It’s been a bit of a rough month so far here at Star Dragon Herpetoculture. 2 of the babies from Sheik and Tomba’s clutch failed to thrive despite our best efforts, and passed away.
Then we lost a new purchase isolation baby, we’re not sure why, but he went downhill rapidly within the three weeks we owned him. (Vet necropsy was inconclusive, but there could have been something internal)
and then, Agrias, despite looking the picture of health, was found passed away. Necropsy on her showed an enlarged heart, but we grieve for the loss, and so many lost in a short time has been devastating.
On to the good news. Mary Ann’s second clutch, which consisted of only one fertile egg out of the ten laid… finally hatched on 9/11/21.
The hatchling, appears to have had an undeveloped twin. (a large mass existed in the egg) and the surviving twin is an adorably tiny 2 grams! The little one has already successfully taken it’s first meal! (A pinky head, halved lengthwise) and is inquisitive and thriving!
All of the earlier hatched siblings are doing well, with all but two successfully eating extra small pinkies! Hopefully this will conclude the emotional roller coaster for the year, and things will go smoothly from here… but it’s always unpredictable with reptiles.