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Old 11-01-2019, 08:12 PM   #1
001
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Unhappy 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?
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Old 11-01-2019, 08:53 PM   #2
burnt toast
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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.
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Old 12-01-2019, 01:22 AM   #3
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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?



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Old 12-01-2019, 12:56 PM   #4
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I would have thought that needs to come off, maybe you should find a specialist vet, ASAP .
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Old 12-01-2019, 01:30 PM   #5
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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.
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Old 12-01-2019, 04:59 PM   #6
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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.
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Old 13-01-2019, 11:31 PM   #7
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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.
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Old 14-01-2019, 09:44 AM   #8
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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)
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Old 14-01-2019, 11:26 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 001 View Post
@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.
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Old 14-01-2019, 11:17 PM   #10
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I hope your hatching will be ok. Would love to see some pictures of your adults please.
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