The most horrible thing has happened!!

[Tarzet]

I feel SO sick....While looking in my PTS enclosure last night.....I found my new baby skink "Noel" dead! I cannot understand why???? I did lots of reaserch on them and it does say that there is a 40% mortality rate in captive born babys...but...... it was so healthy looking! I am now wondering if my decision to keep in with the group was the right thing to do:confused: All that I read about them suggested that was the best way. The male and the other female were not bothering it...and mom was VERY protective. I never handled it, misted the tank a couple times a day...offerd lots of food (as usual), water...temps were what was suggested in all my reaserch...WHAT HAPPEND??????? I cant help but feel guilty. I am worried it was something I did or didnt do....OMG....I am Soooo sad..

Rest in Peace little Noel o>

http://www.tarzet.net/noel2.jpg
Picture taken on Dec25th/2002

[BoidKeeper]

Sorry I can’t offer any suggestions as to what might have happened I just don’t know enough about them. But please accept my condolences.
Best wishes,
Trevor

[Rebecca]

Sorry about your Noel. It sucks when a pet passes on.

[Damien Aube]

You mentioned about a 40% mortality rate.....
you did every thing you should have, you fell victim to the #'s game.
My sincere regrets to you.

Damien

[Quakezombie]

Yes with numbers like those.... there's no telling what it was.

I personally am very sorry to hear this.You had a great success with him in the beginning too (as ive read).

Chin up ! ..and focus on seriously in depth study of the species/habitat (or rather more of it). See if you cant right this wrong (when YOU read/find it,YOU will know it) by a future success.
I mean who knows (i sure dont) it could in fact be a very easy solution (once found out).

You did get further than most didnt you ?
I mean they are known for difficult husbandry are they not ?

Just food for thought and all that,and again my condolences.

Charles

[Linds]

Sorry to hear about your loss :(

[honduranfreekk]

Tarzet i am soooooooo sorry 2 hear of your loss there is not alot we can say 2 make you feel better butt we all feel 4 your and Hold you chin up :)

[Big Mike]

My condolences...

[eyespy]

I am deeply sorry for your loss. Noel was a joy to know, even on a through-the-web basis.

Perhaps you might consider a necropsy to try and find some answers. As Damian said, with such a high known mortality rate among CB neonates, it's very likely you did everything right and there was a congenital defect or perhaps just a malnutrition problem. Some species don't produce very nutritious egg yolks or sacs in captivity and the babies "starve" through no fault of your own. A necropsy might give you some peace of mind if you find out the reason.

My thoughts are with you. I sincerely hope your fond memories of Noel will carry you through your grief.

[mike7034]

sorry to hear about your loss. One of our Schneider skinks just died the other day.<p>
Here is a pic of Hyde<p><br><center>http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/512/945skink1-med.jpg

[Lisa]

That really sucks, but as you said %40 of CB babies die. It may not be anything you did or didn't do.

[Edwin]

Sorry to hear about your loss, Teresa.

[J.J.]

Im really sorry about your lil Noel. May He rest in peace.......:(

[ReneeB]

OMG that's horrible Teresa!
Beside the condolences of course, all I can say is it wasn't you.. you research everything and are great with all your pets. He was definately a victim of that 40%..

You'll produce more and they will live :)
Atleast you know you can produce them.. it's a start.. myabe next time it'll be in that 60%

ok I'm gonna before I say anything else that sounds bad..
I'm so sorry that this happened to you.. {{{HUGS}}}

[KaHane]

we are so sorry to hear of your loss.

[Alicewave]

That's so sad. Sorry to hear it. Hope you have better luck in the future.

[sSNAKESs.com]

Teresa!! Sorry to hear about your loss.. 40% is a high mortality rate and i think it was odds that came into effect.. Dont be so hard on yourself :)

[Tarzet]

I appreciate everyones support ...Thank you so very much :) I plan on doing some more in depth research about thier diet, ect. in the wild to see if I am missing something. I found lots of info about breeding groups in zoos...most saying the same thing. Here is a artical from the Philadelphia Zoological Garden....

>>>>>Philadelphia PA 19104 BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PREHENSILE-TAILED SKINK, _CORUCIA_ZEBRATA_ IN CAPTIVITY. A colony of prehensile-tailed skinks has been maintained for the last 18 years at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden. A total of 47 births, including 5 second generation births have occured. Stillbirths and early neonatal mortality is high (47%). Breeding occurs throughout the year, with 1-2 young born after a 6-8 month gestation period. Behaviors of the female suggest some parental care. Average longevity in this colony is 7.5 years with longest-lived individual approaching 18 years. Housing is best in large tall enclosures. Hollow logs are used for retreats and appear to stimulate reproduction. The diet consists of mixed fresh fruits and vegetables with a small amount of minced horsemeat and supplimented with multi-viamins, bone meal, and oyster shell flour. The young are raised with the adults. The optimal group size appears to be 1 male with 2 females and their young to reduce aggression. <<<<<<<

The only thing that stumps me about this artical is that they feed them horse meat!? I find that strange...since they are vegiterian. They have a high mortality rate of 47%!
What is everyone missing? Why are they dieing??? Hopefully I will be able to find out so I wont have to go through this again. Unfortunatly an autopsy of any kind is now out of the question. I found it dead in the evening last night and we put it the freezer untill we can burry it in the spring. I wasnt thinking all to clearly at the time.
Again....thank you all for the support and kindness :)

[Melly18]

sorry to hear :(

[Zoom]

Please accept my condolences. It is especially hard when there seems to be no good reason.

[andrea]

my daughter's asian tree frog died a couple weeks ago. we read on them and did everything we could but she just would not eat. we were not prepared for it as a pet, it was a gift, but we had tanks and things because of the snakes and had a nice set up with bamboo plants and everything and still it died.
i am so sorry for your loss.

[V.aw]

Unfortunate loss. But keep going. I have to really commend what you're doing. Thats an amazing animal to introduce to captive breeding up here!! I'am wondering if that skink was one of mine. I owned a female, and as far as i know t hey arent the easiest animals to aquire up here. Who did you purchase her from ??

good job on the breeding, hopefully next time you'll have more success.

[BeHeMoTh]

its better to have herped and lost to never have herped at all

right now i'm going herpless at least you still have some