What causes stubby tails?

[rufretic]

Anybody know what causes stubby tails? I’m assuming it has something to do with incubation because I have two clutch’s, both have babies with short tails and some have stub tails. I’m fearful that my 3rd clutch will also turn out like this. I hope to figure this out before I try incubating any new eggs. I incubated at 89.0 very consistent controlled with a herpstat and had a consistent 99% humidity. I’m clueless to what could of gone wrong. If it was just one clutch or just a couple babies I would of just said bad luck but out of 2 clutches and 17 babies, not one has a normal tail so I’m pretty sure it has to be an incubation problem, I just don’t understand what could of gone wrong. Any help would be appreciated.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Anybody know what causes stubby tails? I’m assuming it has something to do with incubation because I have two clutch’s, both have babies with short tails and some have stub tails. I’m fearful that my 3rd clutch will also turn out like this. I hope to figure this out before I try incubating any new eggs. I incubated at 89.0 very consistent controlled with a herpstat and had a consistent 99% humidity. I’m clueless to what could of gone wrong. If it was just one clutch or just a couple babies I would of just said bad luck but out of 2 clutches and 17 babies, not one has a normal tail so I’m pretty sure it has to be an incubation problem, I just don’t understand what could of gone wrong. Any help would be appreciated.

I don't think I've never seen this unless it is subtle differences between male female deal. You pop them yet? Pictures please.

BTW, i am incubating at 87 ambient. This is giving me egg temps of 89. I still haven't proved it but I believe the eggs generate heat. The eggs could be hotter than you think.

[rufretic]

This is how the worst ones are, males can’t fit their hemipenes in the tail it’s so short. The better ones are just a noticeably shorter tail but should not affect anything including breeding, they pop like normal.


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[JodanOrNoDan]

Oh wow. Definitely not a male female issue. Not good. Have you ever done that pairing before? Are the clutches related? If it is not incubation related that pretty much leaves genetics. Get an egg temp on the remain clutch if there is one.

I am going to look this up in my vet books when I get home, but i don't remember seeing anything like that.

I recommend for now dropping the temp to 87 or 88. It will take longer but it won't hurt.\

The females may be fine with the defect, but if it were me, i would keep the males on damp paper and measure the tails against the body to get a ratio and establish if the tail is trying to grow to normal length. If not the boys will have to be put down because they are going to be very infection prone.

[Bogertophis]

I don't know but I'm thinking "genetics" too. That's a shame...

[rufretic]

I don't know but I'm thinking "genetics" too. That's a shame...

It definitely is NOT genetics. 2 completely different clutches, different males, different females, all babies affected. Both pairs of parents have normal tails.

[rufretic]

Oh wow. Definitely not a male female issue. Not good. Have you ever done that pairing before? Are the clutches related? If it is not incubation related that pretty much leaves genetics. Get an egg temp on the remain clutch if there is one.

I am going to look this up in my vet books when I get home, but i don't remember seeing anything like that.

I recommend for now dropping the temp to 87 or 88. It will take longer but it won't hurt.\

The females may be fine with the defect, but if it were me, i would keep the males on damp paper and measure the tails against the body to get a ratio and establish if the tail is trying to grow to normal length. If not the boys will have to be put down because they are going to be very infection prone.

Im at the same thought process as you so far. After the first clutch hatched I took the ambient down to 88. The second clutch hatched only a week later though and the damage was already done.

like you said, I think the eggs must be getting hotter than my ambient, it’s the only thing I can think of.

as of right now I plan to keep the females and hopefully they can breed like normal so it’s not a total loss.

The males are a waiting game. I have them on wet paper towels waiting for their first shed. They are a little over a week old and so far no improvement so euthanasia is starting to become more of a real possibility. I am extremely disappointed and I’m really hoping I can keep them alive even if they will be ‘pet only’

[JodanOrNoDan]

Im at the same thought process as you so far. After the first clutch hatched I took the ambient down to 88. The second clutch hatched only a week later though and the damage was already done.

like you said, I think the eggs must be getting hotter than my ambient, it’s the only thing I can think of.

as of right now I plan to keep the females and hopefully they can breed like normal so it’s not a total loss.

The males are a waiting game. I have them on wet paper towels waiting for their first shed. They are a little over a week old and so far no improvement so euthanasia is starting to become more of a real possibility. I am extremely disappointed and I’m really hoping I can keep them alive even if they will be ‘pet only’

The odds say that you are probably right. I hope the temp change fixes the issue and that the tail growth issue is temporary (i don't think it is, but it is worth waiting a couple weeks before you put them down).

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Considering you are dealing with to different sets of animal you are looking at an incubation issue which could be the result of a sudden heat spike (depending on when it occur and what stage the animals are could could affect different clutches different way or not at all)

Or you are incubating too high unknowingly.

I have explained before how I incubate but will do it again in case that helps, I have one dummy egg box setup in the middle of my incubator where my thermostat probe is setup, than I have 2 thermometer one in the middle tub on the very top and one in the middle tub at the very bottom.

The variance between the thermostat and thermometer reading is about 1.5 - 2 degrees and I strive to have a temperature in the egg tub at 88. (My T-Stat is setup at 86.5)

Over the years I have changed temperatures going lower and lower, take longer and requires more patience but overall I like it better this way.

[paulh]

Wow! That is some picture.

Another possibility is a borderline vitamin/mineral deficiency in the female or possibly in both parents. It can happen in humans, too. https://www.leanhealthyandwise.com/c...birth-defects/