Pisces Passes on

[LeoEyes]

I wasn't sure where to post this, as he wasn't a beardie. But still he will be missed. He was a tiger salamander I found about six years ago in a drainage ditch filled with gunk, mold, algae.. etc. Normally I would leave critters like that alone. But it was in the middle of the city and when I got closer I could see the poor fellow was in trouble. His eyes were horrible messed up and he had skin lesions. So I decided to take him home and get some vet treatment for him. The skin lesions cleared up nice and fine but his eyes didn't clear up fully until quite some time later and for awhile there he had some serious trouble catching food and would bump into stuff often. I had planned at first to maybe release him near a nice pond and water source, but with the running into things and eye problems. Not to mention his charms so he stayed with me.

Strangely enough though he was rather tame (though being a tiger salamander I guess they lean to that way) and would quickly run up to the glass when ever I was working near his tank. He learned to catch and eat his food by hand or from tweezers and was quite the pig about it. I didn't realize salamanders could have quite so much personality. He was alot of fun.

Unfortunately he has passed away, causes unknown. He seemed to be fine up until I found him. He will be missed.

 

[shermansmom]

I am so sorry for your loss. I know how it feels. I lost (Al) Alex about 15 years ago and I still think about him. He was a fire belly newt that I had for about 6 years (back when I was a teen) and he had so much personality. It is a miracle that he lived that long because back then I was so naive that I had in him in a little critter kritter with no filter, but he was so happy. He was my first amphibian friend and I still miss him. We had problems with our water at the place we lived and that is what did him in.

 

[beardie osk]

I'm sorry for you loss, Pisces sounds like he was very special to you. I had salamanders when I was young so I can relate, do you have a pic of him? Please take care, do you have a beardie as well?

 

[LeoEyes]

Thank you both.

I think I have some pictures of him, I'll have to dig them up. And yes I do have a beardie as well, shes about a year old now and named Zair. A very fun lizard... makes me want to get a second beardie.

 

[protiemama]

So wonderful that you nursed him back to health and gave him 6 great years of love (and good bugs) May time heal your pain, but never dull your memories. He will wait for you at the rainbow bridge.

Sandy H

 

[Staz]

I am sorry to hear of your loss. You gave Pisces a better quality of life and I am sure he loved being part of your family. It is hard at first but it does eventually get easier and he will always be with you in your memories and in your heart.

 

[boxers]

I work at a Nature Center, where we have two Tiger Salamanders, rescued from a science lab. My first instinct to your post was, "Oh my god, that is an endangered species! You could get in soo much trouble, having removed him from his habitat!"

But, again, I work at a Nature Center. I help to take care of these animals because they cannot be released into the wild. I completely see where you were coming from; I would have done the same thing, illegal or no.

I'm sorry he had to pass... but everything does, at some time or another, right? You had him for six years, not knowing how old he had been in the wild (adult I assume)-- out there they only live about ten years, under optimal conditions! They usually live about fifteen years in captivity. I imagine that Pisces was somewhere in between here, even though he had been sick, which speaks a lot to the quality of your care. I am sure he was very happy, pigging out while you looked after him. I bet he was very grateful.

 

[LeoEyes]

Yeah under other circumstances I leave wild animals in their natural habitat. Normally if he had been healthy when I found him I would have just grabbed my camera, taken lots of pictures and let him be. But with the condition he was in I doubted he would have survived longer without treatment. It's odd where he was found too, in a run-off in the middle of concrete suburbia. Unless he came from outside of the city originally.

 

[beardie osk]

Thank you both.

I think I have some pictures of him, I'll have to dig them up. And yes I do have a beardie as well, shes about a year old now and named Zair. A very fun lizard... makes me want to get a second beardie.

That is such a true statement, I have 3 beardies............ we all say here.......... "betcha can't have only one?" They are habit forming. Maybe you could rescue another beardie, it certainly would take up some of your lonely moments missing Pisces. (Although I'm not inplying that it will take the place of Pisces, just help with the loneliness.) Best wishes to you.

 

[beardie osk]

Thank you both.

I think I have some pictures of him, I'll have to dig them up. And yes I do have a beardie as well, shes about a year old now and named Zair. A very fun lizard... makes me want to get a second beardie.

That is such a true statement, I have 3 beardies............ we all say here.......... "betcha can't have only one?" They are habit forming. Maybe you could rescue another beardie, it certainly would take up some of your lonely moments missing Pisces. (Although I'm not inplying that it will take the place of Pisces, just help with the loneliness.) Best wishes to you.

 

[beardie osk]

Sorry for the double post :roll: