Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, everybody warns about sand and other dangers that can lie in a cage. Well, there is somethign else I would like to warn about...

I lost my pretty little Monet tonight. It was cage-cleaning time and Monet was hiding under the fake rock. She usually hides under her coconut shell. So I lifted the rock and despite the care I took, it slipped from my hands and landed on her. At first I thought it just hurt her tail, because it shook a lot. But after about an hour of special attention, little Monet appears to be dead.

The reason the rock slipped is partially due to its large akward size, partially due to my clumsiness, and partially due to its weight. This hide is by far the heaviest thing in the cage - and it is made specially for geckos. If Monet was just under her usual coconut shell and this happened, she would have been scared, but not hurt. Defintely not dead.

I'm pretty shaken up. I have taken care of animals all my life - pigeons, chicks, ducklings, geese, turtles, cockatiels, rabbits, cows, cats, dogs, goldfish... Of course, animals have accidents and get sick and I have been through that. But I have never had the death of an animal be my fault before - especially not one I was so attached to. I feel like a murderer and although my boyfriend is trying to make me feel better with hugs and kind words ("it's not your fault" - yeah right...), I just feel like scum.

From now on I am only using hides that weigh less than a full grown gecko, such as the coconut shells. That fake rock will not be allowed in a cage with my geckos ever again. If anybody out there is using a heavy hide, I strongly suggest replacing it with something light. Even the most graceful and careful person could mess up. You never know when an accident is going to happen. Please use my tragedy to prevent others from happening.
-----
-Kristin

0.1.2 Leopard Geckos
(Monet, Kumquat, and Tamale)

Sorry to hear of your loss. I understand why you would feel bad about the event. That's a very normal reaction. It was, however, an accident so try not to be too hard on yourself.

My brother in law had a similar event with the family cat. He was closing the garage door and the cat ran under it at just the wrong time. Unfortuantely the garage door opener was an old one without the ability to sense obstructions. He felt pretty bad about that too but it wasn't something he did on purpose. They now have a new, safer garage door opener. The cat will be missed of course, but the new cat (and the kids) now benefit from a safer environment.

Hope things go better for you soon.

I had something similar happen to me once ... perhaps sharing similar stories will help you to feel better. Mine was not with a gecko.

I work with children for a living, and one day I was sitting across a table from a 6-year old boy who I was speaking sternly to because he had hit another boy. I was sitting slightly to his right, and his jacket and backpack were on the table next to him on his left.

As soon as I had said to him, in a very angry sounding voice, "You do not hit other boys, that is not the right thing to do!" his backpack and jacket began to slide off the table on his left hand side. Purely out of reaction, I made a quick move with my right hand to grab the jacket, but succeeded mostly in backhanding this 6-year old across the face. The contact was so solid that his lip began to bleed.

I was in shock. I did my best to explain to him that I did not mean to hit him, and that it happened by accident when I made a quick move to his backpack. He was too shocked to speak at first, but eventually when he calmed down and listened to what I was telling him, he said that he knew it was an accident and that he forgave me.

When I told his mom what had happened, I was still so shaken up by it that I was close to tears. But she was totally calm about the whole thing, and told me that sometimes kids get hurt, and accidents like this happen.

I still have a wonderful relationship with this boy, despite this accident.

I'm sure that much like this boy, if your gecko was able to understand what happened, she would forgive you. And much like this boy's mother forgave me for what was clearly an accident, you need to forgive yourself.

I hope that my story has helped to provide some comfort, if nothing else.

Cheers.

I'm so sorry! It's always awful when accidents like this happen... the first leo I had was short a toe on one of her front feet because a decorative stack of rocks I'd placed in the enclosure wasn't solid enough to support her weight, and crushed one of her toes when they slipped...

It's always tough to lose a little one, whether they be mammalian or reptilian...

Thanks for the encouragement. I was afraid I'd be chased off the forum by herpetoculturists weilding pitchforks and torches! Just kidding!!

I feel a bit better today. I'll probably browse Petco's collection to see if there is anything spectacular to fill my cage. If not, I can always wait. No reason to rush as I have two other beauties to take care of (who are only allowed to live in coconut shells from now on!!). I feel bad saying this, but although Monet was more expensive and may have better genetics, I am much more attached to my little "cheapies" from Petco. Fortunately they are happy, healthy, and un-squished.

I hope that somebody reads this and decides to abstain from excessively heavy cage pieces. My hide rock was so heavy it is ridiculous - there is no need for that for even the largest full-grown gecko. If I must have a "natural" looking hide, I will just paper mache a cave and paint it or something. No need to put my geckos in danger.
-----
-Kristin

0.1.2 Leopard Geckos
(Monet, Kumquat, and Tamale)

... were you said you bought 2 more geckos today...

I wanted to ask you to please stop taking geckos home. You haven't yet raised a gecko to adult stage and have lost two in the last month. Both were tragic losses, but can you honestly say that you are taking care of them to the fullest if you constantly are bringing in more and more? I am sorry if I seem harsh, but I have seen the effects of exploding reptile ownership and have even had to consider calling animal protection on a close friend. No matter how well meaning you may be, you haven't had the experience needed and a house full of young geckos takes a lot of work if you want them all to be tame and healthy. This is especially obvious given this current post. If you had adopted 4 dogs in the last month, wouldn't someone be questioning you? Just my opinion, I only care about the geckos and their quality of life.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Well, the first gecko that was sold to me from the pet shop was in a very sickly condition. Within the first two days it was obvious something was wrong. There was nothing I could do. That death was not my fault. The vet couldn't do anything.

Secondly, I researched online and with "The Leopard Gecko Manual" before I got any of my geckos. I spend weeks researching to make sure it was the right pet for my situation. I checked and double checked to make sure my habitats were safe and healthy before buying any geckos. I have no other pets that will endanger them, and have raised other, more finicky reptiles previously. This pet, nor any pet I've ever had in my life, is not a "fad" pet for me. I researched, I checked my facts, and I'm not going to "grow tired" of them and give them away to shelters. I take animals very seriously, and I want to breed and raise them in the futre. If I have the space, time, dedication, and money to give the pets what they need to stay happy and healthy, I really don't see a problem with that.

Lastly the death last night was purely accidental. That was my fault and I am very upset about it, obviously. But people do make mistakes and that one didn't have anything to do with me providing a dangerous environment or living condition, per se. The animal was healthy, lively, tame, and doing fine until the accident.

I realize that you are looking out for the animals' best interests, but I am not some 12 year old who thought it would be cool to buy a bunch of lizards. I am a mature adult with years of experience with birds, reptiles, and all sorts of mammals, and I made an educated decision concerning this hobby. If the geckos I bought kept wasting away until death and I kept buying them, then I can understand your backlash. But all the geckos in my care with the exception of the first sickly animal, are gaining weight, active, and living it up. I know this because I monitor and record their weight and appearance very thoroughly. I have Excel spreadsheets to prove it (a bit much? maybe). And in case something bad happens and an animal does get sick, I have the ability to take them to a specialized vet when needed - the hospital number is on my phone.

If I had bought 4 dogs and lived in an apartment, then yes, that is not in the dogs' best interests. But if I lived on a farm with 50 acres and bought 4 dogs, would anybody bat an eye? Probably not. It really depends on the situation. I know from an outsider's view, two dead geckos does not sound good. One was my fault, but it is not dead from lack of care or negligence.

I promise you each and every animal is handled with care, and special attention is devoted to each one every day to assure that nothing is amiss. They get food, clean water, calcium dishes, proper thermal gradients, etc. They are very, very healthy animals. So please don't worry. The last thing I would let myself do is abuse animals.

I know where you're coming from on the accident, I had a really bad accident yesterday myself. This summer we've had an explosion of baby blue belly's on my porch so I figured that since there were so many of them that I'd feed them, I've even got a couple that will eat from my hand, yesterday when I was feeding them one ran under my foot well needless to say I crushed it without seeing it. I still feel horrible for it but I know it was an accident and that accidents happen but as long as we learn from our mistakes then it shouldn't happen again.

As far as keeping animals we all have to start somewhere and I wouldn't listen to the double standards. I have people tell me all the time that I have to many animals but if you'd seen some of them before I got them then you'd be amazed at the change in attitude body weight and over all health. As long as your animals are happy and healthy then I'd just let things go in one ear and out the other since most people aren't happy unless they're in someone else's business because they don't want to deal with their own.

Let's not jump to unfair conclusions. Lefty82 has had a couple of hard lessons but that doesn't necessarily mean she's an irresponsible or uncommitted owner. I think your point is valid in general with respect to experience, but raising geckos isn't exactly rocket science either. With enough research, effort, and a good vet most folks seem to do a pretty darn good job of it. Granted, it's always good to look before you leap.

To be fair myself, I will say I think you're dead on target with respect to what actually occurs in many households, usually among young children who are allowed to indulge thier impulse shopping tendencies AND who don't know enough about themselves to know when to say when. In those cases the pets are usually considered "disposable" by parents who view lizards the way most folks view goldfish (my apologies to you goldfish lovers).

Just a hunch but I don't get the feeling that this situation falls in the "disposable pet" category. At least I'm not willing to jump to that conclusion based on the information to date.

I'm sorry to hear that this happened to you That's my worst nightmare, and I can definitely understand your frustration/sadness. I feel bad, and was curious if you wanted a juvenile leopard gecko to replace your deceased friend. I have like 8 juveniles that are het for both Tremper Albino and Blizzard, but have a normal appearance. I just lost a female knobtail that was eggbound and died so I know how it feels to lose a loved pet. These leopards are all very healthy and eating like pigs on crickets, waxworms, silkworms, butterworms, roaches, mealworms, etc. If you'd like one, I'll send her to you for the cost of the shipping. I think they're females since they were incubated by me at 83 degrees. If you want one just reply to this message, or email me at oliverkuepper2001@yahoo.com
-----
1.4.8 leopard gecko
2.3.0 nephrurus levis levis
1.1.0 nephrurus wheeleri cinctus
1.0.0 nephrurus amyae
1.1.0 pastel ball python
1.0.0 axantic kenyan sand boa
1.0.0 gargoyle gecko

I feel your pain and am sorry for little Monet. My friend had one of those ceramic caves for his gecko Bob. Well, Bob went after a cricket and bit down on the edge of the cave instead. He broke several teeth and has a permanent sneer which catches his shed skin; also not healthy for the animals.

My friend now uses a coconut and has since gotten rid of that ceramic cave.

It is a painful lesson, both for the gecko and their person.

Good luck,