RIP Kayla

[Bogertophis]

I sure hope you get some answers as to what may have happened but that might not be the case- most of the time, that's the way it goes.

[67temp]

Dave, sorry for your loss. I hope you find comfort in knowing she didn't suffer.

[terryna]

I'm so sorry for your loss. RIP

[Reinz]

Sorry for sad news Dakski.

[Gio]

Sad news. Sorry bud!

[dakski]

Thank you again everyone.

I did not bring Kayla's body in for a necropsy because a) she seemed to go peacefully and was older and b) the vet said that it was almost assuredly too late to get any relevant data about anything that could be contagious. Having said that, both the vet, and other reptile breeders and keepers I've spoken to, do not believe that was the case. She did not show signs of illness that I could see, aside from her normal not eating for a few days.

Basically the vet said they might be able to tell me what organs might have failed, but probably not even that. She was in rigor mortis when I found her so she had been dead for 4-48 hours or so, from what I've been told. To do a proper necropsy, I needed to get her body to the vet within 24 hours or less.

Everyone else seems fine and I will keep my eyes peeled. Again, she lived in her own tank, but ate the same food as my other Leopard Geckos, and Ferry, my Chewie. They all seem okay.

I am sorry not to have definitive closure here, but I think with time, I will be able to view this as an isolated, not systemic, issue in my reptile home.

Again, very happy she seemed to pass peacefully but she will be missed.

[Bogertophis]

It was surely too late to get meaningful information from a necropsy. 7 years was certainly not "old" for a leopard gecko, esp. for an unbred female, but with her fancy
genetics, there's always a greater chance of other inherited abnormalities...more so than in those with normal coloration. I'd agree there is only a very remote chance
that this was anything contagious...I expect that others are safe. Just always sad to lose a pretty little pet so soon.

[dakski]

It was surely too late to get meaningful information from a necropsy. 7 years was certainly not "old" for a leopard gecko, esp. for an unbred female, but with her fancy
genetics, there's always a greater chance of other inherited abnormalities...more so than in those with normal coloration. I'd agree there is only a very remote chance
that this was anything contagious...I expect that others are safe. Just always sad to lose a pretty little pet so soon.

I agree, 7 is too young, but it's not like she was 1 or 2, or less. Then I would have been more likely to think something might be up.

I also agree it's sad, but probably not contagious.

Thank you for the thoughts, as always, Bogertophis.