u/suparspeed

After lurking for a while I finally got my own. It was hard to find an EU seller, but i foud a physical store whcih had them. In this video they just landed in my tank (the ride back home scared them colorless) but about 3 are becoming brighter red by the day!

The stor also had some cool lava rocks with natually formed tunnels, so theyre sitting in there during the day and going bonkers in the morning/evening.

Tank is a 4.7L jar, supplementing with spirulina as there isnt much algae yet.

!!TW:ACUTE DEATH!!

Yesterday my little big man Piper died in my arms. I was very sudden and nobody is sure whay happened. Im writing this maybe just to yell it into the void or have it make sense for myself.

Saturday my little guys returned after a stay at my parents place to hunker out the heatwave in EU. Temperatures are manageble again so they got dropped back off after a 20min car ride. Everything seemed fine on saturday.

Sunday he suddenly got soft stools, so I stopped all greens, but I already felt that the soft stools couldnt be from overfeeding veggies, my parents are also very aware of guinea pigs needs. He also didnt eat that much.

Monday I called the vet, the soft stools had turned into very watery diarrea, even without wet food. The vet couldnt quite diagnose anything (no bloat, he was very squisy still, no hot temp, no teeth problems) so she gave meds and painkillers to just boost his metabolism. For a moment he did abusolely great, started eating a ton. Even after i gave the medicine on tuesday he wanted to eat and was even wheeking.

Then suddenly tuesday it all took a massive turn. Halfway through the day he refused to eat at all, not even foods he loves. I administered the medicine again but that didnt do anything. He kept laying in a very puffy position in one corner of the cage.

I tried some force feeding in the evening.

After I put him back he started breathing very stuttery. I really felt in my bones I needed to hold him now. He laid on my chest, wheezing. Then suddenly he tucked himself into my elbow and stared convulsing?seizing? shivering? and finally really let out his final two gasps while I was on the phone with the emergency vet.

I have dealt with many lost piggies, mostly natural causes (old age) or at the vet. I have never, ever in my live seen the true untames final stages of life. Death felt so violent compared to euthenasia...

I am glad he died in my arms and not in the carrier or alone at night but man. I really need to give those mental images a place...

It also really bothers me I'll never know what it was. The vet did a small postmortem check, and it still ruled out bloat. He also had no signs of heatstroke. He didnt seems to have anything at my parents place. Maybe it was a twisted gut? a rupture of some internal cyst? cancer?

Now I really have to evaluate if I can continue the piggie cycle. I love these creatures but damn, that love hurts a LOT in moments like these. My solo male could stay at my parents near some lovely ladies, so hed have a friend to chat with.

This may be the end of my own piggie adventures for a while, after alsonlosing Viper young to dental issues. Ill wholehartedly enjoy the pigtured and videos here!!💕