Deformed hatching

[Rocsteady1029]

The unfortunate side of breeding has reared its ugly head and I had the misfortune of hatching a deformed leopard gecko. The little guy has a truncated tail and a twisted spine that causes one of its front legs to be tucked under. quality of life is pretty low sadly. I'm feeling pretty bad for the guy. I have had hatchings die out of he egg before, but this will be my first deformity.

Well not to be a downer or anything just thought I would share. I know a lot of people wanna breed and I thought it might be good to hear some reality that can happen. You can produce a thousand babies but you still feel bad when it doesn't work out as planned for one. :?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks for sharing. Sorry to hear this. We like things to go well!

I have a friend who happened to hatch out a twisted gecko that she named "Corky". Corky ate alright on her own and lived a good long life. Corky recently passed away.

 

[Rocsteady1029]

Thanks for sharing. Sorry to hear this. We like things to go well!

I have a friend who happened to hatch out a twisted gecko that she named "Corky". Corky ate alright on her own and lived a good long life. Corky recently passed away.

I'll put in the extra work to make life for it as good as possible. I don't what the internal issues may be. The little one can be mobile but prefers to stay stationary and seems lethargic. I guess we will see.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'll put in the extra work to make life for it as good as possible. I don't what the internal issues may be. The little one can be mobile but prefers to stay stationary and seems lethargic. I guess we will see.

That sounds nice. How old is this hatchling?

I have a small gecko that somehow broke it's leg while under the care of a petsitter. The leg is totally turned around, but it still catches crickets. I just amputate the back legs of the crickets at the knees to slow them down.

 

[Rocsteady1029]

That sounds nice. How old is this hatchling?

I have a small gecko that somehow broke it's leg while under the care of a petsitter. The leg is totally turned around, but it still catches crickets. I just amputate the back legs of the crickets at the knees to slow them down.

Two days old.

 

[Rocsteady1029]

Front leg tucked, bulge at neck, and stumpy tail

 

[Holly12]

Sorry to here this sometimes this happens and it is out of our hands no Iam not a breeder I use to have 2 female leos.

 

[Saskia]

Well, being only 2 days old he probably hasn't eaten anything yet, I believe that if he is able to eat, defecate and shed, he might do fine, I have heard (not sure if it is true) that deformed animals usually live shorter lives (even when their health is fine), but if you can give him a good life, well, it's not so bad then!

 

[houseape57]

I think it is wonderful that you are willing to try to give this critter a chance at life. Sure you will never be able to breed this little one but he/she will make a nice pet only. I have blind, deformed, super tiny leos that I enjoy taking care of. Some ppl would cull, I have the time and means to take on the challenge and try and give them a quality of life. If I found that they were suffering in anyway then yes I would have them put down. I brought them into this world, I take full responsiblity for there well being. Good luck to you and the little one, and a very nice looking baby too!

 

[norea]

i dnt knw... should have culled it...

 

[Allee Toler]

I don't cull unless they're clearly unable to live a good life. Arlington hatched last year at 1.7g (weight WITH yolk sack, didn't take her weight once it fell off). She had only three toes on one really short arm. She wouldn't eat on her own. The vet had her on a hand fed mix that was high in fat to get her to gain weight. She was hand fed the mix for 2 months, then she started to eat on her own. She's now about 30g, full grown. Very active, alert, eats, sleeps, poops, vet gives her a clean bill of health at every 3 month check up. She does, however, spin when over stimulated. She's not an Enigma... But she'll put her nose on the floor and walk in circles.

The photo is her at 2 months old. My thumb is 2" long.

 

[Rocsteady1029]

No I'm not going to cull unless it is absolutely necessary. It's in its first shed right now and is struggling. Im going to let it finish as much as possible, but since its front legs do not really work I'll have to help there. Fingers crossed.

 

[MellowMan24]

i also hatched a deformed one last year (my first year breeding) my aunt always wanted a leo so i gave it to her with a tank, last i heard/ seen she was getting big. but mine had under developed eyes but could still see shapes (i think)

 

[norea]

Sorry. u are right i guess ...seeing that they still have hope... its not like they dont have eyes or limbless ...

 

[bwoodfield]

OMG Allee she is sooooo cute. I know that stress on a gecko, especially one so small, is not a good thing but I'm imagining her spinning in her cage and I can't help but thing it would look a little funny.

 

[Jasonp85]

Allee that leo is awesomely cute and happy just. Look at that smile

 

[Allee Toler]

OMG Allee she is sooooo cute. I know that stress on a gecko, especially one so small, is not a good thing but I'm imagining her spinning in her cage and I can't help but thing it would look a little funny.

She only does it after I feed her and move her hide or if I did a lot of cleaning in her cage. She'll spin until I move her hide back. I think she does it out of confusion... Not too sure though. She does great otherwise. She gets around fine, too.

This video I took 8 months ago. She was exploring, climbing up and over everything on the floor, then decided to hide.

http://www.facebook.com/v/427730707449

 

[bwoodfield]

Stupid Facebook won't let me view the video due to security restrictions.

 

[Allee Toler]

Login | Facebook

Took off my "friends only" privacy settings.

 

[Jasonp85]

Allee roc yall are really awesome ppl wouldnt have even though of giving them a chance thx for bliveing in all of ur pets even the one most wouldnt it inspireing.