Disabled babies

[Nalasdomain]

This is my 3rd clutch of baby Veiled's and they have all been healthy... until now. The clutch is about 4 months old now. These 2 images are of the same baby. It looks almost as if it has spina bifida-the back bone is more compressed and her tail is crooked. She does not appear to be in any pain and eats very well. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? Also, one of her sisters from this clutch has never had use of her right hind claws. The digits appear to be intact but it does not open or grasp anything. She uses the leg but it is like a club foot. The photo is at about 1 month old but it looks the same now.

 

[jajeanpierre]

What were your temperatures like when you were incubating them? Any spikes? What did you supplement the female with before she was bred?

 

[Nalasdomain]

Room temp, between 72-78 degrees. However, I moved from my apartment toward the end of incubation and although I was very careful when I moved the eggs, I've wondered if the movement could have caused a problem with those 2 eggs? As far as the female's diet and supplements, crickets dusted with calcium w/out D3 daily, multi-vitamin 2 weekends in the month (every 2 weeks),horn worms and silk worms periodically. Also give them kale, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries about 2x per week.

 

[Andee]

Were you dusting with D3 at all?

 

[Nalasdomain]

Yes, the multi contains D3.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Did you supplement the mother with straight Vitamin A throughout her life?

 

[Nalasdomain]

No. Not straight Vitamin A.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Look to incubation temperature spikes and nutrition of the mother. The more clutches the mother produces, the more nutritional deficiencies will show both for the mother and for the babies. In the wild, the Vitamin A content of the eggs decrease the later in the breeding season (i.e, the more clutches have been laid). Her resources are depleted more and more the more eggs she has produced so a minor nutritional problem becomes a big one both for the mother and the babies.

 

[Nalasdomain]

So, I guess I should supplement Vit. A as well since her remaining clutches will most likely be fertilized? How much and how often? Any other supplements or dietary suggestions? Thank you BTW. Also, does anyone know what happens if the eggs are accidentally moved or turned? Can that cause deformities or does the egg stop developing?

 

[Andee]

Is your multivitamin Reptivite?

 

[Nalasdomain]

Yes it is Reptivite.

 

[jajeanpierre]

So, I guess I should supplement Vit. A as well since her remaining clutches will most likely be fertilized? How much and how often? Any other supplements or dietary suggestions? Thank you BTW. Also, does anyone know what happens if the eggs are accidentally moved or turned? Can that cause deformities or does the egg stop developing?

I supplement monthly with human Vitamin A. You will have to speak to your own vet about dosage--I'm not comfortable recommending a dosage. I came up with my dosage with a lot of research, some in veterinary manuals plus discussions with my vet and other breeders.

I really doubt bottled reptile vitamins are what they say they are. As soon as you open the bottle, they start to deteriorate.

I suspect most chameleons are Vitamin A deficient. A breeding female needs a lot of nutrition because she has to put it into the eggs so it will last the babies many months. The more clutches she produces the more nutritionally deficient she becomes and eventually she and her babies suffer.

Also look at your calcium and light. I don't supplement with D3--they have very good lights and I expect them to make their own.

Don't rule out temperature spikes. Was the hatch normal or did you have a lot of full term babies that died in the shell or near hatch?

Most of the time eggs are fine if they are moved or turned. It's not something you want to do, that's for sure. I think every breeder has dumped a box or two of eggs and had a normal hatch.