Newbie hatchling/yolk sac question

[geckomom]

I'm not a "gecko newbie", but I am relatively new to breeding geckos.

This might seem like a dumb question for those of you who are experienced, but I just have to ask, for my geckos' sakes....

Is the yolk sac on a hatchling internal or external? So far I've had 5 hatchlings, and the ones I've seen hatch, or shortly after hatching, had what I assumed was the yolk sac attached (where the umbilical cord would be on a human). But two of my hatchlings didn't seem to have any sac at all, and the others lost that sac within hours of hatching.

Is there something wrong with my hatching techniques, or do they carry some of this internally as well?

If I don't see what I assume is a yolk sac shortly after hatching, should I try to feed the new hatchlings, or will they be okay til after their first shed?

My first hatchling had no sac at all, and I panicked and fed it slurry from an eye-dropper til after its first shed.

I'm embarrassed even asking this, but I'd really like my hatchlings to have the best start on life they can.

Thanks so much for any info, and thanks to everyone who's helped me out in the past.

bobbie

[DragnDrop]

Is the yolk sac on a hatchling internal or external?

Honest answer.... Yes ;)

It starts outside as the yolk, and most full term hatchlings have absorbed it all, the remnants are inside the gut, which they use up the first few days after hatching. That's why they don't have to eat the first 5 or so days. Some hatch just before they've absorbed it all, some still have a big blob attached. It will eventually dry up and fall off, no harm done in almost all cases. Once in a while there is a problem, but I find those are the ones that are weak or too premature to make it anyways, so it's almost expected.

For the most part, if there's just a small blob which falls off within a few hours, you have nothing to worry about. Most people don't offer food for the first few days, but I give them the option by supplying tiny mealworms (not small ones, but 'tiny'... just big enough for me to handle to put in the saucer), or fruit flies which I have millions of anyway. If and when they want to eat, they have it there, ready and waiting. When I see them eating, I start offering crickets, be it day 1 or day 5. Otherwise, I offer crickets by day 6 and always keep small mealies in the saucer (the tiny ones I put in at the beginning will have eaten the gutload and grown to the right size by then too).

Some hatchlings have such a big yolk attached that weighs them down like a ball and chain. These guys stay in a take-out salad size container in the incubator, moist paper towel, a silk leaf to hide under and no food offerred. Once the yolk has fallen off or been absorbed, I judge their tummy to see if they're ready to tackle food. Some have a fat gut, probably absorbed enough yolk, so they go on the normal schedule as above. The ones with a flat tummy probably didn't absorb the yolk, it most likely fell off. They'll start on fruit flies or even some of the fruit/yogurt mix I use for cresties (spoon fed, lick-off-the-nose style).

[geckomom]

Thanks so much! I guess my experiences so far are pretty normal then.

You also brought something else up that I've been wanting to ask but keep forgetting - fruit flies. I'm assuming you mean the "flightless" kind? I have a hard time getting mealworms small enough for the hatchlings, tho I'm starting my own mealworm culture, so hopefully I'll have some eventually.

Do you just put the fruit flies in the saucer? Is there a way to gutload them? Should they be dusted with anything?

Sorry for the endless amount of questions, but hopefully, the more I know, the healthier and happier all my geckos will be!

Thanks!

bobbie