out on vines and the wooden dowels. They are eating only fruit flies which I put in a white feeder dish and then sprinkle a few on leaves near a baby if it is far from the dish. They usually will wait until the flies start to crawl out of the dish and on to the vines before eating them. Yesterday, I turned on the 40 watt heat bulb for a few hours (I haven't been using one, just the ReptiSun 5) and they all gathered around on the leaves and vines below it and near the feeding dish. I was able to snap a few shots of them which I will try to attach. When I cropped one of the pictures I noticed that I could see the beginnings of horn growth on one of them. So cute! I still do a head count every morning and every evening after they've went to sleep…but I'm beginning to believe that they're all going to make it!!

 

[kplatvoet]

With my baby jackson who was very young a small piece of fruit stuck on a branch would get the fruit flies to concentrate where she could find them.

 

[MeruJack]

kplatvoet - Great tip! I'll try that. Thanks!

 

[leedragon]

Well, all five of my surprise babies have survived and are now 17 days old. It is still rare for me to actually catch them eating or drinking but I did see the smallest one eat two fruit flies yesterday and one of the babies activity seek out the dripping water today. They have been in a small Reptibreeze screen enclosure for a week now and no longer spend a lot of time hanging from the top screen but are climbing around and hanging out on vines and the wooden dowels. They are eating only fruit flies which I put in a white feeder dish and then sprinkle a few on leaves near a baby if it is far from the dish. They usually will wait until the flies start to crawl out of the dish and on to the vines before eating them. Yesterday, I turned on the 40 watt heat bulb for a few hours (I haven't been using one, just the ReptiSun 5) and they all gathered around on the leaves and vines below it and near the feeding dish. I was able to snap a few shots of them which I will try to attach. When I cropped one of the pictures I noticed that I could see the beginnings of horn growth on one of them. So cute! I still do a head count every morning and every evening after they've went to sleep…but I'm beginning to believe that they're all going to make it!!

great news