Originally composed for my late friend Don. This poem remains a tribute to him and all my beloved pets that have passed on:

Those we love are never gone
Their spirit lives with us on and on
They are in our hearts and in our minds
To stay with us for all of time

Until we meet again

IN LOVING MEMORY

ALEXIS


Adopted July 14, 1999-Nov 16, 2000. Alexis; (Taricha granulosa) was a very important part of my family. I will always remember how curious and alert she was, and how she would wrap herself around my hand and grab the food from my fingers. She would always come over and sit by me as I talked to her and cheered me up when I was down. Alexis was healthy and active until, for reasons unknown, succumb to a disease known as "degenerative tail disorder" in which parts of the tail are lost...infection spreads very quickly and despite many efforts to save her I lost the battle :( She will not be forgotten, but greatly missed by myself, Wooky and Chiko!
Rest in peace pooky.

EVE

Eve (top, center) (Cynops orientalis) August 1999-May 2, 2001. Seen here with her sister Marisa (bottom) relaxing on the ledge. Eve was always tiny, ever since she was born, but was a fighter. Sadly though she lost the battle to a severe leg wound. Regardless of treatments, the infection spread too quickly. She is greatly missed, but rests in heaven with her sister Marisa.

MARISA
 
August 1999-June 4, 2002. The spitting image of her mother, Big Mama. Marisa; (Cynops orientalis) enjoyed spending her time on the ledges, curled up in the moss hunting for crickets. Marisa suddenly and without warning passed away in the night of an unknown cause. Sadly missed.  


MEGAN
  

(Cynops orientalis) December 2000-June 23, 2002. Pre-deceased by her twin sibling who sadly passed away shortly after hatching. Twins are a very rare occurrence in amphibians and if lucky enough to have twins, they rarely survive past larval stage. Sadly to my knowledge, there are no known surviving twins in captivity as most don't survive past 2 years of age, possibly due to the lack of oxygen in the egg. Generally internal, most organs do not properly form and shut down in time :( Megan lived to 1 1/2 years of age and died of internal failure. She resided originally in the above 10 gallon terrarium until she was upgraded to a new habitat. Megan was too young to leave so soon!
 

L'IL MAC


(Notophthalmus viridescens)  Adopted March 31, 1999-July 22, 2003. The shy, quiet type. Loved to spend time exploring the various land areas throughout the aquarium and climbing up the glass, especially after I cleaned it! L'il Mac much preferred the land over the water and spending time with Kyla, Nick and Speedy. Greatly missed.



KYLA



My female Red-Spotted newt; (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) Adopted May 5, 1999-July 27, 2004. She was a land lover like L'il Mac. She loved chasing flightless fruit flies and crickets with him! Resting together in heaven.