My little pet lizard died today

[robj144]

Yeah, she was just a tiny lizard, but she was very sweet, docile, and low energy/chill. She would sit still on my shoulder as I watched TV or she would climb down and curl around next to my arm (probably for warmth) but it was cool. We seemed to have a connection. So, it kind of sucks.

She was not eating the last week or so which is not that unusual, but she started looking too skinny a few days ago. I tried a few tricks to get her to eat, but it didn't work. I was going to take her to the vet today (Monday) but she started to shed Sunday which I thought was a good sign (she also seemed to have more energy on Sunday too). She was having trouble with the shed on Monday though and so I made a vet appointment for the next day. I was monitoring her closely and at one point she started moving around a lot trying to shed but she just stopped in the middle of her home. (I don't like to call it a cage.) So, I rubbed her head to comfort her and she shook her head quite a lot (which she never did) and stopped moving. I picked her up and she shook her head again and pretty much went limp and didn't move again. I thought she was sick, but not in immediate danger. She went from moving around a lot to dead in my hand in about 10 minutes.

It sucks losing a pet... especially losing one in your hand.

She'll be missed.

[chitz]

Sorry for your loss.

[dragon1952]

That's horrible. My sincerest condolences. It looks like he was a good little friend and had a lot of character. I've got a pet conure that I've bonded with and if anything ever happened to him I'd be heartbroken. We've had a few close calls and I've been close to tears a couple times. It's amazing the bond that can occur between humans and animals no matter how unlikely they may seem. But I can imagine how horrible it must have been to have her die right in your hand. I tried to save a tiny hummingbird once that the cat had caught and I thought he was going to make it. I was holding him in my hand and feeding him some sugar water through a straw so he could get some strength back, and he was try to feed, but then all of a sudden he went limp and was gone. It was crushing. Again, my condolences.

[Cabarone]

Sincere condolences, buddy...no such thing as "just" a life...animals can affect us in ways people just can't...I think it's cool how you two bonded...again, sorry for your loss...

[Song]

So sorry for your loss.

[fazool]

Sorry to hear that. We can bond with any animals.

I saw a video of a guy that had a HUGE crocodile friend - they would swim together, wrestle in the water and Ponchi would even come when called. They could lay on each other in the water.

There is a video online of a BIG iguana that comes when called like a dog.

Our understanding of animals emotions and capacity for bonding have changed dramatically in the past few decades, thanks largely to the exposure of the Internet.

Previously we used to tell ourselves all animals only acted from instinct and had no capacity for feelings or thought. I think we did that as a way to make it easier to use them.

We are rapidly changing our view of all animals.

So it is very likely that your lizard did have an emotional bond with you.

Our daughter still talks about her first ever pet (a simple fish) that died.

Any pet can have deep meaning and any pet can form a deep bond.

If there is any condolence, at least she died with you holding her, instead of alone.

[Martz911]

Sorry for your loss. She was a very pretty lizard, and the pictures show a lot of personality. How old was she, and what is the usual lifespan for these creatures?

[robj144]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. I appreciate it.

[robj144]

Originally Posted by Martz911

Sorry for your loss. She was a very pretty lizard, and the pictures show a lot of personality. How old was she, and what is the usual lifespan for these creatures?

Thank you. She was 6.5 years old and their average life span is 6 to 10 years, so she might just have died from some natural cause which is some comfort. Some live to 15 years though and I thought she would live a little longer.

[Tahitijack]

Sorry for the loss of your little friend.

[PorkPieGuy]

I swear, I think sometimes our little friends are our best friends.

Sorry for your loss.

[robj144]

Originally Posted by PorkPieGuy

I swear, I think sometimes our little friends are our best friends.

Sorry for your loss.

Thank you and very true.

[TBman]

Sorry about your loss. Pets become family and it's always tough to lose one.

[SoCalSurf]

There was a point in my life when I wouldn't understand the emotion attached to a lizard. But then I had a Chinese Water Dragon in my 20s that lived 8 years, much of the time out of its enclosure. When it got a bone mineral density disease and I had to have it euthanized, the vet was not expecting my reaction. Nor did I, actually. I just cried my eyes out!

I now own a dog (a yellow lab) that is 7 years old. I cannot imagine what it will be like without him.

This is all to say that I feel very badly for you. I hope you know that there are people out there, even behind computer screens, who are thinking of you.

[JosephW]

Apparently on your ignore list, but
Sorry for your loss.