mistressofmuses | RIP Broccoli Cheddar Bomb

Broccoli Cheddar Bomb, my fire-bellied toad, died today.

He was very active this morning, kicking his gravel around, climbing around. Then tonight when I went to give him some fresh water, he was dead behind his hide.

He was an old man for a toad: allegedly he was already 14 when we got him about three years ago. Ten years seems to be the high end of an average lifespan, so making it to about 17 is pretty good! From what I'd seen when we got him, the record lifespan was just over 20, so he was up there.

That doesn't make me feel better that he's gone, though. (And part of me is stuck wondering whether he was trying to signal that something was wrong, with how much he was moving around earlier. Was something wrong with the water? Was he sick?) I know that some people don't think that non-mammal pets are as "real" as cats or dogs, but he was a great little guy, and I loved him very much.

I hope he had a happy toad life.

Now I have a bunch of crickets and nothing to do with them.

We'll probably give him a little toad funeral tomorrow.

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Not a terribly good start to the new year.

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It's also Cy's 13th (ish, we think) birthday. January 1st was an arbitrary choice, but it was as good a date as any. So he's also an old man! He had a better day - a pup cup, and a quick jaunt to the park. I wish I was posting more about that than the above.

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I'm sorry about Broccoli Cheddar Bomb. Happy birthday Cy!

Thank you. I'm very sad, but hope he had a good toad life.

And thank you from Cy as well!

Oh no!!!!!! Poor little Broccoli Cheddar Bomb! I loved all your photos of him and all the stories of him singing! Sounds like he lived to be a good age for a toad. Awwww little guy. :(

Happy birthday to Cy, though! Good for him on getting a pup cup and a trip to the park.

*hugshugshugs* I'm so sorry about BCB, though. :(

Broccoli Cheddar Bomb was a good toad, and I'm very sad. I will definitely miss his singing. He was pretty old for a toad, and I hope he had a good life.

And thank you from Cy!

*hugs*

I'm sorry for the loss of your toad. Losing a pet is a horrible experience. I was bummed out for weeks when I lost mine.

And happy birthday to Cy!

Also, your toad was super cute. Take care!

Thank you. Losing a pet is always hard, and even knowing he was pretty old doesn't make it less sad.

Thank you from Cy!

He was adorable.

You're welcome. I agree, and it definitely doesn't. He was a huge part of your life.

Aww Cy! What a cutie.

Oh, what a sad way to start the new year :( I'm sorry. What a cute little guy he was.

Definitely a bummer to start the year off on. Thank you.

He was a very cute little guy!

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear you lost your pet. I don't think that moving around a lot would have been an indication of distress, unless he was moving around in a different kind of way than normal. I think it's normal for you to get a last burst of energy at the last. So he probably had a really good morning before he went. And yeah, it sounds like he had a really good long life. You must have looked after him very well.

I'm glad Cy is well! Happy birthday to him and hugs to you.

Thank you. He was moving around more than he usually did, though not more than ever. It could have been, like you said, a last burst of energy or the like.

He did have a pretty long life for a little toad! I'm glad I got to spend at least part of it with him.

And thank you from Cy. :)

I'm so sorry :( It sounds like he was a great little guy.

Thank you. He was a cool little dude, and I miss him.

Sorry about the loss of your pet! As I get older, I feel the losses more heavily. Loss reminds us to appreciate those we have now and remember those who have passed on.

Thank you. I feel the same way, where I feel the sorrow of losing a loved one (including pets) more heavily. But it does make you appreciate what you have, and think fondly on those you no longer have with you. It's still worth the time spent together, even though the eventual loss hurts.

Are you positive he is not in hibernation? He is an older feller and could be more sensitive to temps changes - but I am not familiar with which species of amphibians do this. I just know many people were horrified to discover hamsters did this.
I know it's hard, I had to stand over my cat for an entire night to make sure he wasn't just in a diabetic coma. His death rattle happened 30 minutes before the vet opened.
My condolences on the passing for a great lil guy.

I appreciate the check-in, because that could have been the case! I also wasn't actually sure if his species hibernated. It turns out they can, though generally only below about 50°, and it hovers around 68 where we kept him. I did leave him in his habitat overnight, body in and head out of the water, just in case he "revived," but the position I found him in (back legs stretched out) didn't seem like an ordinary hibernation posture.

Though I will say, looking online to be sure, "hibernation vs dead" does not bring up very helpful results. "A dead frog or toad will be cold to the touch, matching the temperature of the surroundings. A hibernating frog or toad will be roughly the same temperature as its surroundings." "A dead frog or toad will not be breathing. When hibernating, frogs and toads frequently stop visibly breathing." THANKS THAT CLEARS IT RIGHT UP.

Just in case, I did hold him for a bit today, just in case warming him up a bit more helped, and did a final check on him after his er, coffin, sat in the sun for a bit, but alas, no signs of life, and he was pretty rubbery and stiff.

He got a little funeral at the park.

Thank you. He was a cool little dude.

*hugs offered*

What a beautiful little dude. I’m so sorry.

*hugs*

Thank you. He was a neat little guy, and I'll miss him.

I'm so sorry about Broccoli Cheddar Bomb. I hope your years together where good ones.

Thank you. He was a neat guy, and he made me happy for several years. I hope he had good years here, too!

I'm sorry about Broccoli Cheddar Bomb. :(

(Yay for Cy's birthday!)

Thank you. I'll miss him.

But yes, thank you from Cy!

I'm so sorry! RIP Broccoli Cheddar Bomb.

Thank you, me too. I miss him! It makes me sad to keep automatically looking at his habitat. (I'll get it cleaned out soon, and then have it prepped for a hopeful future friend.)

RIP Broccoli Cheddar Bomb

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I hate to bring this up and I hope i did it in time

Re: I hate to bring this up and I hope i did it in time

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