Poorly baby Ivory
 

My tenth hatchling hatched & I went on holiday the following day. I collected the hatchlings two weeks later but something was bugging me about the tenth one who luckily is very pale so distinctive. Couldnt put my finger on it till later that week when I felt she wasnt eating, I then saw her eating & thought she is just too active & inquisitive to eat for long. The next day I observed her carefully & noticed she was trying to bite her siblings & upon close inspection to my horror I realised she was going through the motions of eating but wasnt leaving bite marks because she couldnt open her mouth :(

There appeared to be a split which looked like a mouth on one side but not the other. I felt so guilty her not having any food for 3 weeks! After pm's to Dan & independant discussions with Hanna Bould it was decided the best course of action would be to try & fit a feeding tube until hatchling was big enough for investigation/work. She is only 10 grams.

Hannah managed to fit the thinest tiny tube last Monday. It was a challenge as she is the smallest hatchling she has fitted one to. There was a membrane inside her mouth that was preventing her from opening it, which Hannah removed & on inspection her mouth/jaw seem normal. We named the hatchling Ivory. She was perky on the afternoon we picked her up, but god did she go downhill the next day! Flat out, sleeping 24/7 very weak- which was so sad as she was full of beans prior to procedure. So after blocked feeding tubes etc, 3 meals a day of duphalyte, critical care & water totalling 0.1ml all together! & coutless baths (I should have shares in abidec lol) she has finally started to pick up in the last few days & have a wonder around her tiny hospital table for an hour in the afternoon. Tonight after 10 days to my delight she has eaten by herself for the first time ever! She is currently sleeping off her T! So fingers crossed.

(She is middle one, far right)
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Good luck with her Lynn she is lovely xx

Sorry to hear this Lynn :( But glad shes doing well now :D Surely this ones a keeper? ;)

Poor wee thing! Hopefully she is taking a step in the right direction, good luck with her.

Aw poorly baby! Hope she makes a great recovery Lynn x

Yes definately! I was keeping just the first one to hatch & we called her Penny. Now think might change that ones name to Ebony! as she is the darkest by a mile, think she will follow dad who is very black.

Aww poor baby hope she comes good :)

You are doing a great job Lynn...keep it up, that tort is beautiful.

Aw how cute hope she carries on to do well bless her

poor baby, sounds like your doing really well with her. love her name 2, hope she comes through x