Hatching... then dead?? *DISTRESSING PIC*

[bitsy]

[Sorry, just realised I can't post pics from my home PC - will post from work tomorrow]

I don't believe this. The first egg of my Amel & Snow clutch pipped last night. When I checked this morning, the hatchling was fully out and one more was pipping. Thought I'd leave them in the incubation container until I got in from work.

So I checked them this evening when I got in and, - two fully hatched: dead. Two partially out of their eggs: dead.

And I mean thoroughly dead. The fully-hatched ones were stiff, with the classic post mortem gall bladder bruise-type mark. One of them was contorted.

All I can think is that there must have been some sort of catastrophic temp spike during the day due to the thermostat failing, but checking (and re-checking) with my infra-red thermometer this evening, I can't get a reading above 83 degrees inside the incubator. I aim for a range of 80-84 degrees, which is what it's been all through incubation.

I've gently moved the egg container into a different incubator - one that's just successfully hatched a clutch of Butter Mots and I hadn't got round to turning off. But no signs of more pipping yet.

I'm absolutely gutted. In all the years I've been breeding, I've lost two babes - from separate clutches - that died immediately after hatching and must have had developmental abnormalities.

I've never seen anything like this before and I'm deeply worried for the rest of the clutch.

 

[Drewby07]

Wow. My condolences....maybe there was a lack of air in the incubation container? I've heard of that happening....

 

[bitsy]

Well it's an egg container I've used before successfully, and I took the lid off last night and this morning, so I don't think it was lack of air per se.

I guess if the first one died for whatever reason during the day, it would have started to decay quite fast in a warm/damp environment. That might have used up oxygen or produced some sort of noxious gas that poisoned the others?

Good thought - thanks.

 

[LBoz]

Oh bitsy, my heart just sank while reading this. I'm so sorry for the losses. Best thoughts for the rest of the clutch. ((((bitsy))))

 

[starsevol]

I am so sorry....(HUGS)

 

[bekers71]

Awww that is so sad. It's weird how some things just happen for no apparent reason. Good luck with the rest of the clutch. Fingers crossed they will all hatch healthy.

 

[bitsy]

Thanks for the support folks. Appreciate it. x

 

[koa94]

oh! that must be devistating! How long have you been waiting for them to hatch? But i am so sorry!

 

[Susielea]

Oh Bitsy, I'm so sorry this has happened, don't know what to make of it myself though :shrugs:

I've had 4 eggs this year that pipped a small slit, then nothing, after a couple of days I slit them open, as they were getting sweaty and found perfectly formed babies, with most of the yolk absorbed dead inside, no rhyme or reason why though :shrugs:

I hope the rest of the clutch makes it for you and all is not lost (hugs)

Best wishes,

 

[crackerhead]

I'm sorry for your loss Bitsy. I was just telling a friend today a similar story about a clutch of Miamis that I lost 3 hatchlings from. They hatched out fine (they even struck at me) and I left them in the egg box with the remaining pipping eggs. The next morning when I was checking the incubators they were all dead. I don't think it was a heat spike because everyone else from that incubator is fine. And I don't think it was lack of oxygen because my lids have holes. I'm stumped. I wish I could offer some explanation.:shrugs:
Terri

 

[Nanci]

I'm really sorry to hear this, Bitsy. So sorry.

 

[Joejr14]

If you didnt have holes in the incubation container I'm going to guess it's from a lack of oxygen. I lost a whole clutch of het sunkissed hypos last year from it.

 

[RavenSpirit360]

My first thought also was not enough oxygen.. But whatever the cause I am sorry for your loss

 

[jenneses]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[coolsnakesky]

so very sorry to hear of your loss..

 

[dwyn127]

I can't help you with why they died, but I will share with you something I started this year that may help in the future.

All my digital thermometers show me current, minimum and maximum temperatures. Occasionally, I'll flip through the settings to see what they've been. One time I saw 100*. Fortunately, no harm. But this year as a precautionary measure, I've got one in my incubator that serves one purpose, it is ALWAYS set at max so every time I go in the room, even if the thermometers with the eggs read 82*, I am always alerted to what the maximum temperature has been throughout the entire incubation period.

Hope the rest of the eggs hatch successfully.

 

[bitsy]

Thanks for the ideas and support folks. I've punched some airholes in the egg container to I'll see if that helps with any more that pip, although I've used this one before without problems.

No sign of more pippies yet, so I'm rather afraid it was a heat spike that's done for the rest of them and they're D.I.E. But I'm not giving up on them yet.

I try not to get "mumsie" about them but... My poor bubbas...

 

[ForkedTung]

That's a shame, hope you figure out what happened. Best of luck with the rest!

 

[RebeccaK]

I am sorry for your loss, Bitsy... It must have been very sad for you to see the babies dead... (not a nice thing I know as I have had few DIEs and one that did not make it after a bad regurgee...)

Hopefully, Murphy will be kind to you for next breeding..

Cheers,
Rebecca

 

[bitsy]

Thanks guys. I was having such a good year up until now - four clutches hatched successfully so far and a great year for non-feeders (i.e. very few).

I guess it's only fair that Murphy should have a go, but it's heartbreaking to see them get this far and then not make it.