Marcia - Golden Gate Geckos

[GoGo]

Marcia I am so sorry, and should anyone criticize you for this lost they should be locked in a room with an angry male platypus during breeding season. And this wasn't even your fault in the least, everything randomly went crazy. We've had something like this having nothing to do with heat twice this year, a gecko just randomly got sick for no apparent reason, suddenly started looking better, acting better, eating on their own, then dead. But Marcia you also have to take care of yourself, because if you worked yourself sick and your in the hospital, who's there to care for those little guys and gals you worked so hard for? Because no one is as good as you are for geckos. Like my ma said, We are there for you.

 

[ReptileMan27]

WOW, very sorry to hear about your losses . I know its hard not to blame yourself, I do everytime I lose a animal but you did everything you could and then some .

 

[eyelids]

You are the best Marcia! We would be lost without you!

 

[Kotsay1414]

I'm sorry for your losses Marcia. You and your geckos will be in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[BluGnat]

I'm sure there will be some of you that will criticize and pass judgement on me for being negligent. So be it.

I certainly hope not. Ever.

Marcia, I'm so sorry that you had to go through this. Many people wouldn't have gone to the lengths you did to save everyone you could. Your actions, heart, and kindness are such an inspiration. I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[PaulSage]

Marcia, you've always been my "Gecko Hero" and this accident only confirms that you truly are the best at what you do. After all, if I hadn't heard about what happened to you and your geckos, I could very well have lost/damaged more geckos than I already have through my own similar experience (faulty thermostat - I'll post more about it later).

You are not a quitter and I believe that this experience will only make you stronger. Your contributions to the health and knowledge of these animals can not be underestimated. No one could possibly beat you up over this as much as you already have yourself, but if ANYONE should be so ignorant and foolish as to question your ethics or actions, they'll be hearing from me.

You've referred to this accident as negligence on your part, but I'm still having trouble accepting it as such. You DID check the probes to make sure that they were in place. That is not negligence in my opinion. The odds of a probe slipping out from under that sticky-as-hell foil tape have got to be one in a million. Just the fact that you used some of the stickiest tape known to man to prevent such an occurrence shows you were not being negligent. It was an accident. There is no way to be 100% certain that something like this can not happen, and there is no infallible way to prevent it from happening. Like you said, it can happen to anyone and no one is immune.

For the rest of you, here is what Marcia is referring to with regards to the geckos' symptoms mimicking that of MBD.

 

[nwheat]

Marcia, you are without doubt one of the most caring and competent breeders around! Paul is right - this was an accident and not negligence!

Thanks so much to both Marcia and Paul for their willingness to share their horrible experiences with us so that we can learn!

 

[berra292]

I am sorry for your loss.

 

[Josh'sGeckoCloset]

Oh I am so sorry Marcia. And yes I agree with everyone do not take this upon yourself accidents happen. You learn from your mistakes and you should not sell golden gate geckos. We love you and your informative ways. I hope everything turns out right.

 

[boutiquegecko]

Goodness-Marcia I'm so sorry. So much work and stress and sadness Is everything keeping temps ok now? How are the rest of the babies? Eggs? How are you?
We came home to a burn smell in our office only to find it was an old old old heat mat starting to melt down the other day. I can't imagine having a whole rack going haywire.

 

[brandy101010]

I'm so sorry for your loss Marcia! Take care of your self and don't beat yourself up over this. there is no way you could have known. I hope you and the sick babies feel better soon.

 

[OSUgecko]

How horrible! I'm so sorry that that happened. Hang in there and don't blame yourself - you're a great "gecko mom"! Accidents just happen sometimes, and they're no one's fault. I hope that the babies fully recover...

 

[bcreptiles]

i am also sorry for your loss, but if i read al the support you get on this forum, that should at least make you feel good and not alone.
i think we all know you love your animals, as we all do, so i hope you feel better soon and keep enjoying your babies and adults
casper

 

[yellermelon]

sorry to hear this, it is tragic. Hope you and yours feel better soon.

 

[PrototypeGeckos]

I'm sure there will be some of you that will criticize and pass judgement on me for being negligent. So be it. I guarantee there is no criticism worse than what I have already put on myself.

Bull!! If someone has something to say I am sure there will be many (myself included) to tell them what they can do with those thoughts. I haven't met you personally but know from the forum that you love all of your geckos and give them the best care possible, plus know as much or more about that different health issues which can arise in the Leopards than anyone else here. I am extremely sorry for the losses you have suffered as well as the strife you are going through, and I know you will rise up after this even stronger than before with your nice new gecko facility as well as many many great geckos. Keep your head up, like you said, it can happen to any of us. And thank you for being so open and honest about your findings.

 

[techgirl]

Marcia, I am so sorry that this happened. You did the best you could. No one can blame you for anything that happened. This was just a bad accident. Hopefully the babies will improve and so should you.

 

[IndyLuckyLeos]

Sorry to hear of your loss. I had the misfortune of some heat tape going crazy and got lucky and had no deaths. I am sure you rlove of these animals will keep you going.

 

[tangerineman]

Marcia, I am so sorry to hear about that

it's horrible, and you did all that you could, and more than many other people probably would have even thought to do....

I had the same thing happen to me with the temp probe...
It came up from where it was taped down to the flexwatt, and gave a misreading to the thermostat, so the thermostat went crazy trying to compensate...I was lucky i caught it in time...

I was reading through the repsonses to see if anyone mentioned this, but it happened to me as well and although thermostats are really carefree...it is something that noone can predict or expect...

You shouldn't give up, no matter how awful it can appear, just take your time and get things going again.

I hope I understood you correctly, that the adults are doing fine.
...you have to take some consolation in the fact that the adults/breeders are ok....
not everybody is so lucky....
you'll have more opportunities -don't let things get in the way of what you enjoy doing..

Duane

 

[Perefalcon]

Marcia, you were tired and when people are tired stupid things happen...they're not the fault in the slightest of the person responsible...and the first person to critisize you here I guarantee will be the one getting ragged on...never you...many of us live by advice you give and one incident is not going to make anyone think less of you or your actions. You did all you could and faster than some of us would have been able to.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

WOW. I cannot express how much your support and encouragement means to me. I am overwhelmed by your kind wishes, the phone calls, emails, PM's, and all of the posts here. This morning I got a call from Connie, Jacy's mom (forum members), and I felt tremendously better after our conversation. Then, out of the blue, Jacy showed up on my doorstep with a beautiful potted hibiscus and a cute card. I just don't know what to say except... thank you all!

The status of the geckos has overall improved. I still have one little one that is really struggling and may lose it's battle, but every other gecko affected has shown improvement. Out of 39 geckos, 9 have died, 15 show symptoms of MBD, but I have two that no longer show any signs at all! I took my 3 worst-case scenario geckos off the critical list, and out of 12 remaining 'sick' geckos, 3 of them are now eating on their own. I do have 2 that show no physical signs, but are still not eating. All of them have been in perpetual shed since the accident, but that seems to be tapering off now.

I am still not convinced that this is all a neurological problem. These unfortunate victims have seriously deformed limbs, and I am continuing with the liquid calcium protocol. I will be taking the 2 worst cases to the vet on Thursday for a professional opinion, and to pick my vet's brain on the effects of exposure to extreme temperature on these babies. I hope to get an x-ray as well, and if I can figure out how to scan it I'll post it along with some answers to my many questions.

That's all I have for now. I am much better physically, although I feel like I've been hit by a train. Stress really pays it toll, and I am exhausted. This too, shall pass.

Please accept my heartfelt appreciation for your concern and especially for the inspiration you all have given. I don't know what I would do without it...