Sulcata hatchling

Billy Ray

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Hi there,
I have a 2 week old hatchling with a big hard yolk sac that has not absorbed. She is very active and eating. I soak her daily and keep her in the incubator on a moist paper towel and put her under a light daily for a few hours. The base where it attaches to the umbilicus is wide. Advice? Please dont bash me for letting some eggs hatch. Thanks.
 

Gillian M

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A very warm welcome to the forum.

Please post pics of your hatchling. This would enable the experts to give you advise more easily.

Read the "Beginners Mistakes" Thread.
 

Billy Ray

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My bad. Shes happy though. Eating and climbing . I keep her on a wet paper towel by herself in the incubator at night and put her near her UVA/UVB bulb during the day. Its so hard though kinda scary.

Hatch 1.jpg Hatch 2.jpg Hatch 3.jpg
 

Tom

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Why would anyone bash you? Have you been bashed elsewhere for bringing babies into the world? We generally encourage that here.

That yolk sac is definitely abnormal and indicates a problem. There may be some congenital defect. All you can do is what you are already doing. Damp paper towels, daily soaks and offer food. Keep her warm too.
 

Yvonne G

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Don't allow the paper towel to be too wet, as the yolk will absorb moisture from the towel - and you want it to dry out and absorb into the body.
 

Billy Ray

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Why would anyone bash you? Have you been bashed elsewhere for bringing babies into the world? We generally encourage that here.

That yolk sac is definitely abnormal and indicates a problem. There may be some congenital defect. All you can do is what you are already doing. Damp paper towels, daily soaks and offer food. Keep her warm too.
 

Billy Ray

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Thank you ! Yes I have bee bashed before on a yahoo group so I hesitate to join these groups but maybe not now. She is eating greens and likes soaking with her friends . I keep the sac clean . Incubator at night at 88 degrees and 80 percent humidity. Eyes shiny and she's a perky little thing !
 

ALDABRAMAN

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That yolk sac is definitely abnormal and indicates a problem // Keep her warm too.

~ Something is wrong for sure, maybe it will simply shrivel or dry up and fall off, letting the plastron close and heal.

~ Please continue to post updates and pictures.
 

ALDABRAMAN

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She is eating greens and likes soaking with her friends . I keep the sac clean . Incubator at night at 88 degrees and 80 percent humidity. Eyes shiny and she's a perky little thing !

~ You might consider a vet visit, he may be able to tie it off and cause it to simply fall off. The fact she is eating and active indicates to me that it is not being consumed and may get septic.
 

Billy Ray

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Hi everyone.
I have good news. The hatchling (Bubbles) continues to thrive.Her sac is shrinking. The only thing I did different is that I stopped wetting the paper towel so much but soak her once a day. Eating well and weight is stable. I put her in with the others yesterday because her bubble is rock hard so I am no longer fearful of it tearing and her getting septic. We are going on 3 weeks now. Thanks for everything :)
 

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Markw84

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~ Awesome

~ Do you think it will just dry up and fall off?

@Markw84
@Will
@Tom
@Yvonne G

~ Do you think after the remains dry up, will the plastron follow normal process and close up?
I have never seen a yolk sac like this. When I first saw this post, I did not think the baby had much of a chance. It seems to me that there must be some active blood vessels to the yolk sac and all that necrotic tissue that is now there cannot be good??? If somehow it continues to dry up and can fall off like a scab, the plastron could certainly close up and heal- if indeed that is simply yolk sac only and not distended organ and/or blood vessels. The "yolk sac mass" does not look seperated from the body to me. The necrotic tissue is of concern. I am following with interest.
 

Billy Ray

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I am so thankful for all the interaction :) Bubbles is doing well. I can see how you would say necrotic by the first set of photos but by the second set it doesnt. It is so hard harder than her shell. I hope she does well. She loves to eat. Haven't seen any poop yet though.
 

DeanS

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I'm thinking the plastron shut on the sac! It looks aged for sure! Follow all your current protocal except...I would use NO artificial light source whatsoever. Soak it under the sun two or three times a day...for at least half an hour per session. As long as it's eating. drinling and pooping...things look good!
 

Big Charlie

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I hope your baby makes it. How can she walk with that big thing underneath her?
 

Billy Ray

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I dont know how she does it but she does. She's a really tough little thing !
 

Billy Ray

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I'm thinking the plastron shut on the sac! It looks aged for sure! Follow all your current protocal except...I would use NO artificial light source whatsoever. Soak it under the sun two or three times a day...for at least half an hour per session. As long as it's eating. drinling and pooping...things look good!


I will put her outside for sure. She has been under uva/uvb her entire life so far. Ugh. Can I ask why for my own education?
 

DeanS

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Any light in an closed environment is going to interfere with the 'moisturizing' of the carapace. Any and all sun exposure is going to cover ALL uv needs. In the wild they probably spend a grand total of 200 hours a year in the sun...that burrow they take shelter in has no light fixtures...just plenty of moisture and heat!
 

Billy Ray

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Any light in an closed environment is going to interfere with the 'moisturizing' of the carapace. Any and all sun exposure is going to cover ALL uv needs. In the wild they probably spend a grand total of 200 hours a year in the sun...that burrow they take shelter in has no light fixtures...just plenty of moisture and heat!


Thank you :) I have never had a problem with a hatchling before . On my days off I will make sure I put them outside more often.
 
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