Blind Baby leo question

[The Juice]

A leo egg that Incubated for 56 days at 83 degrees hatched the other day & I thought all was well until I noticed the baby didn't have any eye lids & didn't react to movement in front of him/her. I came to the conclusion that it is blind, it's an albino & it's eyes are dark & don't blink. I took him into a local petstore who's owner breeds hundreds of leopard gecko's & he said that this happens to him sometimes & that he feeds them to his kingsnake but they can survive & that they can find food blind. My question is is this true? The parents are a Hypo Het for Tremper Albino & Tremper albino & both are healthy. The leo breeders said that the incubator might have go tto hot & that might of caused the leo to be blind but I never adjusted the temp, the only thing I can think of is maybe the sun from the window might have added more heat. Here is a pic of the baby not a good one but you might be able to see the eyes.

 

[OldHag]

I have a gecko with the same problem. I was going to feed it off to my blondi but my girls were weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth so... now, for the past 2 yrs Ive hand fed this maniac gecko. She bites EVERYTHING that gets near her!!
You can see her getting ready to eat the camera!

 

[Stylopidae]

It could just be some random genetic defect.

I assume the others from the batch were OK?

 

[The Juice]

The other 2 eggs went bad & I have one more cook'n. I really don't want to or have the time to hand feed it it's whole life but I don't have the heart to end it's life. The guy at the petstore said it would eat all by it's self,catch food & everything.

 

[bugmankeith]

If you didnt want it mabye someone on this board does, you could send it to them.

 

[Longbord1]

that is so dang wierd!! and its so sad that u just chuck it to your meat eaters.

but nature should do it's course

 

[bugmankeith]

They said it would be able to eat, so it wont have to be killed.

 

[The Juice]

They said it would be able to eat, so it wont have to be killed.

Thats what I'm trying to find out If it will eat by it's self or will I have to baby it it's whole life? It's only 5 days old so I'll see what happens after it's first shed.

 

[skinheaddave]

Have either of you (The Juice, Old Hag) considered breeding them and possibly crossing back to determine whether it is genetic or environmental?

Cheers,
Dave

 

[The Juice]

I haven't I'm planning on this being my last time breeding leo's I have to make room for my new beardie but I'd be interested in the outcome If Oldhag tries it out.

 

[OldHag]

I kept an eye out on the other eggs from this pair of leos. NONE of the other ones had a problem. Even the clutch mate. So.. I dont think its a temp problem. I didnt breed the female again because I didnt want to chance more gimpy babies. The male has bred with many other females and no problems showed.
As to breeding this "gimpy" one. I dont think I will. Shes VERY small. She eats like a monster but hasnt gotten very large. Shes about the size of a 4 month old leo and shes 2 yrs old. Her tail is short and stubby as well. Not like it was broken off. But just shorter than a normal tail should be. She'd probably try to eat the male anyway....


Juice-- This little gecko of mine can eat by herself... but its pathetic to watch. She misses SO much. I just hold the prey in some tongs and she eats that way. If I could find someone who would adopt her (and not feed her to something) Id jump at the chance to get rid of her. But it looks like I have a handicapped gecko for life.

 

[zinto]

How long do these geckos generally live?

 

[Longbord1]

lol i would take her!! she looks like a cutie!

 

[FourDeadFish]

Zinto Wrote:

How long do these geckos generally live?

Most books state ~15 years or longer depending on levels of reproduction. Females bred hard may only last 7-10 years.

Sincerely,
Paul E. Turley