Claire and Rey are gone

[Catherine]

I am so sorry for your losses. Claire was special and you gave her a good life. She could have been a lot older than you thought.
I have noticed that reptiles just start to fail when they get old. You can baby them along, but they age fast. I know you wonder if you failed her because you were not there. She may have fallen into the water because she died. Most reptiles no matter how weak will be able to lift their heads from the water when you soak them. I have never heard of a reptile drowning while being soaked.  
I think you did everything you could for Claire. When their bodies start to fail all you can do is keep them comfortable.

That is so sad about Rey. Reptiles do get cancer. The others would have known, that is why they acted the way they did. Rey wasn't alone, even if you were not there. She had her tank mates and they would have been a comfort. You gave her a safe place to live and she new you valued her. In the end you kept her comfortable and gave her a safe place to die.  Sometimes that is all we can do for our reptiles.

This is the difficult part of rescuing animals. Any pet can die, but with rescues we know so little about age and health. Often we are taking a pet that has already lived its best years. It may be hard, but we will still do it.
I rehomed a number of older corn snakes and other species of snakes 6-8 years ago. I am seeing real signs of aging and I know I am going to have loses this year.

I hope all you other reptiles are doing well. Claire and Rey join a party of your friends who are waiting for you on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.