Sad day

[Cleigh9579]

So I had 8 great healthy babies developing front legs and everything. I have been feeding BBS and microworms. doing 80% water change daily. I opened a new gallon of spring water and replinished the amount I took out after feeding. Everyone seemed fine for two hours and I went to bed. I woke up to find curled tails and no one would move, even when touched with the baster. The only other thing that was strange was a fruit fly had landed in their water and died sometime in the night. I have been using this brand of spring water the whole time Ive had the babies this was my 5th gallon. IDK what happened. But it is frustrating. I am thinking I should have had them in different tubs, maybe if it was the fruit fly that contaminated the water it would have only gotten one of them. just sad and frustrated

 

[Martin21114]

IIRC spring water is not recommended. I don't know why and I could be wrong, but I swear I read that somewhere. I have always used plain old cold tap water with the appropriate amount of dechlorinator (zoo med reptisafe). Also 80% water changes aren't going to do it, especially with bbs. They die and rot and foul it too quick to add 20% icky water back in each day. If you are planning on having another go at it, I would get 2 shoebox size containers (<$2 @ walmart) and a bottle of zoomed reptisafe from petsmart ($3-$10 depending on size). Fill and treat both containers with water so they are the same temp, then move the baby axies from one container to the other each day and change the water from the one they were just in. I just pour the whole thing through a fine net and move the axies that way. There's probably a better way but it's worked for me so far.

Sorry for your loss and good luck next time. Don't give up!

 

[Cleigh9579]

I had them in the shoe ox size containers and was using the turkey baster to suck up all the junk and stuff I saw and do a 80% water change,
I didnt know how to move the babies so when I did I just sucked them up with the baster and gentley put them in the new tub. I am deffinatly not giving up. I will try again in a little bit. Going to clean everything first. I think I was under feeding also. Just aggravated that everything was fine until this new container of water was opened. IDK. I am def going to go get the water conditioner and do as you suggested, that sounds the safest and easiest so far. Thanks for the input.

I would love to hear how everyone moves their babies. Just so I have some options.

 

[nicolelawton]

i have found that moving the babies with a measuring spoon works well. I just scoop them or dump them into the spoon, wash out the container and put them back in with clean water

 

[Kaysie]

Cleigh, sorry about the babies. Sometimes it's hard to pinpoint a cause. When they're really tiny, they're so sensitive to things. It could've been temperature shock, a difference in pH, etc.

Spring water is fine; you want to avoid distilled/drinking/purified/RO water.

 

[Tiffanymac]

aww, I'm sorry to hear that...