lifeless hatchling

[mortitia]

One of my hatchlings took 2 days to emerge from his egg. While checking on him yesterday I noticed the temperature had risen to 34, I changed it back down to 30 and increased the humidity as the egg was very brittle. When I touched him he moved so I decided to leave him to it as he was only half out of the egg.

When I checked on him tonight, he was all out apart from the very tip of his tale, he was lay still, felt cold and I assumed the worst. Then I thought I saw him make the slightest movement. I put him on top of the log under the heat lamp in an effort to bring some life back into him. Next time I looked he was lying at the foot of the log on his side. I think one of the other babies pushed him off. I put my hand in to move him across to a better position and he moved away from me.

I took him out and attempted to give him water, but he just payed dead, I put him back in and next time I looked he was lying on his side, so I put him on his tummy.

Thats as far as I have got. Do I just leave him alone and let nature take its course? or is there some intervention that may help him?

Thanks in advance

Marie x

 

[mortitia]

Well, I decided to turn out the lights and wrapped him in a blanket with the other newly hatched babies, I the put another blankie on top for some extra warmth. I did not expect him to make it through the night.

This morning I did not want to look as I was sure he was going to die in the night. To my surprise my hubby tells me that he has not in fact died but is still with us. He still looks like he has been run over by something and is not really moving at all, just stays where you leave him. But there is still a glimmer of life in there.

I had to go out this morning and when I returned he was in exactly the same position. I fed all the other dragons and went back to the sick baby. I took him out and he did not move at all, I laid him in my hand a trickled a drop of water on his nose - nothing. At this time I thought he had gone. Then all of a sudden he wriggled backwards. Amazing the most movement so far. I continued with drops of water in the palm of my hand and felt the very tiniest of movements he was drinking. When he had had enough he pulled himself right up on his front legs. (I managed to stop leaping around the room in elation). I put him back in the nursery under the spotlight and he went back into his I am nearly dead pose and has remained that way ever since.

Talk about a roller coaster ride. So unless any one else has any suggestions I suppose this is the only way forward. I will offer water often, not let him get too cold and see how we go. If he improves I have some baby food I got for the calci worms, so I could try warming a teaspoon up and putting a blob in the palm of my hand to see if he is strong enough to take it.

Marie x

 

[mortitia]

I'm pleased to say that he is still holding on

This is a picture of how he spends most of his time



This is him trying to drink water from my palm



I'm not sure what to do next. I don't want to mess with him too much and I suppose nature has to take its course. But he sure is a little fighter.

Marie x

 

[Esther19]

Glad to hear he's holding on. Have you tried giving him a little bath?