Urgent Care :: Advice PLEASE! we lost Tulip

[sadloss]

Hi Iam (was) a new RES owner. Today our little Tulip passed on. All day it has bothered me trying to figure out what happened. We love animals and Tulip had really become such a part of our family. My little girl is sooo sad. I was hoping maybe someone could help me narrow down what could have caused this. Tulip was in a 10gallon tank. He was a hatchling about two inches. Today we took him out of the tank to clean it. We had him outside with us in the sun. We did let him cruise around a little, then I put him in a ceramic dish with his basking rock while we proceeded to clean the tank. We kept checking on him, he seemed anxious, I just assumed it was because he wasn't in his usual place. Then he seemed to settle- I thought he was enjoying the sun- he had two legs stretched out, I picked him up and placed him on his basking rock. I saw that all four legs were out- and I was so happy I thought how sweet he is- so relaxed- he hasn't even noticed that I've moved him... can you believe I thought he was so relaxed that he didn't notice that I moved him?! It wasn't until about 20 min half an hour at most- that i realized oh my that can't be right- and he was indeed gone. I feel so awful. What could have happened???

[cprcheetah]

I would say that maybe he overheated? How hot was it outside? Did he have any shade? Was there any signs of sickness prior to today?

[amazingcc]

What was the temp outside? Did he have water in the ceramic dish, or a place w/shade?

[sadloss]

He had a little bit of shade, and I did put a shallow dish of water in with him- but he would not go in it- I put that in initially when I thought he was anxious because I thought maybe he needed to be able to access water. Iim not sure how hot it was- I would say about 80. Thank you for the quick respose. I feel miserable about this.

[SpotsMama]

That is so sad! I feel for your loss. It sounds like you were trying very hard to do the right thing. I don't know what a RES's tolerance for heat is, I would think it's pretty high considering where they live in the wild, but probably the little ones are less tolerant than an adult. Could he have been bitten by an insect, or gotten into some chemical like ant killer?

[sadloss]

That is what I was wondering- You can't imagine how bad I feel. I know he couldn't have gotten into anything- we went straight from the tank to outside- let him waddle around about 20 minutes- then put him in the dish while we cleaned the tank. When he was wondering around- he did get covered by a few ants- and Iwas watching him the whole time so I picked him up and ran him under our filtered water-- which is at room temp (NOT sink tap or refig. water) - then went back outside- do you think that hurt him? A possible rapid change in temp??

[amazingcc]

I am very sorry for your loss also. I think he could've gotten too hot, especially since hatchlings are so tiny and still very fragile. Him not wanting to go into the water could mean that the water was also too hot, since it doesn't take long for a small water dish to heat up. Also, glass and ceramic dishes will get hot fast and retain heat better than other containers.

[sadloss]

The water was at 75- but is it possible to leave the little ones in sun too long? What is 'normal'? We were probably out there about an hour. How awful think that must have been!- or possibly when I put him in the water to rinse the ants off and then put him back in the heat?? I don't know I think he over heated too. I feel SOOO BAD. I would love to get another one- but the thought of hurting something so little just breaks my heart. What are the guidlines to taking one out into the sun and temp changes etc? Are they sensitive?

[amazingcc]

He had ants on him??? How many - can you estimate? That could definitely have killed him, since their bites can be toxic to a small reptile.

[sadloss]

OH no that's awful! ... it was really fast- we were watching him crawl around and he craweld over to a bush were there were ants i litterally picked him up the second I saw-there were pribably about 10 or so - then I ran inside and that is when I used the filter water- which is room temp to quickly rinse him off- then I put him back in the dish so we could clean the tank.

[amazingcc]

Even if you rinsed them off they could've already bitten him, or they might have crawled into the openings of his shell. That combined w/the heat might have weakened him. I have heard of ants killing small animals, because the toxin can go straight to the heart. You said he seemed agitated, which would have hastened the blood flow to his heart... kind of like a snake bite on a person. I really am sorry that happened - it sounds like a fluke accident.

[sadloss]

I am so heart broken - I guess I won't know indefinately - But THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! I hope we will get another one- but I just can't imagine it not being Tulip I would feel like a traitor. I have learned so much about them, if we do get another I will have many a question. I think I was pretty good with his tank, lights, thermometers and food etc. But the one thing i would like to know more about then is how to transfer them while cleaning the tank- when is it okay to start letting them outside (to bask and stretch) Again thank you for your time. Tulip is in a little box, in a bed of paper towel covered in his aqua plants and a little of his gravel. I told my daughter he was going to 'night night'. I still don't know what to do with him. My husband comes home tomorrow- I think I'll have him bury him by our pond in the back yard appropriate place for our little Tulip... how sad!! Thank you again I hope we can chat if we get another RES.. Best to you and your little ones!

[amazingcc]

I hope to see you here again soon... RIP, Tulip!

[wetchikn]

Sorry for your loss. I did not know thta ants could pose such aprobelem. I am going to be extra careful when my girls our walking around.

[cprcheetah]

It is hard to lose the little guys. I have only had my Zeke for 3 weeks and I know I would be devastated if anything happened to him. It sounds like you were on the right track as far as care. When I clean Zeke I just let him wander around on the floor, (of course I clorox the floor afterwards) but he's 7" so not easy to lose. Maybe if you decide to get another one...get a rubbermaid container that is big enough he can't escape and put some of his/her tank water in it while you clean. But keep inside My thoughts are with you and your family.