Blue About My Bluezilla

We are a very pet friendly family. When we first moved to Nebraska we rented a house and could not have dogs, cats or any furry things. As a compromise, we purchased “Bluezilla”. She was the runt of the litter; hidden under a slew of other small iguanas. We bought her because she was tiny, and because we were afraid she would die because she was the runt and reptiles will kill off the weakest animals.

We didn’t know much about iguanas nine years ago when we purchased her. In fact, until five years ago, we didn’t even know she was a her!! A guy at the pet store told us our iguana was a male, based on the spots on “his” underside of the leg…. and we believed that – right up until Bluezilla laid her first batch of eggs!

She outgrew cages, became a family pet – mine mostly – and she would roam around my office in the basement… many times climbing up the back of my computer chair and working her way onto my shoulder or the top of my head!!

Last night, she died. We knew it was coming. I think she was egg-bound and it killed her. She had been lethargic for the last few weeks – even wading in a warm water bath didn’t cheer her up as it usually did. She stopped eating about a week ago… and she only picked at her food for about two weeks before that. So, we really were in “death watch” mode, as there was nothing we would be able to do for her. It’s a helpless feeling to know a pet is going to die and not be able to do anything about it. Our vet won’t touch exotics, so we were not going to be able to put her down. And so we waited, knowing the sad day would arrive soon.

I didn’t find her first – my daughter did. My last interaction with her was the night before. I had changed out her food and misted her in the hope it would cheer her up. I’m glad I had that moment. I know it sounds silly, but it is a good memory of a bad time.

So although I have three dogs and a cat that are still here to keep me company, today I mourn the loss of my dear Bluezilla.

Bye “Blue-Blue”. We’ll miss you.

-R