Squishy baby??

[Leo1986]

So I've been reading a lot about the "spring" of a hatchling shell but when do I know when he's considered too soft? If he (petri... My tiny guy) is too soft do I need to add a UVB bulb in addition to the mercury vapor bulb? It's too cold in missouri now for him to go outside! Also do I need to have a vitamin d3 additive??

I've been trying to look for YouTube videos to see what's normal ... With no luck.

Ps- you may have seen my thread about my 3 Leo's...you will be glad to know that I got my new enclosure set up for the Leo kids and everyone is acting 100% better! Eating and active without me promoting them....I haven't seen any stool but I'm thinking they have been cleaning up after themselves

 

[Levi the Leopard]

The plastron (underside) should be the consistency of a butter tub lid. That is the best description for it that I have heard. If it is squishy like gel, play doh, or a stress relief ball than I'd check your husbandry. Make sure the baby has a good source of calcium. Try cuttlebone, powder supplements or calcium rich foods and make sure (s)he has adequate access to UVA/UVB. Without UV it can't synthesize D3 to metabolize the calcium.

I'm not familiar with your other threads. How are you raising these babies? Dry, open top enclosure? Humid, mini Africa to replicate their natural environment?

You mention not seeing poop. Do you soak? Many times they will "go" in the soak and it is a win win. They are well hydrated and you can be sure to see their stool size/ frequency.

Hope this helps you

 

[Leo1986]

The plastron (underside) should be the consistency of a butter tub lid. That is the best description for it that I have heard. If it is squishy like gel, play doh, or a stress relief ball than I'd check your husbandry. Make sure the baby has a good source of calcium. Try cuttlebone, powder supplements or calcium rich foods and make sure (s)he has adequate access to UVA/UVB. Without UV it can't synthesize D3 to metabolize the calcium.

I'm not familiar with your other threads. How are you raising these babies? Dry, open top enclosure? Humid, mini Africa to replicate their natural environment?

You mention not seeing poop. Do you soak? Many times they will "go" in the soak and it is a win win. They are well hydrated and you can be sure to see their stool size/ frequency.

Hope this helps you

Petri's plastron is probably about the consistency of a butter tub... Thank you! I just worry because the last one that he replaced was definitely subjected to the jerky farm I think :/ and he went super soft before he died... To the point where his plastron was see through.

By the recommendation of a breeder I did the shallow sweater box thing and they weren't doing well so I built them a chamber... Temps between 80-105... Humidity between 55-65 (working on getting that higher....they spend most of their time under sphagnum moss which I keep really wet so likely the humidity there is better). They soak for 20-30 minutes daily in their own separate tubs. I've seen the two bigger ones go in the water on their own on a regular basis.

They are all eating and going gang busters now and really active a I just assumed they were pooping. the little one just pooped in his warm bath this am.

 

[lkwagner]

If this has happened before I'd be scared he starts them too dry and they end up with hatchling failure syndrome.

 

[Leo1986]

If this has happened before I'd be scared he starts them too dry and they end up with hatchling failure syndrome.

My thoughts exactly!! I'm super paranoid now about this one because he replaced the other one when it died... I am afraid he's headed the same direction despite my efforts. Time will tell I guess.



This was my last baby two weeks before he passed. His plastron was paper thin and he bled out of the area between the scutes... They almost seem transparent too... You could see the red. Breaks my heart. I tube fed him for 6 weeks to see if I could pull him through.

 

[Yvonne G]

If you can afford it, it might be a good idea to buy a UV meter and test your MVB. If it's not putting out enough UVB to make the calcium work, this could be a problem. If you're still using the same UVB light that you were using with the baby that passed, I'd venture to say you might need a new light.

 

[mikeh]

Some MVB bulbs fail to produce UVB/ UVB output diminishes very quickly. Its a hit or miss. I'd add or replace it with Zoomed T5 HO 10% desert UVB tube and fixture, mounted 15" above the torts shell.

 

[Leo1986]

If you can afford it, it might be a good idea to buy a UV meter and test your MVB. If it's not putting out enough UVB to make the calcium work, this could be a problem. If you're still using the same UVB light that you were using with the baby that passed, I'd venture to say you might need a new light.

I just bought this light right before he died because they were all keeping their eyes closed... And I read a thread on here about those coil lights which I unfortunately had bc of the same breeders who kept the jerky conditions ... So it's like 3 weeks old at most.
How much are we talking for a uv meter?

 

[jtrux]

This might work.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00481APE8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[mikeh]

Re: RE: Squishy baby??

This might work.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00481APE8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Can't use that. " The UV meter is broadband and is not able to detect the narrower frequencies of UV light emitted from artificial sources such as a UV flashlight or UV lamp."

An accurate UVB meter for this application cost about $200.
New T5 HO UVB tube/ fixture combo $40-50.

 

[Leo1986]

This might work.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00481APE8/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Can't use that. " The UV meter is broadband and is not able to detect the narrower frequencies of UV light emitted from artificial sources such as a UV flashlight or UV lamp."

An accurate UVB meter for this application cost about $200.
New T5 HO UVB tube/ fixture combo $40-50.

Oh dang. I can't afford a real meter then. May have to re-work my current setup for the repti sun bulb. Do they have any that can go in the dome lamps?

 

[Leo1986]

I can only find the 5.0 mini reptisun that would fit in a dome... Do you worry about the same eye issues with this bulb as with the coil lamps??

 

[mikeh]

Any compact fluorescent is not ideal. They provide very narrow UVB area. How big is the enclosure? Ideally you want a long tube that covers good amount of length of your set up.

 

[Leo1986]

Any compact fluorescent is not ideal. They provide very narrow UVB area. How big is the enclosure? Ideally you want a long tube that covers good amount of length of your set up.

It's a tall sweater tub. Probably 2x3 feet-ish. I could cut a hole in the plexiglass on top I suppose.... And center it. Would it be overkill if I kept the mvb on too? I have a hole cut out for the dome so I would at least leave the fixture to not lose humidity. I feel kinda stupid bc those mvb are super expensive haha!!

 

[mikeh]

Zoomed 24" T5 HO 10% fixture/bulb combo. Put a plant in the bin to break up some light and aid the humidity.
Dont feel bad. I felt stupid myself. I would use CHE for heat, also will make for night heat.