It’s been great messing with the new camera since it’s arrived in the post. With help and recommendations from friends, I was able to start shooting all manually, and have been pleased with the results. I scored a manual focus non-metering 50mm f/1.8 prime lens from the 1970s on eBay for $26, and shooting photos with that has been a lot of fun. With everything set manually, it’s been a hell of a lot easier to get non-blurry photos of L and the animals.







E is on her way back to the vet to have Liz euthanized. I didn’t want to be a part of it. I said my goodbyes two nights ago and it’s too sad to confront.
I had her at the vet all day yesterday to confirm that she was in renal failure, as I mentioned here would happen. It happened. In the past 48 hours, she has regurgitated blood a few times and become even more weak. I thought I was going to have her euthanized yesterday, but I at least waited on bloodwork to come back to be sure that what I knew was happening was actually happening.
Above is my favorite photo of her, post-bath.

Liz is showing signs that she’s in the final stages of old age. In a short time, she’s become lethargic, uninterested in food, and is having difficulty moving with her limbs looking like they’re made of lead.
These factors, among a number of others, mean that she’s in the last several weeks to months of her life, and this scenario will ultimately end in renal failure as her body shuts down.
I’ve had her for over 9 years, a “very good” lifespan of a bearded dragon is 8-10 years, with old age beginning at 6-7 years.
It’s very sad, and according to what I’ve read the best I can do is make sure she has enough water, and make her as comfortable as possible in the lowest stress environment I can create.