hatchling questions-HELP!

[equis8]

I'm not sure if I should post this here or in the genetics section, but here goes.

I have a pair of het albino/het axanthic BPs (supposedly). I bought them a few years ago at the New Hampshire expo. I bred them this year and the female laid a clutch of 6. 4 of them turned a funny color within the first week and by the second week had molded, shriveled up, and died. So I have two that have made it "full term". This of course is my first time doing this and it's been stressful and exciting! Anyway, today is day 60 since they were laid. Everything I know is from reading and since I've read from a few different sources that if they haven't broken through the shell by day 60 that you can cut a little hole. So I did that.

The babies looked like they were dead and about two weeks ago I realized that their heat source (for the incubator) was unplugged from the wall. I am not sure how long it was unplugged (I checked the temps/humidity once every week or so, so it couldn't have been more than a week) but I assume that my 1 1/2 year old daughter must have unplugged it one day. They seemed fine so I just plugged them back in hoping for the best. With this in mind I was started to fear the worst because they weren't moving at all even if I touched them. So I opened one of them even bigger and probed around a bit. He still didn't show any signs of life so I up ended him out of the egg. I was looking him over and touching his belly and he moved a tiny bit. I thought I was seeing things so I touched him some more and there was a flutter of movement. So I scooped him back into his shell. and coiled him back in with head on top. Got a wet paper towel and placed it over the top of him and covered up the incubator.

When I went to check on him a couple hours later he had tucked his head under a coil. So he is alive (although barely). I haven't touched the other one other than to make a hole in the shell from what I can see he looks the same as the first one.

Anyway. Is it normal for them to be so lethargic? I also had a question about his coloring. He is a silver/purple color and he doesn't look anything like the pictures of albino/axantic/or snow babies that I have seen coming out of the shell. Maybe the guy who sold me these "hets" didn't sell me the right ones? I was hoping if you saw a photo of this little guy if you'd know what he could be? And if it is normal for them to just lay there as if dead? The parents look normal as normal can be.

The temps have been at 89-90 degrees (for most of the time anyway) and the humidity has been about 80-85%.

Oh, and other than putting a slit in the other shell I haven't touched him, but by the looks he is of a similar color.

I am really new at all of this and would really appreciate your help/input.
Thank you.
kim~

[Kinra]

I'm sorry I can't offer any advice, but I really hope they pull through for you.

I know incubation stress has been suspected of doing odd things to pattern (and maybe color, I don't completely remember), so that might explain why they look weird.

[snakesRkewl]

Since the hatchling was pulled out of the shell I would take a deli cup and line it with paper towel and soak the paper towel with with bottled water from the incubator(hopefully you have a bottle in there).
Rinse the baby off gently with that same warm water and place it into the deli cup and keep it in the tub in the incubator until it absorbs the yolk the rest of the way.

Good luck, hope they make it

[equis8]

Okay I cleaned him off and he's in a deli cup. I hope he makes it too .

Do they normally just lay there like they are dead?

[PitOnTheProwl]

I hope they do pull through for you
I am sure I will be posting a lot here next year as it will be my first season.

[sho220]

I am not sure how long it was unplugged (I checked the temps/humidity once every week or so, so it couldn't have been more than a week)

Next time check the temps once or twice a day...for reasons like you stated (plug getting pulled) or thermostat problems in general...doesn't help much in this case, but will in the future...