Help please! Babies don't want to eat or drink.

[Phinfan31]

My female Jackson gave birth to a dozen babies 2 days ago. 1 of them was dead on arrival...and I just lost one today (hours ago..)

Were now at approx. 54 hours since they were born. I'm really starting to worry...because I fear others are going to meet the same fate as this one if they don't start eating. I read that they might not eat for first 2 days...but I was expecting by now that they would!?

I bought fruit flies and have tried to feed them yesterday and today...not one is interested. The fruit flies crawling around everywhere...even on their faces (I'm not putting too many, but it happens)...

I'm going to buy pinheads today to see if they're interested in those...if anybody has any advice plz let me know.

They're also not really drinking any water....only a couple will open their mouths and seem interested at all. I am careful to stay back and do a very fine mist. They're definitely capable of licking the leaves and twigs but they dont seem interested.

Is this normal? I mean I hear you're lucky if a few survive...but right now I don't feel good about any of them.

Tank Details:

-Terranium.
-Its like 12 in. high, 12 in. deep, and 20 in. wide...just a guess.
-It has plenty of airflow - by a window, screen on top.
-Hawaii temperatures are really nice right now. Precipitation outside and cloudy.
-I have my 50watt light that they seem to love and bask under. I keep it high enough so not to harm them.
-feeding bowl has twigs entering it from outside so they can crawl down inside...twigs are broken down so they're not too high up (approx. 6 inches each)
-have a safe plant inside.

I cant imagine my setup has anything to do with this...I've tried hard to make sure its a good environment.

Again, any help is appreciated.

Aloha

 

[sharp229]

I don't have personal experience with Jackson neonates but from what I've read they should be eating after 54 hours. What type of fruit flies are you using? Hydei are best because they are larger.

Do they have food available to them at all waking hours? Is the food concentrated in an area where they can easily see it? You should be able to get the fruit flies to concentrate where you want them with fruit.

What is basking temperature and ambient temperature?

 

[leedragon]

My female Jackson gave birth to a dozen babies 2 days ago. 1 of them was dead on arrival...and I just lost one today (hours ago..)

Were now at approx. 54 hours since they were born. I'm really starting to worry...because I fear others are going to meet the same fate as this one if they don't start eating. I read that they might not eat for first 2 days...but I was expecting by now that they would!?

I bought fruit flies and have tried to feed them yesterday and today...not one is interested. The fruit flies crawling around everywhere...even on their faces (I'm not putting too many, but it happens)...

I'm going to buy pinheads today to see if they're interested in those...if anybody has any advice plz let me know.

They're also not really drinking any water....only a couple will open their mouths and seem interested at all. I am careful to stay back and do a very fine mist. They're definitely capable of licking the leaves and twigs but they dont seem interested.

Is this normal? I mean I hear you're lucky if a few survive...but right now I don't feel good about any of them.

Tank Details:

-Terranium.
-Its like 12 in. high, 12 in. deep, and 20 in. wide...just a guess.
-It has plenty of airflow - by a window, screen on top.
-Hawaii temperatures are really nice right now. Precipitation outside and cloudy.
-I have my 50watt light that they seem to love and bask under. I keep it high enough so not to harm them.
-feeding bowl has twigs entering it from outside so they can crawl down inside...twigs are broken down so they're not too high up (approx. 6 inches each)
-have a safe plant inside.

I cant imagine my setup has anything to do with this...I've tried hard to make sure its a good environment.

Again, any help is appreciated.

Aloha

what kind of light are you using? when you mist you need to use a really fine mist and make sure it doesnt stuck on their heads or they can drown, people say you should not spray direct on them but I do, juskt make sure there is not big dripps on their head, you are rpobebly puting too many feeders at the sme time, can you post pictures? of the enclosure and the babies? you may need to separate them in smaler groups.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKTbUaOQ0aA&list=PL4HFX9PBYVY2eIWT0v3ZgYSk-r76SEujI

have a look at this

 

[little leaf]

hi, sorry you are having issues w/ your babies - when I have baby Jax, I set them up pretty much what you have, I used a tote, with a screen lid, but be sure to give them a cool side if you can - some get hot, but seem not to know it - also, lots of plants ( real ones ) it offers lots of drinking spots, and it helps keep the FF on the move, and off the babies - I know you said you did not add to many FF- but sometimes they stress at first at the sight of the food- and it does not take many to freak them out at first - can you post a pic of your set up for them ? and also, the light - be sure it is not to bright - that can effect their eyes. Misting w/ a fine mist is good- I try not to spray them direct to much, and I spry thew the screen, it makes it more like a "rain drop" - I noticed ( at least with mine ) they did not like a fine mist on them - but did not seem to mind the drops - also try silk worms - get eggs, they hatch in like 5 days, and you can just drop them here and there on the plants. ( if you can get them in Hawaii? )

 

[Phinfan31]

Thanks for your insight guys.

The fruit flies at our Petco were literally all dead in the jar. I didn't notice and the guy gave me 10% off. I thought "oh cool thanks"...but ya there werent many in there. Those that were, quickly died once they entered the cage by walking over the water drops or they would climb up and escape out the screen...they're very small. I wasn't using fruit to keep them attracted and in one area. Lol...thanks for that tip.

I DID however get them to eat the pinhead crickets! I bought 60. Probably dumped 20-25 over the course of two days in there. I'm having a problem getting them all to eat though - so I might have to pull some out and put them in a tupperware container?? (I don't have anything else to confine them)...and try to feed those ones that way? One or two of the babies will hog all the crickets. I've seen one eat 5 himself...while others wont be interested at all.

They're drinking water from time to time from the leaves....but just like the crickets...there are those that seem completely disinterested and don't even react to the water when hit directly.

Its nearly impossible to keep track of who is getting what....I'll try to post pics tonight when I can.

(Another one died last night - just suddenly...) I removed them all out of the cage and put them in a tupperware while I was cleaning their cage. It had like 40 dead fruit flies in it and I wanted it clean before putting the crickets inside. I'm wondering if the stress was the killer? I'd imagine he was one of the ones who neglected eating/drinking too...

In response to the light questions - its a 50watt heat lamp. I raise it up so its not going to harm them. I also have a 25watt UVB light. I rotate between the two and keep the side with greenery dark/cool.

 

[leedragon]

Thanks for your insight guys.

The fruit flies at our Petco were literally all dead in the jar. I didn't notice and the guy gave me 10% off. I thought "oh cool thanks"...but ya there werent many in there. Those that were, quickly died once they entered the cage by walking over the water drops or they would climb up and escape out the screen...they're very small. I wasn't using fruit to keep them attracted and in one area. Lol...thanks for that tip.

I DID however get them to eat the pinhead crickets! I bought 60. Probably dumped 20-25 over the course of two days in there. I'm having a problem getting them all to eat though - so I might have to pull some out and put them in a tupperware container?? (I don't have anything else to confine them)...and try to feed those ones that way? One or two of the babies will hog all the crickets. I've seen one eat 5 himself...while others wont be interested at all.

They're drinking water from time to time from the leaves....but just like the crickets...there are those that seem completely disinterested and don't even react to the water when hit directly.

Its nearly impossible to keep track of who is getting what....I'll try to post pics tonight when I can.

(Another one died last night - just suddenly...) I removed them all out of the cage and put them in a tupperware while I was cleaning their cage. It had like 40 dead fruit flies in it and I wanted it clean before putting the crickets inside. I'm wondering if the stress was the killer? I'd imagine he was one of the ones who neglected eating/drinking too...

In response to the light questions - its a 50watt heat lamp. I raise it up so its not going to harm them. I also have a 25watt UVB light. I rotate between the two and keep the side with greenery dark/cool.

you may need to divide them as I say, too help see who is eating and who isn´t and so that they all have a chance to catch their food before the big ones eat all or so they are getting stressed by the other ones.

after you divide the pust just 5 feders at the time, so the dont get confuse or stressed by the feeders