Three years ago I saw an ad on Craigslist for a beardie and cage for $40. I called and asked if they would give me, a teacher, a discount. They said I could have him for free!
At the time I didn't know much about beardies. I soon discovered he was malnourished and stunted - he was two years old and was weighing in at 119g. My students raised money and bought him all the timers, heat bulbs, carpet, UVB bulbs you can imagine. Ramses, the dragon, was now living like a true king. He ate only he finest roaches and hornworms all while having kids fight over who gets to pick up his dootie. Needless to say, this small beardie, was a true celebrity in the school. He swelled up to a robust 450g. The most responsible kids would be allowed to monitor him during his baths and feed him in the feeding tank. He was kind, friendly, and very mellow. Often riding in the passenger seat when I brought him home on vacations.
Last year we stepped things up a notch and a new crop of students raised money to build him a two state of the art enclosures: viewtopic.php?f=75&t=171817 (scroll down to see his "vacation enclosure").
During one blizzard the power went out overnight and I slept with Ramses on my skin under my shirt.
Over the years hundreds of kids swooned over his every move until today. Around 1pm I noticed his beard and tail were very dark. I rushed him to the emergency room. His mucous membranes were very pale for they ran blood work for anemia - it was normal. Then they did an x-ray and ultrasound. He had fluid around his heart and/or lungs. They said it could be caused from a tumor (likely since the ultrasound showed nothing), a bacterial infection (unlikely they said), or just plain ol' heart disease. They said they could stick a needle in his chest to drain the fluid, but it would probably just come back. I could go to a specialist they said but even then there might not be much they could do. I didn't want to put him through all that knowing the outcome would most likely be the same.
He was put to sleep.
I am crushed. I got so used to checking his temps throughout the day, cutting him veggies to eat, picking him up worms on my way home from school.
R.I.P. Ramses
At the time I didn't know much about beardies. I soon discovered he was malnourished and stunted - he was two years old and was weighing in at 119g. My students raised money and bought him all the timers, heat bulbs, carpet, UVB bulbs you can imagine. Ramses, the dragon, was now living like a true king. He ate only he finest roaches and hornworms all while having kids fight over who gets to pick up his dootie. Needless to say, this small beardie, was a true celebrity in the school. He swelled up to a robust 450g. The most responsible kids would be allowed to monitor him during his baths and feed him in the feeding tank. He was kind, friendly, and very mellow. Often riding in the passenger seat when I brought him home on vacations.
Last year we stepped things up a notch and a new crop of students raised money to build him a two state of the art enclosures: viewtopic.php?f=75&t=171817 (scroll down to see his "vacation enclosure").
During one blizzard the power went out overnight and I slept with Ramses on my skin under my shirt.
Over the years hundreds of kids swooned over his every move until today. Around 1pm I noticed his beard and tail were very dark. I rushed him to the emergency room. His mucous membranes were very pale for they ran blood work for anemia - it was normal. Then they did an x-ray and ultrasound. He had fluid around his heart and/or lungs. They said it could be caused from a tumor (likely since the ultrasound showed nothing), a bacterial infection (unlikely they said), or just plain ol' heart disease. They said they could stick a needle in his chest to drain the fluid, but it would probably just come back. I could go to a specialist they said but even then there might not be much they could do. I didn't want to put him through all that knowing the outcome would most likely be the same.
He was put to sleep.
I am crushed. I got so used to checking his temps throughout the day, cutting him veggies to eat, picking him up worms on my way home from school.
R.I.P. Ramses
