Concern for my 4 Day Old Baby

[CamiGirl89]

Little Jelly Bean is 4 days old today, and has yet to open her eyes. She climbs her vines fine, seems strong, drinks quite well now, and just lost the remainder of her egg-sack. Here is my concern. No open eyes= unable to see food. I am very worried about even trying to eventually force-feed her, since she is so tiny and looks so breakable. Anyone else ever encountered this problem? She is, so far, the only survivor of a weak clutch, and I am wondering if the eyes not being open has something to do with that?

 

[jannb]

Keep her outside in a small screen cage in the shade as much as possible. I swear this is what kept my baby Elly alive when she hatch as a preemie.

 

[CamiGirl89]

Problem is, I don't really have the option of keeping her outside much :/ I live in an apartment with no porch, and I take the adults to my boyfriends house on the weekends sometimes and let them play outside, but here I don't have that option. It is also about 102 degrees today, Indiana is having a horribly hot summer. Do you think higher humidity and more spraying might help them pop open? They swivel around like they are supposed to, they are just shut. Thanks, Jann!

 

[jannb]

Do you have a new UVB bulb on her? Sometime the UVB bulb bothers their eyes especially a new one.

You could try higher humidity and more misting but I don't know if it will help.

 

[CamiGirl89]

There is a UVB bulb above the enclosure, I can turn that one off and see if she improves any. She keeps itching those little eyes on her vines, so I know she wants to open them!

 

[laurie]

I sure hope your little one comes around and is ok.

 

[CamiGirl89]

Thank you, Laurie, me too The other 2 eggs have been sweating for 4 days now, so hopefully they make it out soon!

 

[sandrachameleon]

I hope she lives, but it doesnt sound overly good to me. Eyes should be well open not long after hatching.

Does it appear the eyelids are fused? that she really cannot open her eyes?

that she is drinking is good - if needs be you could create a bug juice (bodies of insects smashed with water and perhaps with a little liquid calcium and vitamins)

 

[CamiGirl89]

Might try the bug juice soon if they are not opened by morning. This is the first day I have seen her show interest in itching her eyes on things. They do not really appear fused, it just looks like she is constantly sleep-walking. You can see the pupil through her thin eyelids, and it is always in the exact same spot (which worries me more).

 

[Supergirl]

Poor little Jelly Bean I hope she's able to open her eyes soon.

 

[chameleoman]

i'm gonna take a wild guess here but is it maybe possible that her eyelids or eyes didn't fully form in the end so that's why shes not opening them. and your right as small as she is its probably not a good idea to force feed maybe rub the bug juice on her lips so she can lick it off or i got a better idea, is she drinking good? poor some calcium powder or vitamins in the bottle shake it up good make sure its a little warm and let her drink it so shes at least getting the main nutrients that she needs

 

[CamiGirl89]

Baby #2 did not make it, poor little pretty girl Jelly Bean opened her eyes once long enough to blink, and they have been shut ever since. Looks like this clutch is not turning out very well

 

[laurie]

Baby #2 did not make it, poor little pretty girl Jelly Bean opened her eyes once long enough to blink, and they have been shut ever since. Looks like this clutch is not turning out very well

I am so sorry you lost little Jelly Bean. Some babies are just not born to make it. At that age it was nothing you did or could have done to prevent it.

 

[CamiGirl89]

Thank you, Laurie. Jelly Bean is still ok, just doesn't have her eyes open yet, and has not shown any interest in food. Her sister started hatching, then just stopped for about 4 days. I finally cut the egg open, and she had (by this time) turned almost totally white and looked as if she had drowned. Her little throat was swollen up like a balloon Hopefully Jelly will open those eyes soon, I think that will be her turning point on survival.

 

[jannb]

Jessica, I am so sorry that the second little one didn't make it. I can only imagine how devastating that must be. I am keeping you and little Jelly Bean in my prayers. Also praying for healthy babies from the other two eggs.

 

[CamiGirl89]

Thank you, Jann, I appreciate it. If anything, at least my 3 adults are all healthy and happy. Both Jelly Bean and I are very glad to have the prayers sent her way