Clair de la Lune
November 20th, 2008, 06:49 PM
I write this with a heavy heart as I finally realize that despite my efforts for a long time, that my poor baby girl Blaze is now dying. When I got her from the pet store I wanted her, because I wanted her for her spunk and her attitude. She was the one who came out running when the hollow log was lifted and they were sprayed. She ran toward me like their house was on fire, so I knew right away that she was a fighter and I wanted HER.
She never got adjusted to captivity. She was the only one who never caught her own 'meals'. I just thought the prey was too big for her, but her little brother caught up and surpassed her by catching his own food. Meanwhile, she needed to be hand-fed which I didn't mind doing, but she fought it sometimes (again her spunky little attitude in action). She layed an egg shortly after we got her, but it didn't last long. Others would mate with her from time to time, namely the littlest guy who is growing up fast (Zippo).
We changed the mostly aquatic tank over to a self-sustaining all-natural ecosystem with hopes that the larger land ratio would help her to want to hunt more, and it did a little. She seemed interested for a while, though I never really saw her catch anything. She just never seemed to have the strength and endurance. I was having to hand feed (sometimes force feed) her a cricket or give her a "Jump Start" high caloric appetite stimulant supplement every so often to try to put on some weight and keep her healthy.
The last few days, Flame, one of her other tank mates was hanging out in the front of the tank by the water, which he does when he wants my attention to chase him around. I did so today and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary except he didn't really seem to care about being chased all over and led me back to their 'nest' in a cave I made them. I didn't notice anything and left. I didn't check to see how any of them were doing...they just were cuddling as usual to me.
Later today when I went to take Blaze out to feed her more Jump Start, I noticed all of them gathered around her in a protective cuddle, and a cricket leg on the ground outside the cave. Newton, the biggest and oldest (and the one I have had the longest from a previous owner) was being most protective on the inside with her. She was laying there, her front legs uselessly folded underneath her. Her back legs were trailing uselessly behind her, and her head was up. She was curled inwards toward the inner circle of the group, her body looking more fragile and much thinner than before.
I took them all out and put them in their carry container. Some were very reluctant to go until they saw that I picked her up too. She is still alive and just barely hanging on. They were all gathered around her as if to say "goodbye" and to see her off. In my hand, she was with her three companions carefully cuddled around her almost caressing her. When I would put them back and leave her out, they tried to climb out in her direction. Tim and I cried together. I had the newts back out and with her.
Now I have them in their tank, and Flame seems to be out looking for her, and the others are looking around the cave. She is in the little carry container on top of it so she can be in the indirect light for warmth, and so they don't have to see her die. Her head turns toward the light. I don't want her to dehydrate, so I put some water and Jump Start on her lips. Probably a little too late.
This whole time, I have my little joey sugar glider in his bonding pouch around my neck making clicking and chattering noises when he is awake. I can't forget about my duties to my other furry, shelled, or newt children while I go through this process and try to make her comfortable.
Please send energy or pray that her passing will be a comfortable one when it's time, and that we will all be together again...and that the others will adjust and be fine without her. They are apparently a tight-knit little group here. Also, I don't want to have her suffering while she is here, and she has no use of her legs it seems at all now. Not sure why, but last night, she was throwing herself around after she had the Jump Start with the temporary energy it gives, then she walked fine. It isn't the first time she acted weird, but this is the first time she has no use of the legs.
Thank you,
Clair
She never got adjusted to captivity. She was the only one who never caught her own 'meals'. I just thought the prey was too big for her, but her little brother caught up and surpassed her by catching his own food. Meanwhile, she needed to be hand-fed which I didn't mind doing, but she fought it sometimes (again her spunky little attitude in action). She layed an egg shortly after we got her, but it didn't last long. Others would mate with her from time to time, namely the littlest guy who is growing up fast (Zippo).
We changed the mostly aquatic tank over to a self-sustaining all-natural ecosystem with hopes that the larger land ratio would help her to want to hunt more, and it did a little. She seemed interested for a while, though I never really saw her catch anything. She just never seemed to have the strength and endurance. I was having to hand feed (sometimes force feed) her a cricket or give her a "Jump Start" high caloric appetite stimulant supplement every so often to try to put on some weight and keep her healthy.
The last few days, Flame, one of her other tank mates was hanging out in the front of the tank by the water, which he does when he wants my attention to chase him around. I did so today and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary except he didn't really seem to care about being chased all over and led me back to their 'nest' in a cave I made them. I didn't notice anything and left. I didn't check to see how any of them were doing...they just were cuddling as usual to me.
Later today when I went to take Blaze out to feed her more Jump Start, I noticed all of them gathered around her in a protective cuddle, and a cricket leg on the ground outside the cave. Newton, the biggest and oldest (and the one I have had the longest from a previous owner) was being most protective on the inside with her. She was laying there, her front legs uselessly folded underneath her. Her back legs were trailing uselessly behind her, and her head was up. She was curled inwards toward the inner circle of the group, her body looking more fragile and much thinner than before.
I took them all out and put them in their carry container. Some were very reluctant to go until they saw that I picked her up too. She is still alive and just barely hanging on. They were all gathered around her as if to say "goodbye" and to see her off. In my hand, she was with her three companions carefully cuddled around her almost caressing her. When I would put them back and leave her out, they tried to climb out in her direction. Tim and I cried together. I had the newts back out and with her.
Now I have them in their tank, and Flame seems to be out looking for her, and the others are looking around the cave. She is in the little carry container on top of it so she can be in the indirect light for warmth, and so they don't have to see her die. Her head turns toward the light. I don't want her to dehydrate, so I put some water and Jump Start on her lips. Probably a little too late.
This whole time, I have my little joey sugar glider in his bonding pouch around my neck making clicking and chattering noises when he is awake. I can't forget about my duties to my other furry, shelled, or newt children while I go through this process and try to make her comfortable.
Please send energy or pray that her passing will be a comfortable one when it's time, and that we will all be together again...and that the others will adjust and be fine without her. They are apparently a tight-knit little group here. Also, I don't want to have her suffering while she is here, and she has no use of her legs it seems at all now. Not sure why, but last night, she was throwing herself around after she had the Jump Start with the temporary energy it gives, then she walked fine. It isn't the first time she acted weird, but this is the first time she has no use of the legs.
Thank you,
Clair