MissSkittles
Chameleon Enthusiast
Last night my leopard gecko Tandy passed away as I held her on my chest. Once again, my heart has broken. She had been sleeping on the cool side and not under a hide and refused to eat yesterday. While she always went thru periods of having a picky appetite, holding out until I would offer the feeder she wanted, I had never seen her sleeping in that area before. At night when I checked on her and was going to offer her some of her favorites - waxworms - I saw that she did not at all look good. She was very pale and weak and it seemed like her chubby little tail had thinned down since I had seen her just hours earlier. I tried to encourage her to eat and drink, to no avail. I quickly made up a small hospital bin to keep her by my side thru the night. I tried to make it soft, warm and slightly covered like a partial hide, but she did all she could to climb out. As soon as I placed her to my chest, she calmed down and while I didn’t realize it for a little while, she quietly slipped away to heaven. I know better than to ascribe human feelings to her, but I can’t help but feel like she wanted to be held and loved as she left this earth. It was a beautiful gift that she gave me too.
I’ve no idea why she passed. While I know she was at least 8 or more years old, it’s possible she was much older. I got her as a fully grown adult, along with Handsome who possibly is her brother, from a teen off Craig’s list. From what I was told, she was at least 2 and it sounded as though she had been passed around from kid to kid as each grew tired of her. She was missing several toe tips and had a regrown tail. Knowing how calm and sweet she was, I can’t even begin to imagine the level of fear which would have caused her to drop her tail. She was being cohabbed on calcisand with Handsome, so maybe he was responsible for her tail loss. I gave her the very best life that I could and one somewhat close to natural and respected her autonomy. She gave me so very much joy, just in being…such a sweet and gentle little soul. So much grief over her loss.
I’ve no idea why she passed. While I know she was at least 8 or more years old, it’s possible she was much older. I got her as a fully grown adult, along with Handsome who possibly is her brother, from a teen off Craig’s list. From what I was told, she was at least 2 and it sounded as though she had been passed around from kid to kid as each grew tired of her. She was missing several toe tips and had a regrown tail. Knowing how calm and sweet she was, I can’t even begin to imagine the level of fear which would have caused her to drop her tail. She was being cohabbed on calcisand with Handsome, so maybe he was responsible for her tail loss. I gave her the very best life that I could and one somewhat close to natural and respected her autonomy. She gave me so very much joy, just in being…such a sweet and gentle little soul. So much grief over her loss.
You have peace in knowing you saved her and gave her the very best life she could have had after her beginnings. Rest in peace sweet Tandy. 
