Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay so here is what greets me this morning in the reptile room.

My best looking female that was taking her pretty old time to grow dead!!! She hasn't been a huge eater for the past month but her weight was increasing. And she was starting to eat more again. Figured she had just slowed down some. No biggie was going to brumate her in a month or two and have her eating like a pig when she woke up to breed to my big orange boy. Well that aint happening. I have no clue what happened to her. Time for a Necropsy. Sometimes breeding animals can be so frustrating. I can see sickly animals dying on occasion, but not one that is built like a tank for her length and was starting to eat better. Can I just say ARGH!!!! Ruined my day. Very sad to lose an animal. Very much sadder to lose such an awesome looking beardie. I had breeding plans for her and have been waiting for her to grow. Guess you can't count your eggs before they hatch huh?
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

im sorry
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proud mama to:
1.0.0 ball python (mr snake),0.0.1 albino florida kingsnake (CK),1.0.0 leopard gecko (sebastian),0.1.0 colombian rainbow boa (luce),1.1.0 bearded dragon (kaipo and dulce), 1.1.0 colombian redtailed boas (adam and eve)

I'm so sorry for your loss. Man thats so tough. Watta shame to lose such a healthy looking girl. Damn that really scares the hell out of ya. One day fine next day gone. I feel so bad for you. So sorry you lost her grimdog.
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Mystical Dragons

I must agree. I love em but sometimes they can get to you. I hope the vet has some answers for you.

let us know what you find out in the necropsy, sometimes with these guys, they really just dont show signs until its much too late, they can really hide things very well.. so sorry again, she was a pretty girl
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reiko
photos

They need to hide in the wild so they aren't picked out for food, but I'm surprise they'd take that trait into captivity with a good owner.
sorry
Matt

not hide as in hiding themselves from an owner, but hide things as in illness or a problem. They are usually very hearty animals and many illness are just not detectable on them until it is cronic or terminal.

This was a gorgeous dragon, nice tail base, plump, all visual appearance said it was healthy and thriving. It's husbandry was obviously excellent. SLowing down eating is not a concern as dragons do this once they have reached their close to adult size and it is time that many do to enter brumation cycles even if they do not sleep.

You do not expect to come to your beardies enclosure and find them not breathing in the morning when they are like this.

I looked through some necopsy reports and sorted out some on bearded dragons that died suddenly with no other indicators and these are some of the causes that were found. (several could find no cause)

1. Leukemia
2. Enlarged heart, coronary failure
3. Basophilic inclusion bodies in the liver. Viral infection
4. Spotty liver, early fatty liver disease

In all those there were no visual signs that would have indicated that a dragons was in any danger of dying

I meant to say hide illness too.Woops.
Matt

it that they are usually so hearty and appearing fine until something is critical, which is why we so often advise people to have a vet check their dragons. If it is showing symptoms, it usually is pretty far advanced.

This dragon had all the markers of a healthy normal dragon, I would not have questioned there was anything going on with her.

been there myself to many times. hopefully her death will help teach us something so it will not be in vain.

may G-d bless you and all your babies, may you know no pain or suffering
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

n/p
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TheClassyLizard

scary as it could happen to any of us. reptiles give little warning when they are ill sometimes til it is too late, please let us know what you find out.

Cheri

HHHHHHHHHH

Awwww, I am soooo sorry!!

I know how you feel... I have lost 2 Herps this month.

First my one and only adult female Bearded.
I gave her pinkies and waxies after she layed her eggs, but she never really seemed to put all of her weight back on. Just when I thought she was improveing, I lost her.

and then last week one of my 'male' Mali Uros started laying infertile eggs. She was fine before she started laying the eggs, but she just went downhill after that and died 2 days later.

And now since my female BD is gone, the only adult Beardeds I have are 2 males so I'm going to have to sell my favorite one so I can buy a new female...

aarrgghh, sooo frustrateing!!

There's nothing more depressing than walking into the herps room, and finding that one of your beloved pets has passed on...

again, I'm so sorry for your loss
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-Lauren

~ Lauren's Lizards ~

groups.yahoo.com/group/LaurensLizards