Baby Werner's chams born today...

[BackwaterReptiles]

Here are a few pictures of one of the baby Werner's chams born here today. They are noticeably smaller than the Mt. Meru, Jackson's, and Rudis babies (other live-bearers here). The pictures don't do it justice...they are absolutely tiny...

On my arm...

 

[CarlC]

Congrats!

Carl

 

[BackwaterReptiles]

Congrats!

Carl

Thank you!

 

[ragingreefer]

I'm sure this is basic knowledge but would a mother Jackson's eat her babies if she came across them. It seems like most live bearing fish do and some frogs do. Is there parental instincts even though they don't lay eggs. It's obvious egg laying chams would just lay and forget about it but what about live bearers

 

[biffle]

Awesomeness! Can't wait for more pics!

 

[BackwaterReptiles]

I'm sure this is basic knowledge but would a mother Jackson's eat her babies if she came across them. It seems like most live bearing fish do and some frogs do. Is there parental instincts even though they don't lay eggs. It's obvious egg laying chams would just lay and forget about it but what about live bearers

I'm sure other people have had different experiences, but in my own time spent with the Jackson's/Werner's/Mt.Meru chams during birth, the mothers show zero interest in consuming the young. It's like they are "in the zone."

Often times when the females are giving birth, I'll notice and will just watch them for a while, sometimes 30 minutes or so (it takes them a while when there are around 15-20 babies), just to observe. What I find is, the females just roam the cage, dropping the babies in seemingly random spots around the enclosure. Rarely do they stay in one place and just drop babies.

I personally have never witnessed a male consuming a baby either, but I suspect that when it does occur, it may have more to do with whether or not the male is well fed or not, rather than instincts or aggression. Just my two-cents.

 

[BackwaterReptiles]

Awesomeness! Can't wait for more pics!

Thanks Biffle!

 

[Psychobunny]

Very cool baby pics, how many did you end up with?

 

[laurie]

So tiny and so perfect, they are adorable.

 

[Rodcham]

Fantastic, perfect little babies!!

 

[BackwaterReptiles]

Very cool baby pics, how many did you end up with?

She ended up giving birth to 16 babies in all, one of which was DOA on the floor of the enclosure. These are the first Werner's babies I've raised, so it'll be interesting to compare/contrast the differences between the other live-bearing species I've worked with in the past (and currently).

I'd be curious what other's experiences have been, so I think I'll start a new thread about it.

Laurie & Rodcham - Thanks for the kind words!