Crickets attacked and ate my pygmy's eye out (warning graphic pics)

[EvilLost]

Just thought I'd share this one in case anyone else has experienced this....


my pyg had an eye infection that she was in the process of recovering from when I caught her with 3 crickets sitting on her head EATING HER EYE.


granted, there was an infection in that eye which might have attracted them, but I still found this to be pretty insane!



EDIT: She died about an hour after, for those asking about her being put down.

 

[BocaJan]

I hope you put her out of her misery. Please don't let her stay like that.

 

[Santi4407]

oh wow that is terrible! I hope she can be helped!

 

[Supergirl]

oh no.. thats terrible

 

[okiroo]

omg....thats so sad :/ have her put down?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Looks terrible. I hope you've taken that animal to the vet.

It is not uncommon for crickets to bite chameleons. That's why prey should not be left uneaten in the enclosure.

 

[carol5208]

omg that is horrible. It looks as if they did more than eat her eye. I agree with Boca Jan and she is probably in horrible pain and I hope you will do the right thing by humanely putting her down.

 

[heartben]

oh my god. that is just awful man. i too hope she was put down, thats just not cool at all.

i want to know why a chameleon wouldnt just..move or something if its getting eaten alive...

 

[showjet95]

I seriously wish you would have euthanized her and let her pass away much easier then suffering to her last breath. That is beyond awful.

 

[Solid Snake]

Sorry mate...

 

[snipeusa14]

sorry bro

 

[ChameleonNerd]

i'm really sorry dude. that most have been horrifying. i'm glad she's out of her misery though

 

[EvilLost]

I seriously wish you would have euthanized her and let her pass away much easier then suffering to her last breath. That is beyond awful.

Sorry but I think we disagree on this point. I absolutely will not put down any animal unless I know without doubt that the animal is going to die. (or perhaps we disagree about her certainty of death?)

She was still moving around on her own, gripping, and her other eye was active when I found her. Under those conditions I would not put an animal down....rather I tried to contact several emergency vets nearby, all of whom were entirely unhelpful (and of course my vet was unavailable).

Of course in that time she passed anyway....



On a side note: Is there a good way to put them down? I do not have a CO2 chamber or anything of that sort and *STRONGLY* disagree with the freezing to death "peacefully" method....with mice blunt trauma works ok, but their spinal column is easy to focus on, I can't really say the same about these guys....

 

[ChameleonNerd]

On a side note: Is there a good way to put them down? I do not have a CO2 chamber or anything of that sort and *STRONGLY* disagree with the freezing to death "peacefully" method....with mice blunt trauma works ok, but their spinal column is easy to focus on, I can't really say the same about these guys....

Injection.............? lol.......

 

[bechsgaard]

thats horrible, i agree with you though, theres not a good enough reason to put her down, she would still have one eye, and walk around, and im sure she could still hunt to a certain extent, even if she couldnt, hand feeding is an option. either way its too late now, im sorry for your loss

 

[Creature13]

That's horrible... my condolences.

 

[Angrychair]

ugh i hate crickets, that sucks man.

 

[Robyrango]

Poor thing!!:-(

 

[Seeco]

Hmm tough situation. You are brave to share.

I am surprised she just died from that. You might want to make sure she is really,vtruly dead.

 

[carol5208]

I would imagine with your eye eaten away and part of your face too, that there would be alot of pain involved in that wouldn't you say? For me that would be enough for me to decide on putting the little guy down. JMO If you did not have access to a vet though, I agree with your dilema on how to successfully do so in a manner that would be humane.