In a message dated 00-12-20 18:14:54 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jim Chapman)
writes:
> I also noted the Reptiles magazine article on Geckonia mentioned on this
> list a few days ago. You had wonderful success with them this year. How
> many generations have you bred and have you noted any problems with young
> Geckonia mortality as reported by the author? I will be breeding them for
> the first time. I don't remember Jon indicating any real problems and I'm
> sure he's bred them for several generations.
Jim,
Thanks for asking. I currently have some F4 eggs incubating. Out of well
over 100 hatchlings, I have never had a hatchling die that emerged on its own
and didn't have another pre-existing problem. I had lost 2-3 hatchlings in
the beginning that had the yolk sac attached and eventually died, but now I
carefully snip it off. They are so tiny that this can be tricky. Since I
started doing this, I haven't lost another one with this problem.
There is something interesting I would like to share, too. I had one
hatchling with a small amount of tissue protruding from its abdominal slit
after hatching and it subsequently died after 24 hours. When another one
presented with this problem, I thought that I would try something different.
I rinsed the tissue well, let it air dry, and then applied the smallest
amount of Preparation H with the blunt end of a toothpick. I left the
hatchling (on a dry piece of paper towel in the deli cup) in the incubator
overnight. In the morning, the tissue was gone and the slit had closed.
Since I have only had 2 hatchlings with this problem, this is by no means
definitive proof that this treatment should be used. I figured that I had
nothing to lose after the first one had died without treatment, though. I
would be curious what others do in this situation.
Also, this past Fall I have observed a couple of hatchlings with abnormal
tails (shorter) and deformed rear feet (missing a toe(s)). These are babies
produced by my original WC colony. I can't accurately estimate the age of
these breeders as they came in as adults over 3 years ago. I don't know if
the abnormalties could be a result from older breeders or something lacking
in their diet. I would love to hear any thoughts of what might be the cause.
Jim, good luck with breeding your Geckonia! If I can help, please, e-mail
me. They are such cutle little geckos.
Stacy
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