Hatchlings arent looking too good..

[Ren]

One at a time my hatchlings seem to be getting worse and then dying, Ive only lost 2 males, so far but a female isnt looking too good and a few are now closing their eyes... They are housed in ten gallon aquariums and are only getting uvb lighting and enclosure stays around 70-75 degrees, and misted 2 3 times a day.... some are eating fruit flys others dont seem interested in eating at all..... I dont want to loose any more and I feel terrible... Does this often happen or what?

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy Ren,

A quickie note: For babies, I used a 50W flood to create 80-85F temps which is a bit warmer than you are currently using. The added light spectrum from a 50W flood will have additional benefits beyond just keping them warm. I'm sure that some of the keepers with more baby experience can better comment on your 70-75F temps. I've only worked with 3 clutches - Veileds, Panthers, and Jackson's but none of them died. From day-one, I also gave them the same 15 minute automated mistings that my big guys get. Although it seems that babies do well in an open-top aquarium tank for the early weeks, I opted to go with small screen enclosures, typically housing less than 10ea. for the first month or two and breaking them up into smaller groups as soon as I could.

 

[Ren]

ok, I can easily get the temps up to 80-85 i was afraid to do so..... I will try that and see where it goes, I put some flies in there and a lot of them are more active and eating well at the time being, i still have some with eyes closed and don't really know why... I will try a couple of small 15 watt bulbs and see how warm it gets in there for them.... thanks Dave.

 

[Ren]

After changing the temps teh healthy ones are eating and drinking more and seam to be doing great, however i still have quite a few that still wont open their eyes and are slowly starting to pass away, this is very sad.... I dont know what to do.....they get sprayed down 4 to 5 times a day and feed fruit flys and gnats, and the ones that eat are very vigorous eaters and the others just arent....what the heck should i do?

 

[davider]

Hey Ren, about the temps Dave is right, mine did better with them around 80-85F. I lost 2 of my babies, even after they were separated they still did bad but don't loose hope just think positive it's mother nature. Best of luck.

 

[Ren]

separated the eyes opened , from eyes closed, going to spend a bit of time on them tomorrow treating the eyes with terramycin and see where that goes... fingers crossed.

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy Ren,

Before it gets too hot tomorrow, how about trying some full, natural sunshine out in the backyard? I'd stick them in a screen enclosure for that sunshine dose.

 

[Chuck G]

Ren,
With a large group like you have,some just won't make it.
I wouldn't stress babies out by applying terramyacin. I don't think this is indicative of an infection but just babies that may not be strong enough to make it. I agree with getting the heat up a little but careful of dehydration.
Also I agree witha little natural sunshine just remember ants love cham babies.
Good luck with the babies and don't beat yourself up. I am sure you are taking good care of them,sometimes its out of your hands.

 

[mika]

I totally agree with Chuck. That is a large clutch.. Good ol' morning sunshine might help. I wonder if it's possible for chams to actually nourish each & every one of those eggs with a big clutch like that..

Sorry I responded to the other thread right when I saw this one. I hope most of them make it thru

Don't lose hope though.. Good luck

 

[chamlover]

Ren,

Just out of curiosity, when you incubated the eggs, how far apart did you put them?

Debby