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-   -   Newborn chaco with yolk issues (http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=74916)

001 11-01-2019 08:12 PM

Newborn chaco with yolk issues
 
It's taken a bit over 8 months but they're finally here. Five new chacos hatched so far, 3 more eggs to go.
However, one of them has a problem. He drinks a lot but he doesn't eat much, and his yolk sac isn't reabsorbing. The first week he couldn't walk right because of the sac, but eventually it flattened a bit, and while it is still there, he stretches his little legs over it and can move just as well as his siblings.
He now is the runt of the litter, hasn't grown much in his 3 weeks, and his shell seems to be softening.
Any tips in how to deal with this? Should I use floss to cut the "umbilical cord" and get rid of the yolk?

burnt toast 11-01-2019 08:53 PM

Pictures would help.

Personally I would have kept him in the incubator until his plastron straightened & the yolk absorbed (otherwise he is at high risk of infection).

I would be tempted to tie it off, as close to his body as possible & pop him back into a sterilized container, covered in a "Tent" made from damp kitchen towel, to keep humidity up.

001 12-01-2019 01:22 AM

I've just got home from work. The sac has darkened and has some sort of white fungus over it.

What do you think? Should I try to tie and sever the sac or just treat the fungus and hope for the best?

https://i1281.photobucket.com/albums...s0dhhq1zf.jpeg

https://i1281.photobucket.com/albums...sjqahggny.jpeg

Suze65 12-01-2019 12:56 PM

I would have thought that needs to come off, maybe you should find a specialist vet, ASAP .

tortydat 12-01-2019 01:30 PM

Agree with Suze definitely needs to be tied so that it can drop off and some very dilute F10 at the same time where it joins the plastron pending an emergency vet's visit.

Yvonne G 12-01-2019 04:59 PM

That doesn't look good at all, but I agree with the others - it needs to come off. Maybe you can try soaking the baby in warm water (in a container it can't climb out of). I think Stells posted quite a while back on how to use dental floss to separate twin baby tortoises. I'd certainly try that and get rid of that ugly black blob - the sooner the better.

You're so lucky to have Chaco tortoises and even luckier that they breed and have viable offspring. Chaco are very rare here in my area. I'd LOVE to have some.

001 13-01-2019 11:31 PM

Ok, I tied and cut the thing. He seems a lot better in terms of mobility and overall attitude, but so far today hasn't eaten anything. Hopefully he will get better soon.

@Yvonne G, they are somewhat rare here too, and I'm in Argentina, where the species originates. It's illegal to sell them, let alone have one as a pet. I haven't seen a turtle for sale in a pet shop since the 80s. BUT, Margaret Turtler and Darthes, the parents of all my torts, have been in the family since before that.

sandy 14-01-2019 09:44 AM

Sounds like your hatchling wont eat for a while, as they have had the egg sac to eat off of. The most important thing is hydration now:0)

tortydat 14-01-2019 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 001 (Post 676489)
@Yvonne G, they are somewhat rare here too, and I'm in Argentina, where the species originates. It's illegal to sell them, let alone have one as a pet. I haven't seen a turtle for sale in a pet shop since the 80s. BUT, Margaret Turtler and Darthes, the parents of all my torts, have been in the family since before that.

They are very rare in the UK although in the late eighties (I think) or maybe early nineties there were a lot of hatchlings imported and I helped find a home for an adult from this time only a few months ago who was absolutely lovely.

burnt toast 14-01-2019 11:17 PM

I hope your hatching will be ok. Would love to see some pictures of your adults please.


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