Forever gone + a message for all of you...

[Skinkydinker]

It took me 2 days to get together and write this...

I almost had a heart attack when I lifted up the cave and saw her. Her body lay numbly on the coco fiber. Her beautiful fire colour skin was ripped in a few places. There was a huge gash in between her tail and stomach, with crickets chewing on her raw meat. Her beautiful eyes were closed and were never to see the world again. Little Skinky was dead. I found her Monday at midnight, but the worst part was that Just on March 6 we had a 1 year anniversary; I had her for 1 year. I don’t know who bit her, if it was my male skink Dinker or just an evil hungry mealworm, but whoever it was I hate them. She was the best skink in the world, and just a day before I was handling and playing with her, she was drinking water and eating. She ended shedding and her color was back, so everything seemed good...until that night.
RIP Skinky. There is and was and never, EVER will be a better fire skink than you... I miss you.
I cried for 3 hours for her, I hope she feels happier and better where she is now. And I can’t get over the fact that Dinker is in there alone, and that when I put my hand in their there will be only one skink coming out, and that I’ll have to get half the amount of crickets...

It makes me wonder if Dinker feels anything. If he knows she’s gone...forever. If he loved her. They always sat together under the water bowl. It makes me wonder if he understands what happened. If he thinks I took her away, if he’s thinking anything at all...

Well I’m at least glad that she had 5 kids that stayed alive and got sold in the pet store. :'( No smiley will show how I feel now... And the worst part is I got so attached to her in 1 year, there were people who’ve had their reptiles for 10+ years here. That must be 10 x more painful. :( Great sorries to everyone who lost their reptiles.

I just wanted to say one other thing:

Guys, while you can, live your life like there’s no tomorrow, there could be no tomorrow. To those you love, say 1 extra nice word, one extra hug, cause 1 extra smile, one extra laugh...For your animals, handle them once more, 1 extra treat or waxie (Just don’t let them get too much fatty waxies). If you don’t agree with someone, just let them be right, that’s one less dis-agreement, and it’ll make them happy...
Enjoy everything you do, weather its being on TRF, or just cleaning your reptiles dirty tanks...

I hope I didn’t ruin everyone’s day.

PS. making someone on TRF laugh counts...

RIP :'(

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad290/SkinkyDinker/hermitloverspaste133.jpg

PPS. I think turtles are the easiest to care for out of the reptiles I own :(...

I hope you guys don't think I'm a terrible owner :'(

[sammer021486]

Sorry to hear that you lost your female skink.

By no means do we think you are a horrible owner. I think that we (as as a collective) have come to believe that if our animals are hurt, suffering, or die, that we are horrible owners. When in fact these things happen, we can not always predict when they will happen but they do.

[Skinkydinker]

Thanks Sammer. I just keep thinking about what I could have done, that would prevent it...but, :(

[Elderlandwurm]

The guilt will always be there, just as it would be if you lost someone close to you. What ifs kills us. Just do your best to remind yourself you did the best you could with what you had. I am truly sorry for your loss.

[prism_wolf]

That's part of being a herp keeper. Sometimes we lose them - sometimes out of ignorance and sometimes simply things beyond our control. No guilt. You've gained experience with this and can pass it on. You'll find a lesson in it.

[Skinkydinker]

Thanks Elderlandwurm & prism_wolf, She was just such a good skink...