Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My pain is your benefit...

Hi guys, I just got back from vacation today and Ive been contemplating if I should write this these past few weeks and Ive decided that it will probably help a lot of people, if not motivate them more, even though I am undergoing an immense amount of pain.

On June 1st, 2 days before my vacation my Bearded Dragon died. She was 18 inches long and living in a nice 75 gallon tank. I got her 3 years ago and loved her with every part of my heart.Eventually though (about 1.5-2 years in) school got the best of me as well as other life’s stresses, and overall, I became a very bad pet owner, not just to my bearded but also to my other animals.
A month or so back I started to notice she was starting to walk funny and act different. I now know, or presume, she had MBD. I started caring a little but not until she stopped walking all together and started feeling weaker did I care to my greatest potential. I fed her very poorly even though I all the time knew I was doing wrong.... I never took her to the vet, and used my *vacation* as an excuse. I realized all of this when it was too late. My laziness got to me and caused the death of a very beautiful and loving dragon that deserved so much more. I hated myself for it and to a certain point still do. It hurts so much thinking of her in her little 10 gallon tank as a baby. I even remember the first time she got raspberries as a baby. She shoved her mouth into the mush and had a pink face for 3 weeks. It didnt come off until she shed.

HOWEVER, this painful situation really showed me what to do and what NOT to do. I swear upon everything I own that I will never treat an animal like that again. I still loved her but drew aside the fact that she was dependent on me to survive.

I know you guys have heard this a million times but believe ME when I say it. If you can’t take care of a bearded, or any animal for that fact don’t get it. If you can’t give up your daily time to clean cages and feed your animal properly and to take them to the vet regularly then do not buy it. I know you might really want it, but trust me, if it does die because of neglect you’re going to hate yourself.

On the brightest side, and to finish off this thread, I have decided to buy a baby bearded at the upcoming Reptile Expo (NYC) I will not be looking for a specific sex. Males are better for me because I like biger animals BUT I am hoping for a girl since my 1st one was a girl. Her name will be "Hope" for obvious reasons. I am ready to take full responsibility.

Thank you for reading this and I hope it helps some of you guys, noobies or experts..

Well, I think it's great that you're getting a new dragon. I've only lost one animal out of the few I have owned, and it was a beardie, more so out of stupidity than neglect.

But that's what makes us human the ability to realize and correct. Hope already has a bright future and you don't even have her yet, she's probably better off than 25% of the beardies in captivity just off your determination alone. LOL.

Anyway, we live, we love, we learn... And then the second time around we are able to live better, love better, and learn more.

Thanks for sharing your lost with us.
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I know it had to have been hard for you to write about this and I commend you for doing so. Hopefully most readers will keep this in the back of their minds and if they ever find themselves nearing the same point of neglect, then remember what you said and turn things around.

Neglect can, and usually does, creep up on us. I'm sure that most keepers that have kept reptiles, or any other animal, for several months or more, have suddenly found themselves in a similar situation, though most of us won't admit it.

I think you've paid the ultimate price. You're aware that your beardie was the one that actually paid the price and the thought is hard for you to bear. For all that its worth, I forgive you, now, forgive yourself and move on. We can't change the past, only the future.

Hang in there!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American