Deformed hatchling - Warning Graphic

[JDouglas]

This beardie hatched today and was having trouble getting out of the egg. After removing him I could see why. He is severely deformed. It's spine just above the tail bends straight back towards its head. Its abdominal cavity is also fully exposed. Amazingly it was the first to pip. http://showcase.netins.net/web/reptiless/stuff/bhatch/3.jpg

http://showcase.netins.net/web/reptiless/stuff/bhatch/4.jpg

The siblings all appear normal. The parents were also not siblings. Incubation temps were very steady. I think it was just a fluke congenital defect. It was obvious he would not live so he was humanely put to rest.

[peterm15]

good choice... thats so sad to see... he may have just hatched but sorry for your loss

[BoidKeeper]

Sad but it's still good that you shared with us.
Best wishes,
Trevor

[snakebeginner]

Aww... that makes me so sad to see!!! :(

[Shad0w]

Yikes... poor little thing... :(

Well.. Ya did the right thing.. its assuring to know its no longer suffering

[sidewinder]

DNA gone crazy! to bad,their nice little animals. Sorry

[Simon]

Sad, but you did the right thing.

I had a couple of corns hatch out deformed too, and it was humanly put down too.

Anyways, best of luck with the other hatchlings~

[JDouglas]

Thanks everyone. The siblings are doing great.

[Double J]

Good lord. What amazes me is that the little guy actually survived long enough to hatch out. Though this is unfortunate for the little guy, it goes to show how resilient life can be.

[JDouglas]

I know I couldn't beleive it either. The fact that he could cut his egg several times and crawl halfway out is amazing. Had his abdominal cavity been closed he may have been able to live with a twisted back but would have had to be hand fed. It was very sad.

[RepTylE]

Poor little thing , never had a chance. Guess these things just happen now and then. I'm glad that the rest of the babies turned out to be healthy and perfect. Best of luck

[Adrian]

That is quite aweful! Im glad to hear the siblings are fine. A breeder friend of mine told me of a simmilar incident he had with a few clutches of eggs, all things constant, there was 1 or 2 that 'didn't turn out' while the rest where just fine. Its quite plausible that this is natures way of providing a "decoy" should the nest be attacked by predators, and give the fit ones a chance to escape. This occurs in the mammalian kingdom as well, ei. 'runt of the litter'. Anyways, glad to hear the others are fine!

[beardieguy]

I have 2 eggs right now that are joined together since the mother laid them. They are going to be hatching in the next few weeks if everything works to what I figure. Hopefully they come out fine..

Glad that the sibling are all healthy and running around like crazy. Which they usually do when you try to get their water dishes and veggie dishes out...lol