BABIES! and a question

Ixidor · 08-17-04, 06:53 AM

My 1.1 super hypo pair laid eggs in june, I guess it was a little late, well anyway, I thought for sure the eggs were dead, didn't see any pinkish glow or anything I checked last week, decided to keep cooking them anyway. This morning I opened up the incubator to see a little guy/girl (probably a girl 82* in the the inc) about 3 inches long in there! Anyway, I didn't check it yesterday, so he could have been there for 24 hours or 20 minutes, im not really sure. Is it safe to put him in a rubbermaid and throw on a heat pad? Or should I wait a while? I can't find any of the heat tape down here :\ so uth would be my only option as I don't want to have to deal with bulbs, does anybody have some temporary heating sugestions? I could put him in a ten gallon which I already have a uth for but is it possible for it to be too big? Anyway I'm really excited as this is my first set of hatched eggs, and as always any input is appriciated.

thegeckoteam · 08-17-04, 07:59 AM

A ten gallon would be fine for your hatchling. Make sure you have what you would have for an adult-a couple hides and a moist hide. The temps are the same as for an adult also. Your baby will shed in the next 3-5 days and you can start feeding small mealworms & 1/4" crickets after that.

Ixidor · 08-17-04, 08:10 AM

Should I take him out right now ?
or should I wait?

Samba · 08-17-04, 08:48 AM

Prepare the tank first! LOL I suggest paper towels for substrate, a shallow dish or 'lid' for water and a few hides. An UTH on one side under a hide will keep the little one warm. Mist the 'moist hide' once or twice daily; (baby geckos dehydrate easier than older geckos). Don't handle it very much, as babies will stress quite easily.

After it's first shed (which you might or might not witness), offer small crickets dusted with a cal-vit d-3 suppliment. If you don't see you gecko shed, offer food in a few days.

To accelerate handling, I suggest a small article of clothing with your scent on it... the baby gecko will associate the scent with comfort and quiet, instead of as a threat; I do this with all new reptiles and find it works very well. If I were you I wouldn't handle the new baby until it has demonstrated good eating habits and shows little or no signs of stress. Personally, besides cage cleaning and such, I probably wouldn't start handling until it's at least 6 to 8 weeks old... then 'training' can begin! LOL

Good luck with your new little baby, and congrats on the successful hatching!! Keep us updated!

Ixidor · 08-18-04, 09:47 AM

His/her clutch mate hatched about 6 hours later, all there was when I looked into the incubator was his/her little tail sticking out, an hour later his/her whole body was out, anyway, right now I have them in a ten gallon with a zoo med rock shelter ? I think thats the brand, and a meat tray for hides, there on a uth