I had my little guy for about 18 years, since I was about 7 years old and he was a little baby. He's had a clean bill of health in those 18 years, he didn't have a single discernible issue other than a really thick toe nail that didn't like wearing down evenly with the rest. I woke up this morning and he was puffed up, tongue slightly sticking out of his mouth and completely soft and limp, he moved a little, his head and legs a tiny bit and then at some point stopped, and I was pretty certain he had passed. I started crying a lot but rang the vet and figured I'd just double check if he has a heart beat or not, but no he did pass and I'm going to get him cremated because he'd been with me for virtually my whole life, and really meant more than I can describe to me, I've had some tough points in my life and that little lizard and the simple joy of having the little critter there with me everyday is a big part of what kept me sane.
I can't help but feel it might have been my fault in some ways, the vet said they did feel a slight mass in his lower stomach, like impaction, I didn't notice any symptoms prior, high energy, alert, eating, weight was fine and no sunken eyes or anything, scales and body looking healthy and shiny, seemed to have been pooping still, I hadn't seen him drink water in a while although seeing him drink water was not a regular thing I suppose. I was feeding him what I normally do, but in the last few months I'd been adding dried mealworms and blending them with some blueberries and greens to entice him to eat them more, just a small amount, not too much, now I'm wondering if the dried mealworms sort of built up in his intestines or something to that extent. Not that I can change that now. I'm not sure what to do with his enclosure... when I look at it reminds me of him and I start getting very sad, its in my study where I sit most of the day working on my thesis.
I miss the little critter.