Thats because your "f-stop" aka aperture size is to big. When it comes to f-stop the smaller the number the bigger the lens is open, so a 5.2" is open bigger than a 15". The bigger the lens is open the closer the focal length. So a 3.0" is going to focus very close and lose focus aka blur the background, the bigger the f-stop number the further away from the focal point this happens..
here are some examples.
See how the nose of the snake is in sharp focus and not 3 inches behind it is blurry this is from a large aperture aka small f-stop number.
Here again small f-stop
How ever with images like this a larger f-stop was used so that the foreground and background can be focused.
F-stop is also important for stop motion. Fast shutter speed needs more light this means smaller f-stop which means closer focal length
Hope that helps..
P.S more light like with a flash or Light box will allow you to use larger f-stops and help you get the whole animal in focus..
Thanks! Yeah, I had the whole F stop logic backwards. Tried it again tonight and finally getting somewhere. White balance is something I haven't played with but I know I'm going to have to get that down too especially for the really hard to get color morphs like the Enchi (have yet to get one picture of that morph that I like - I've had to delete almost every one). The other issue I have is just getting some of them to stay still but not much I can do about that.