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aspidities · 3 years

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What's your favorite species of snake? And do you have a favorite morph?

This one!

Although I named myself after the Aspidities genus because they’re funny little weirdos, I have been in love with Morelia viridis, the Green Tree Python, since I was probably seven or eight years old. They’re a ‘lifetime’ species for me. And it’s pure aesthetics—they’re just incredibly gorgeous. Even when they’re simply pure green, or lack the blue/yellow/white pigmentation, GTPs always look good. They’re a diurnal basking species, too, so they’ll sit right out in the open in the cage on a perch, looking all fabulous and green and mysterious, whereas most of my snakes spend most of their days curled up sleeping in a hiding spot, so when people come to look at the snakes, the GTPs are always the thing to see. I think they’re so pretty.

They’re also one of those ‘advanced’ species that’s a bit harder to care for and can be tricky to raise and breed, so there’s that nice feather in my cap for having not one but two of them thriving at the rates that they are. And mine are absurdly tame and handleable, despite the species having a well-deserved reputation for defensive behavior—but that could honestly come down to my own experience, as I’d say they still require more ‘reading’ and watching for strike behavior than other snakes. They strike fast so you need to learn them quick or you’ll take a few bites. But my two are absolute babies, which means I have these very sweet, very calm, very gorgeous medium-sized bright green snakes to show off and stare at, and I honestly just love them for it.

As for the second q, I’m not really a huge ‘morph’ person, tbh, because I’m one of those ‘reptile snobs’ who just likes animals the way they look in the wild. The ‘wild type’ is usually my favorite, because I’m a total snake nerd and if it looks like it did in the book I owed as a kid, I’m hooked. There’s so many different colors and varieties in the natural snake world too, so I don’t really see a point in a lot of morphs, and there is a significant controversy over breeding for certain colors or patterns in the reptile community, and it’s growing in concern. There are common ‘beginner’ species that are easy for novices and general businesspeople to breed with little to no training—animals like corn snakes, ball pythons, boas, etc—and they can easily be churned out in massive numbers, which they sadly are. The ‘morphs’ are just a new way to put a higher price tag on the same snake, and sometimes it results in truly harmful long term effects like neurological issues (‘stargazing’ and ‘wobbling’ found in both boas and ball pythons of certain morphs) and heart/liver/general organ health issues. Some lines have fatal rectal prolapse disorders. Some lines are prone to blindness and poor vitamin A retention. I have a ‘sunglow’ boa, which is a mix of a hypomelanistic trait and an albinistic trait, and is an animal worth easily $200-300 on the regular market as a cute baby, but she was given to me for free because she had a massive respiratory infection due to poor handling and husbandry, so just because it has a nice price tag when you buy it or the breeder sells it, doesn’t mean it always ends up in good hands, either. My boa is fine now, but she’ll always be slightly smaller and stunted, too, as a result of this morph, and some find that attractive and desirable. Not me, man, I want a big wild Brazilian boa, around 9’ and thick as a golf cart tire! But that’s overbreeding for you.

It’s just as complicated and nuanced an issue as dog breeding, honestly, and just because snakes aren’t cuddly like dogs doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be something folks are aware of when they look at a cool snake. Sometimes that pretty color can have a much higher cost than just the seller’s cash, and you’d never know, as a novice hobbyist. Now, all that preaching being said, do I understand the curb appeal of a morph? Absolutely! They’re cute! And some of them, like albinos and hypos and general single gene morphs, aren’t really all that harmful. It’s just a choice of how much research you want to do before you buy, for one, and, more importantly, if that research is even available when you purchase the animal. Reptile hobby breeding only really exploded in the last 40yrs of keeping, and it’s a new ‘science’. We still don’t know yet what the effects of breeding for color or pattern will be, but I can guess—lots of other animals paved the way for that. If reptiles go the way of purebred dogs, we may be seeing some really severe and common ailments start cropping up and it would be too late to fix it.

So yeah, all of that soapbox to say I just like the snakes to look like the type of snake they is!

#ask me #reptile asks #snake asks #reptiles #snakes #reptile posts

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

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Survey #376

“when the wind bends the branch to softly touch me / when the band plays your song / i feel strong enough to keep dreaming”

If your s/o smoked pot/did drugs would you care? Yes, but for pot that's only because it's illegal here. I also find smoking to be a turn-off, but I'd be able to look past that if it was for actual health reasons. Do people ever call you by your last name? No. Has the last person you dated/fell in love with ever seen you cry? Yes. Where are you going on your next vacation (or where do you WANT to go)? I've got none planned, nor do I know where I'd want to prioritize. Like there's South Africa, but I first need to get healthier before I could handle the heat and trudging through sand. I want to go to Yellowstone National Park to spread Teddy's ashes there (seeking permission of course), but again, I need to be in better shape before I go on a venture of photographing there, as well. I need to be healthier to do a lot of the things I want to... Do you own anything bought in another country? No. Who do you text the most? Sara. Four things you wish you had? Better health (including mental), financial stability, a job, and motivation to indulge more in my artistic hobbies. What was the last thing you cried about? Stress regarding this dog we're stuck with. What is your favorite Elvis song? Probably "You're The Devil In Disguise." Do you think you could be the next American Idol? Ha, absolutely not. Do you prefer reading fiction or non-fiction? Fiction, by a long shot. Does anybody send you money in the mail for your birthday? No. My grampa used to, but he's been dead a couple years. Who is one person you met and automatically didn’t like? I was not a fan of a doctor I once saw for my tremors. She was very rude and just threw the idea of me having Parkinson's or something at what, 17 years old or whatever? My psychiatrist knows her as well and knows she's a whackjob. Heard her name and was essentially like "ew" lmao. What monster would you be most afraid to have in your closet? A male one with a knife, I guess. I really hate knives. And men scare me anyway. Which Adam Sandler movie do you like the most? I don't know, he's in too many to possibly think of one right off the top of my head. Who was one of your first celebrity crushes? Jesse McCartney was my first true love, haha. Have you ever been hit on through text messages? Yes. Do you have to do any yard work? No. Have you ever mowed the lawn? No. Do you get an allowance? No. Did you ever know your great grandparents? I think I knew one? There was this woman from my childhood I knew as "GG" for "great grandma," but I have no recollection of who she was related to or even if she was directly related to me. I remember that I really really liked her, though. Do you like the taste of Tums? It's the texture I really don't like. The candy-like Tums though, y'know, not the chalky ones, I like more than someone should like medicine, haha. How about Pepto Bismol? Omfg no. Do you have a fast or slow metabolism? I have a slow metabolism, but thank Christ it's not as bad as when I was on Abilify. That stupid fucking medicine was the reason I gained so much weight that I haven't been able to lose. What’s your favorite onomatopoeia? (Crash, bang, zoom, meow) I dunno. Do you eat ramen? There's only one specific kind of ramen I've had that I like: Yakisoba's spicy chicken one. Sweet or regular pickles? Regular. I don't like sweet pickles. What kind of dreams do you have most often? Since my nightmares started, violent ones. I'm usually trying to defend myself or lashing out at someone myself. What do you do for personal growth? I try to be a deep thinker, for one. This can way too easily lead to overthinking, but I appreciate that I think it at least helps me learn from my mistakes and work towards making me a better person. I need to start challenging my anxiety more, as that would definitely be massive growth... If you could read anyone’s mind, who would be the first person you’d read? Jason's, only because all I want to know is if he thinks I was emotionally abusive after the breakup or not. But I also don't want to know. Do you have a makeup item or style trick that you feel improves your look significantly and that you feel like you couldn’t go without now that you have it? No. What’s your favourite cereal? Probably Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but I like a lot of cereals. Do you prefer red wine or white wine? I don't like wine. Way too bitter. Do you read Reddit? If so, how often and what subreddits do you like? I don't, but I've thought about lurking on a reptile husbandry one or something like that. Might learn some stuff. But at the same time, there are so many conflicting and very strong opinions amongst hobbyists to the point of awful toxicity that I'd rather not read. Have you recently broken up with a significant other or even just a friend? No. Have you ever eaten at a restaurant and left without paying? God no. When was the last time you played a board game? What did you play? Probably Scrabble back when Sara visited. Do you primarily use cash or card for your purchases? Why? Cash, because I don't have a debit or credit card. Do you believe sex should be mandatory in an ongoing dating relationship? Um, no? Some people don't care for it, and that's completely fine. Have you ever recorded yourself doing a cover of a song? No. Any secrets you’d never tell anyone? No matter how close they are to you? Yes. Do you like deviled eggs? NO. FUCK that yolk shit. What career are you most interested in? I still think my first career goal, a paleontologist, would be most interesting and exciting. Like just IMAGINE discovering a new dinosaur. And it's such a job of passion - you have to be so, SO careful and invest so much time in slowly recovering it from millions of years of rock and sand and time. I can only imagine the feeling of accomplishment when an excavation is complete. Have you ever seen a rooster? Yeah? What do you think about religion? Honestly, I personally wish it had never been a thing. It's brought with it so much hatred and bigotry, but I do acknowledge at the same time it's brought great comfort and hope to some people, and that's wonderful. But just all things considered, I feel it's done more harm than good. What’s your favorite sweetheart name (baby, honey, angel, dumpling) Probably "lovely." Has a little kid ever fallen asleep on your lap before? Yes, back when I babysat my neighbor's kid once. Have you ever thrown a grenade? Yikes, no. Have you ever talked face to face with someone famous before? No. Have you ever owned a rocking horse? I don't think so? If you could meet anyone in the world who would it be? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Have you ever wished you were dead? Yes. Is it awkward when people start talking all deep around you? No, I actually like deep convos. Have you ever played the old school Pac Man arcade game? Possibly? Ever played Mario Karts on Nintendo 64? No. Have you ever been scuba diving? No. Can you surf/boogie board? No. Do you like Chinese food, Mexican food, or American food better? American. What’s your favorite thing to order from Taco Bell? Cheese quesadilla and fiesta potatos. Sometimes I get the cinnabon delight thingies, but I avoid 'em with how unhealthy they are. Do you like hot, cold, or lukewarm showers? Pretty hot. Do you like to swing? I LOVED swinging as a kid. I haven't done it in a very long time now. How about jumping on a trampoline? I loved that as a kiddo, too. I haven't done that in years. What are you favorite color eyes? Sapphire blue or like an emerald green. Do you have long arm hair? Nah, at least I don't think so. What third generation console is your favorite? PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii? I loved my PS3. I'm still so bummed mine broke. How often do you like to have sex? I'm not sexually active, but even when I was, I didn't care. Do you have a facial expression you seem to pull a lot? What is it? Not really. I think I look stoic most of the time. Do you always listen to music when you’re online? No; I usually have a let's play or something like that on that I can split my screen and watch while doing something else. If so, what are you currently listening to? I'm listening to "Love Goes On And On" by Lindsey Stirling and Amy Lee right now. Do you ever forget how to do really simple things? Like what? Yes, like how to control the laundry machine and other things like that. There's just so many options that I never, ever remember what to set it to, no matter how many times Mom shows me. That's how my memory is with most things these days, really... Were you born with naturally straight teeth? No; I needed braces. If you were the opposite gender, what name would you like to be called? Uhhh maybe Severin. Do you prefer original or sour Skittles? I love both, but sour wins. What about chocolate or peanut M&M’s? I also enjoy both, but the original are better. Your favourite band: Do you prefer their old or new stuff? That's like... impossible to answer, lol. I just love everything. Do you check to make sure your ear phones are going in the right ear? No. Do you secretly still listen to Ace of Base? I have no idea who that is. Have you ever broken someone else’s bone? No, thank goodness. I'd feel awful. Is it stupid to think you can write a book at thirteen? No?????????? There are incredibly talented writers out there at young ages. Hell, I remember as a kid, I wanted to be the youngest published author way before that age. Are you ever embarrassed about what you dream about? There've been some I wouldn't share. Have you ever had sex with someone as a favor? No, and I never would. Does your mom let you date? I'm 25, my dude. She let me when I felt ready, though. If you had the last person you kissed’s Facebook password, would you go snooping through their stuff? Why or why not? She doesn't have one, but hypothetically, fuck no. Because that's none of my damn business, and it still wouldn't be even if we were still dating. Have you ever fainted? If so, when was the last time? If not have you ever come close? I've fainted once when I was a teen and have come close many other times. Ever take a keyboarding class? Do you type using the skills you learned in class, or how you used to before you took the class? Yeah; it was mandatory for I think one year in middle school. I type how I was taught in there. Do you find your best friend’s significant other/crush attractive? She doesn't have an s/o, and idk who her "real" crush is, as much as she'd love Frieza to be real, haha. What do you do with your clothes that don’t fit anymore or just don’t want? Donate them. Do you cut out coupons? My mom will keep some fast food ones she gets in the mail sometimes. Did you ever breathe in helium and talk funny afterwards? I think I did once at a birthday party, but I'm unsure. Would you ever open your own business? If so, what kind of business could you imagine yourself having? I want to be a freelance photographer so, so badly. I want to specialize in nature and wildlife, but having a boudoir studio would be great to help keep me afloat, plus I adore the art of boudoir. I've shot it once for an old friend, and by god, I loved how empowered it made her feel, especially as a plus-sized woman. She adored the pictures, and I'd just love to help other clients feel like they're gorgeous in their unique body, too. Last type of candy you ate? I had a donut from Starbuck's yesterday. Did you decorate your house for Halloween? If so, how many decorations? Did you go all out, or just put up a few things? Mom and I don't really decorate anymore. :/

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''love goes on and on (feat. amy lee)'' by lindsey stirling

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devilboyblues · 4 years

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general advice for animal care

remove or neutralize waste: in an aquatic environment this can lead to high ammonia levels, for normal pets like cats and hamsters just scoop it up, and no one should have to live in their own waste. animals, naturally, want to avoid their waste and it is unhealthy for them. and finally, not giving them a good space to “do their business” means they will find other methods, like outside the litter box

in a terrarium, waste is of course produced and you don’t actually want to mess with it too much. find things like a bioactive aquarium to naturally cycle it into habitat.

it smelly? it dirty?: first step is of course keep up on cleaning the animal’s habitat. some smell might be normal. scrubbing and hot water are the safest, as some animals can get very sick from soap even if you think you’ve rinsed it well. there are also some enzyme cleaners which will naturally clear things up. if you use bleach, PLEASE dilute and let naturally dry, and check if it is safe for your animal

space. SPACE!: almost every animal could benefit from more space (except for some small communal species that don’t care, but you should know). animals NEED space to roam, space to hide, space to claim as their own since many animals are territorial. stuff sold in pet shops isnt big enough and can be unsafe. a lot of animals don’t thrive even with proper feeding because they are stressed from a too small environment

and if that isn’t enough, a bigger tank/cage/aquarium will make it easier for you, the owner. see above about removing waste? detritus will much less of a problem if the pet has room to spread out. you can clean and work around the pet, and they will be much less stressed.

unfortunately, many pets are kept in an improper environment, mostly due to ignorance rather than apathy i hope, and live short, stressful lives. people are so used to having animals in small containers that they don’t recognize stress behaviors because they think that is normal

animals are animals: animals hunt each other. harass each other. fight for food or mates. if you include enough space some of these problems will go away but please research before adding any animals, including those of the same species. some animals will cannibalize their young or unwanted inhabitants. even when they’re neutral, there might be too much competition for resources, or one species is aggressive and will harass or even attack other animals

most pets live for years: indoor cats live for 15-20 years (please keep your cats inside). dogs, depending on the species, live for about 10 years. parrots can outlive you. even fish and bugs can live for several years with proper care. this is a long term commitment. you owe these animals the best care they can get through their lifespan, and as long of a life as possible. reptiles? fish? dying in a few months is not normal. please re-evalute the situation and consult with a vet or expert

all species i have learned about, raised, or dealt with need enrichment: your pet, between each moment you feed or give attention to, is not a static object. many species need places to hide, things to chew on, things to explore, puzzles to engage with. of course, not necessarily all of these but all animals need an environment they can interact with to suit their natural behaviors

research, research, research: before bringing an animal into your home, make sure you can meet all of the needs above, tailored for your pet. don’t just look at mainstream sources because there can be misinformation but look at the hobbyists and people who specialize in them.

yes, even for cats and dogs. there is a lot of misunderstanding about their signals and behaviors and needs even though there’s millions out there

there is no bad animal: every animal reacts to its instincts and upbringing. they want food! they want shelter! they want a clean environment! they want (depending on the species) attention! they want engagement! they do not particularly care how they obtain these things. all they know is want=obtain. and like for social intelligent species like dogs and cats, they may learn inappropriate behavior for achieving these things. it is your responsibility for meeting and maintaining these needs, training and redirecting as necessary.

consider what kind of animal you have and what role it would play: dogs have been crafted by us to be a companion for centuries, they are highly motivated to please humans. most species do not care about us. they see us as a threat, or terrain. many pets are prey animals, so they are naturally scared. some, like fish, don’t care about us at all. and some you can form a bond with, through feeding and attention. i don’t want to anthropomorphize so i can’t say for sure either way.

bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungus LOVE your pets: first off, if it is an option, get your pets vaccinated

fortunately, most things that get your pet sick won’t hurt you and vice versa. but. most contagions love warm humid environments, and guess what is inside your pet’s body and environment? check with a vet, control those variables when you can (part of research) and use anti-fungals or anti-bacterials as needed. consider supplementing with lysine for some pets to boost the immune system but PLEASE do research/and or consult with a vet first.

take your pet to the vet: i can give some advice for common ailments in common pets but it 100% does not replace going to the vet. if symptoms do not get better, or get worse, or has worrying symptoms like listed below, take your pet to the vet, or at least call. i try to give at-home remedies to save vet visits but i am 100% not a vet and not responsible for diagnosing or treating your animal’s health

worrying symptoms: lethargy, swelling of abdomen, drooling, inflammation, redness around nose, mouth, or tongue, panting, strange texture around fur or scales, excessive grooming behavior, hiding (if not normal), sudden change in behavior, excessive urination or not at all, greasy or dry coat, failed molting, NOT EATING, overly warm or cold, unusual waste in any way, shivers or unresponsive, PLEASE consult a veterinarian. it could be between ‘here’s some suggestions” to “bring her in immediately”. sudden behavior changes (without an obvious extentuating factor like a move) and change in appearance like pale scales or greasy fur are usually very bad, treat now

pets can react to stress, so some change is normal, but again, if in doubt or it doesn’t resolve quickly, please please consult a vet

#long post #resources

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fimbry-talks · 5 years

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Plant youtube is wild and I love the channel Michael’s Orchids in particular.

People showing off their plant rooms perfectly mirrors reptile hobbyists though. Like so much excitement, and love. Everyone is a big nerd with their own interest and I love it.

(I’m working on a little shelf of plants in my reptile room right now, so I’ve been researching first.)

#i finally bought an orchid 2 days ago....... please be strong my dear #plant talk

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sunfish-exotics · 6 years

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Western Hognose Care Guide

Heterodon nasicus

This is a brief explanation of how I personally keep western hognose snakes. It should not be the only resource you rely on when researching them! It’s just an overview of the basic husbandry requirements that I employ. Western hognoses are great for the beginner-intermediate hobbyist, and their attitudes, small size, and color morphs make them appealing to a broad range of people! I do not think they make great snakes for first time reptile owners, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep one as a first time owner- you just have to be very aware of their temperaments and feeding habits before getting into them. Overall, hognoses are some of my favorite snakes that I keep.

Again this is very basic, let me know if you have any questions or want to see a topic added.

Western Hognose Distribution, Natural Habitat, Diet, and Description:

(source)

Western hognoses are found throughout the mid-west of the US and Canada. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, though they are most typically found in grasslands, plains, and in forested areas. They are fairly opportunistic feeders that feed on frogs/toads, lizards, and rodents. Male hognoses reach a maximum length of 2-3 feet. Females are larger and heavier bodied and can reach up to 4 feet, though this is uncommon.

Western Hognose Captive Husbandry

The Basics

Temperatures:

Cool: 78-85

Warm: 93-95 (hot spot. if using ambient temperatures set the heat to 90)

It’s ideal to create a temperature gradient to allow the snake to choose the temperature it needs at a given moment. It is fine to have a nighttime drop in temperatures, as long as the ambient remains around 76-80. You can provide them with heat in a variety of ways. I personally use either heat tape or radiant heat panels (RHPs) for my hognoses. Because hognoses are diurnal, it’s also perfectly fine to heat them using heat bulbs or ceramic heat emitters (CHEs). Remember to always have each heating element on some type of controller (thermostat, dimmer, etc)

Cage Size:

Hatchlings: Small tubs are best. I used 6qts for hatchlings this past season but I’m going to try something smaller this season to see if how their feeding habits compare. If you don’t want to use a tub, a 2.5-5g aquarium can be used, though you may have a difficult time keeping it warm enough with just an under tank heater (UTH). If you do, adding overhead heat will help.

Juveniles: Medium sized tubs or tanks or front-opening cages. I typically use 16qt tubs for juveniles. Once they’re eating large pinkies or fuzzies they’re usually ready to be moved into something larger without dealing with a feeding strike post-move. If you want to use a tank 10-20g longs work well.

Adults: Hognoses are sexually dimorphic, because of this you can keep them in different sized adult enclosures depending on their sex. I keep my adult males in 2x2x1 enclosures or 32qt tubs. My adult females are kept in 2x2x1 or 4x2x1 enclosures depending on their length and weight. You can always go bigger, but you may experience feeding issues if you do. 40g breeder tanks are perfect for adult males, females will likely need something larger depending on how large she gets.

Sometimes you’ll get a weird male hognose that just won’t eat in a larger enclosure no matter how much cover and how many hides you add. It’s fine to keep them in a smaller tub within moderation as long as they’re still eating well and have enough room for hides and enrichment items.

This is how I cage my hognoses:

Hatchling-> 6qt tub

Once they reach about 15-20g I move them to a 16qt tub

When they reach about 60-80g I move them to a 32qt tub

When they reach about 200g I move them to a 2x2x1 enclosure (this is about the maximum size for a typical male)

When they reach about 400g I move them to a 4x2x1 enclosure (not all females will reach the 400g range)

Humidity:

Hognoses can tolerate a variety of humidity levels, but the one thing to keep in mind is ventilation. Their cages MUST be well ventilated or respiratory infections can happen. I do not ever mist my hognose enclosures, but I do provide them with a humid hide at least when they’re shedding (a humid hide could be a plastic food storage container with a hole cut out the top filled halfway with damp sphagnum moss). The ambient humidity in my room stays about 20-40% and I’ve never had an issue with a hognose shedding or getting an RI. I do keep an overhead fan on at all times though, just something to keep in mind.

Substrate:

Hognoses love to burrow, and will often go off of food if they can’t dig to their heart’s content! The substrate should be kept around 2-4″ depending on the girth of your hognose.

Substrate Types:

Good Substrates:

Shredded Aspen-> I keep most of my growing hognoses on aspen. It’s cheap, easy to clean, and holds burrows well.

Naturalistic Substrate-> Hognoses thrive in a more natural substrate. A mix of clay, sand, and topsoil with a bit of gravel and small rocks thrown in makes an excellent substrate for them. Be careful to observe them and make sure they don’t get substrate clogged in their nostrils, this can happen with any loose substrate but is more common with mixes that are too dusty, too moist, or contain too much coco fiber.

Poor Substrate Choices:

Paper Towel-> Beyond housing a new arrival on paper towel for a few days to check for mites, paper towel is a poor choice for hognoses because it does not facilitate burrowing.

Coco Fiber-> Used on it’s own, coco fiber is too dusty if kept dry enough for hognoses, and can clog their nostrils easily. It’s fine to use coco in a substrate mix though, especially in a humid hide or micro-climate.

Sand-> Regular play sand is an unnatural substrate type for hognoses. They’re not from the Sahara. As with coco fiber, it’s dusty and can clog their nostrils. It’s fine to use in a mix with other substrate types.

NEVER Substrate Choices:

Calcium Sand-> Just don’t.

Cage Decor:

The cage should be furnished with several hides, at least one in the warm side, cool side, and intermediate areas of the cage. Rocks and branches for climbing should be provided. The cage decor can be as simplistic or naturalistic as you like! As long as the snake has the ability to display its natural behaviors, it doesn’t really matter what the cage aesthetic is like. A small sized water bowl should be provided at all times.

Feeding:

What does “appropriately sized” mean?

An appropriately sized feeder will be the same size or slightly thicker than the widest part of the hognose’s body. If you feed a prey item that is too large, regurgitation is likely. It is better to feed two smaller prey items than a single prey item that is too large.

Hognoses are notoriously picky eaters. In my experience, females eat more consistently than males do so it can be a better choice to go with a female if you’re new to the species. Most western hognoses will eat f/t pinkies immediately after hatching but some take longer to get started. Even if the snake is well started, it may go off of food if your husbandry is off or if it’s during the breeding season. If you have a picky hognose, these are some techniques that can help them start eating on their own.

Scenting: Scenting involves dipping the f/t feeder into different “scents” in order to incite a feeding response from the hognose.

Some scents I’ve had success with:

-Juice from canned tuna

-Juice from canned chicken -Chicken broth (unsalted)

-Juice from canned vienna sausages

-”Frog Juice” from Reptilinks

If none of the scents work for you individually, you can try mixing them. I typically keep several scents in my freezer in case I need them.

Braining: This involves piercing or slicing the head of the feeder to expose brain tissue.

Using a Smaller Container: Placing the hognose and the feeder in a deli cup or paper bag overnight can sometimes encourage them to eat.

Other techniques: Adding fresh leaf litter to the enclosure, changing the size of the feeder, offering a different feeder (Reptilinks offers frog links now), combining techniques, etc.

If your hognose is rapidly losing weight or looks skinny or dehydrated definitely seek the advice of a veterinarian. I do not recommend assist feeding or force feeding without the instruction of either a breeder or vet who can decide if it’s necessary and then walk you through the process. It is rarely necessary to assist or force feed hognoses.

I will add to this care sheet as needed! Again, if you have any questions or want to see a topic added let me know!

#reptiblr #western hognose #care sheet

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allenmendezsr · 3 years

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The Bearded Dragon Guide

New Post has been published on https://autotraffixpro.app/allenmendezsr/the-bearded-dragon-guide/

The Bearded Dragon Guide

Buy Now

You May Be Making Serious Mistakes with Your Bearded Dragon’s Care, Handling, or Habitat Setup if He/She Shows ANY of the Following Signs:

Has runny eyes or nostrils

Has a lack of energy

Stays hidden all day

Is aggressive towards people

Seems dull in color

Has trouble breathing

Seems panicky/stressed when held

Desn’t notice you when you approach the cage

Has jerky movements

Desn’t have an appetite

Desn’t go to the bathroom regularly

Attacks or frequently scratches their cage

From: Steven Hold

Dear fellow bearded dragon enthusiast,

If you want a fun, easy to handle, and healthy bearded dragon, then you have come to the right website. Here you will learn how to avoid the common mistakes most bearded dragon owners make learn exactly how to care for your bearded dragon so they will bond closer with you and live a longer healthier life.

Introducing “The Bearded Dragon Guide”…

No Past Knowledge Required This guide was written so you can understand everything even if you’ve never been around a reptile before in your life.

This Guide Pays for Itself Learn money saving tips with food, tank accessories, maintenance, and more. Just a few of these tips alone can save you more money than the cost of this guide!

Access Anywhere You can easily read this guide from your computer, iPhone, Smart Phone, and Tablet; or you can print it from your computer and have a hard copy.

These bearded dragon care instructions will give you the secrets and knowledge of bearded dragon veterans and professional bearded dragon breeders so you will be able to have a healthy, energetic, and beautiful bearded dragon.

In Just A Few Moments You Will Learn…

How to Properly Setup a Bearded Dragon’s Habitat – An improper habitat setup is not only dangerous for your bearded dragon, but it also makes them more tense and stressed.

How to Make Sure a Bearded Dragon is Eating Enough Food – Underfeeding bearded dragons will not only stunt their growth, but it can also make them more aggressive.

6 Places You Can Get Bearded Dragons – You can even get free bearded dragons at some of these sources.

What Age Bearded Dragon You Should Get – See if it’s better for you to get an adult or juvenile bearded dragon (both have their pros and cons).

What Gender Bearded Dragon You Should Get – There are differences between male and female bearded dragons and this decision may affect your setup.

Whether You Should Get More than One Bearded Dragon – Learn what you need and what you should expect if you get more than one beardie.

10 Signs of a Healthy Bearded Dragon – Any bearded dragon that doesn’t meet these 10 requirements should not be purchased.

13 Signs of an Unhealthy Bearded Dragon – If you see a bearded dragon with any of these 13 signs, you should know something’s wrong.

4 Deadly Mistakes Many First Time Owners Make – Be sure never to make any of these mistakes as they can result in your bearded dragon’s death within 24-72 hours.

How to Approach a New Bearded Dragon – New bearded dragons are not used to you, so you need to approach them carefully so they don’t develop a negative association with your presence.

The Complete Checklist of Everything Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank Needs – Many owners lack a few crucial items that bearded dragon’s need to say healthy and stress free.

What to Do When You Get Home with A New Bearded Dragon – This will make getting him/her into their cage stress free a very easy process.

How to Read Your Bearded Dragon’s Body Language – This will allow you to know your bearded dragon’s mood and what he/she is thinking.

Where to Place Your Bearded Dragon’s Cage – Putting your bearded dragon’s cage in the wrong locations can stress it out and make him/her very sick.

How to Make Your Bearded Dragon Feel Comfortable – Learn the exact temperature and humidity levels to keep your bearded dragon healthy and comfortable.

All the Top Recommended Bearded Dragon Products You Should Get – See a list of the best bearded dragon brands, products, and accessories. These are the best rated products for bearded dragons by other owners and breeders.

A List of the Only Substrates You Should Use – Many bearded dragon owners don’t realize the substrate they’re using is dangerous and can shorten the life of their bearded dragon.

A Complete Bearded Dragon Schedule – Know when to feed, bathe, clean, and do everything else your bearded dragon requires.

The Complete List of Safe Insects – Get the full list of safe insects to feed your bearded dragon.

The Complete List of Safe Plants and Vegetables – See the nutrition values and how to prepare all the plants and vegetables that bearded dragons love eating.

The Complete List of Safe Fruit – Discover which fruits bearded dragons love and how often to feed them certain types of fruit.

Dangerous Foods to Avoid – Learn everything you should avoid feeding your bearded dragon. This list of plants, vegetables, fruit, and insects can kill healthy bearded dragons.

A List of the Most Common Health Issues in Bearded Dragons – Learn about the most common bearded dragon health issues, how to recognize symptoms, and when you need to take your bearded dragon to the vet.

How to Bathe Your Bearded Dragon – Discover the step-by-step process you should use when bathing your bearded dragon.

How to Breed Bearded Dragons – Learn how to tell when they are ready to be bred and what you need to do before breeding.

How to Incubate Bearded Dragon Eggs – See incubator plans and learn what you need to do to hatch a healthy clutch of bearded dragon eggs.

Plus, You’ll Also Learn…

How to avoid getting a bearded dragon that’s too young.

Easy ways to estimate the age of any bearded dragon.

How to determine the gender of any bearded dragon.

How to know if you’re ready for a bearded dragon.

How to tell if your bearded dragon’s being aggressive or playful.

How to make sure your beardie doesn’t injure himself/herself outside their cage.

How to clean your bearded dragon’s cage without poisoning him/her.

How to make sure your bearded dragon is properly hydrated and how to make sure they are drinking water.

How to tell if a piece of food is too large for your bearded dragon.

How to choose the best vitamin supplements for your bearded dragon so he/she doesn’t overdose on vitamins.

But That’s Not All…

There’s too much bearded dragon care tips, information, and techniques to be listed on this page so take a look at the screenshots below of The Bearded Dragon Guide’s table of contents:

So What’s the BEST Way for you to Care for Your Bearded Dragon?

Even though bearded dragons are very popular and you can purchase them at many local pet stores, they are exotic animals. They cannot survive outside of a specific environment or diet. Placing them outside of their comfort zone can significantly decrease their lifespan as well as make them stressed and grumpy. So if you are serious about having a healthy bearded dragon how are you going to learn how to take care of them?

Below is how most people learn about taking care of their bearded dragon…

Learn from a Friend or Family Member that Has a Bearded Dragon There’s no doubt that you trust their suggestions and advice about bearded dragons, but you are assuming that they are well experienced with diet, care, and habitat setup for bearded dragons. Just because they have a bearded dragon, don’t assume they are an expert and know how to care for one.

Get a Care Guide from Your Local Vet Unfortunately, not every vet will have a care guide available for bearded dragon care, and those that do will only have a 1-2 page sheet that gives basic facts (these sheets will usually contain information on other reptiles too). Trust me, I know, because I have contacted hundreds of vets (403 to be exact) to provide them with free bearded dragon care guides and many of the vets told me that A) they would only accept a guide that could fit onto one sheet of paper (front and back), B) that they referred customers with questions to care websites online, or C) They didn’t have enough bearded dragon clients to merit them having a guide to pass out.

Get Care Information from Free Websites Online This is the most common option, and the chances are that you have already done this yourself. There are a lot of great websites online regarding bearded dragon care, however most of these websites are created by hobbyists and their care instructions are sometimes lacking or incomplete. This is one of the reasons why I created TheBeardedDragon.org (which is currently one of the most popular bearded dragon websites in the world), however I couldn’t include too much information on the site because it would make the pages so long and technical that it would deter most people from reading the page.

Or You Can Learn the Care and Handling Techniques Experienced Bearded Dragon Owners Use by Downloading Our Step-by-Step Guide…

It doesn’t take a lot of time and it’s not expensive to keep your bearded dragon in 100% health and looking his or her best at all times. This same information has helped countless bearded dragon owners and it will help you too!

Our guide contains step-by-step instructions telling you exactly what you need to do and what to look for so you can know without a doubt that your bearded dragon will live a long healthy life.

In as little as 5 minutes from now you can be reading this guide and applying the techniques to your bearded dragon.

You can either print the guide or read it off your computer, iPhone, Tablet, or Smart Phone. Unlike other guides you will never lose our guide. Since it is downloaded and saved to your computer you can always print off another copy of the instructions.

100% Money Back Guarantee

I guarantee The Bearded Dragon Guide will benefit you and your bearded dragon or we will give your money back!

If you feel The Bearded Dragon guide was not worth your investment, simply contact me within 60 days and I’ll issue you a full 100% refund with no questions asked!

Take Action Now & Be On Your Way to Having A Healthy, Happy, and Beautiful Bearded Dragon!

If you’re ready to have a more active, loving, and stress-free bearded dragon that you can show off, then take advantage of The Bearded Dragon Guide’s easy, step-by-step, risk-free solution to caring for your bearded dragon.

I 100% Guarantee that you WILL see a positive change in your bearded dragon’s behavior, appearance, and/or attitude, or I will give you your money back.

Yes, I am ready to improve my bearded dragon’s life. Let me try The Bearded Dragon Guide for 60 days and if for any reason I am unsatisfied I will receive a full refund.

Don’t Hesitate, Download The Bearded Dragon Guide today and get all the techniques, methods, and care instructions the experts and breeders use to expand the lives, increase the coloring, and improve the health of their treasured bearded dragons!

P.S. – Remember, The Bearded Dragon Guide comes with a full 60 day money back guarantee, so you have 8 solid weeks to try out all the care techniques to improve and extend the life of your bearded dragon and if you’re unsatisfied in any way, we will give you a full refund with no questions asked.

Don’t Hesitate! CLICK HERE to Download The Bearded Dragon Guide for $19.00 While the Offer Lasts!

Once you click to download/order The Bearded Dragon Guide you will be taken to our secure online order form where your order will be processed by ClickBank. After you complete the order form you will be charged a one-time fee of $19.00 for access to our product, then you will be taken to our secure download page where you can download The Bearded Dragon in .PDF format or you can read it or print it directly from our webpage.

Since our ebook is in .PDF format, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and read our guide. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free by Clicking Here.

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odogaronfang · 6 years

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Zombie apocalypse aus are neat. Tell me more.

oh thank you so much for asking!!!!!!!!

okay this might get long so prepare, uhhh where do i start

so basically. henry is my main character. in this au, the risen are the zombies, makes sense yknow. difference is, while most zombie media tags zombies as slow to move, slow to act, and without capability for higher thinking, the risen are still, on some level, fundamentally human. (this kind of stems from the risen’s capability to fight in awakening, and from of a support between ricken and henry; see “they’re just like us, but dead” (((: ) given, the risen are slow and not all too strong, they’re dead and decaying and atrophying- but the fresher risen, the recently turned, can in some cases rival a healthy, living human. i’m still thinking on what caused the pandemic, i’ll be honest, no haha-no-one-knows cop-out, i’ll get back to you on that. but no one knows of any cure yet, of course, or this au wouldn’t exist.

so. in a world of the living dead(?), where being a mage translates to being a gunslinger, cut to henry. was this an excuse to make henry dual wield handguns? maybe. will i apologize for it? absolutely not.

i digress. henry is the chaotic neutral/neutral evil gunslinger with incredible aim and a questionable at best moral compass. i’ve actually got a sketch of him somewhere, of him pointing a gun at someone saying “give me your stuff. or die! i win both ways!” ‘course i didn’t draw the other person, but it gets the message across. he’s generally just kind of desensitized to things. he comes from a neglectful but wealthy family (as he does in canon), so he never had much of a mentor or anyone to guide him in what’s right versus wrong. mostly he’s just interested in self-preservation, and the preservation of his birds; he’s been rescuing wounded birds (read: crows) since he was old enough to know how, and he names them bird puns and keeps them as pets, and now he’s got what’s basically a murder of loyal crows at his beck and call. they feed on the risen (and humans) he kills, and warn him when something is approaching. he trains them well. he’s the pavlov of corvids.

gaius is a slightly more morally responsible survivor, who probably raided a bass pro outdoor shop/renaissance festival as soon as the pandemic broke out. he’s got a sword, and throwing knives, and some daggers, and a bow (before it breaks and he doesn’t know how to fix it). the good thing about it is that he doesn’t spend time looking for ammo- the bad thing is he has to do a lot of maintenance on them. he is a thief, steals from encampments and sleeping lone wanderers, but he isn’t killing anyone for supplies, usually. except candy. he’d probably kill for candy if he liked the brand enough.

the shepherds are a survivors’ group dedicated to assimilating, training, and protecting fellow survivors- think alexandria, hilltop, or the kingdom from the walking dead, if you know it. their HQ is an abandoned castle, a historical landmark, that they filled with traps and alarm systems, and is practically impassable if you don’t know it. chrom founded the group, along with his (boy?)friend robin (that’s actually his nickname, because of his fighting style, not his real name).

-lissa is chrom’s little sister, an aspiring general surgeon and the current medic of the shepherds alongside maribelle, her close friend since VPK.

-frederick is a good family friend to chrom and lissa, and by extension the rest of the shepherds- he’s a war veteran and former hand-to-hand combat instructor, and does his part by training new recruits, and often acting as chrom’s and lissa’s bodyguard.

-sully is my wife also a veteran, was actually trained by frederick while still in active service. she leads a lot of patrols around their HQ, and interrogates new recruits. just to make sure.

-stahl is the resident herbalist/apothecary, it was his father’s trade and he grew up learning it. he’s often an assistant to lissa when she needs it, as he can make the salves and ointments and medicines that she needs to treat injuries. he also sometimes helps in the kitchen, because of his extensive knowledge of plants.

-miriel is their sniper, and hobbyist historian. the historian part doesn’t matter so much, but she likes to talk people’s ears off about things if they’ll let her. she’s pretty okay with math and science too, so she’ll help stahl with measurements, ratios, etc, but mostly she likes history and shooting things from 200+ yards.

-ricken is the baby boy of the shepherds. “it takes a village to raise a child” they say, and he’s the village’s child. everyone looks out for him. everyone is his parent. he is well loved and being trained by miriel in the art of sharpshooting. (he’d rather be with stahl learning how to make things.)

-donnel is their agricultural expert, and directs all their non-specialized workforce in the maintenance of their fields. he’s very strict about their schedule, about how things are planted and pruned and fertilized and harvested, about how croplands are rotated for optimal yields, but damn if the results aren’t better than anything they could’ve gotten at a market pre-apocalypse.

-virion is their bowhunter. they could use guns, but it wastes precious ammo and is loud and attracts attention, so he trains archers and leads them out on hunts when their tame livestock are running low or they feel they can risk the venture. it’s more sensible to take from the wild than their personal resources, robin says, and robin’s advice seldom fails them…

-panne and nowi are in charge of livestock (and nowi is a herpetologist on the side. she loves reptiles. she has a pet python.) panne hates to see any animals killed, but especially her babies, as she calls the one she raises, and fully supports virion and co’s ventures as long as it spares the lives of her animals. she recognizes necessity when she sees it, however, and if an animal needs to be killed for whatever reason, she does it herself, to make sure it’s quick and painless. she’s not the most social, but she and donnel get along well, and when henry joins their number she takes quickly to him and his avian following.

-generally, their guards/patrols consist of vaike, gregor, cherche, kellam, basilio, flavia my other wife, lon’qu, and say’ri. they’re alternating shifts on castle patrol, two to each group, one pair on each side of the castle, east and west. they’re always up late but they’re allowed to sleep in as compensation.

-cordelia, sumia, and libra jump around a lot, help a lot with donnel’s farming but also with out-of-camp ranging, as they’re skilled riders. cordelia helps tend to the horses, and ricken sometimes joins her.

-olivia was an aspiring actress before the pandemic, and before she became a single mother- now she’s practically a secretary, keeping their records of harvests and hunts and slaughters and rangings and patrols. she’s mentored by miriel, who adores that kind of boring work. olivia is also an excellent liar and if they ever need to negotiate with other people, she’s their go-to.

-tharja is also a sniper and everyone’s favorite hot topic membership cardholder. she and miriel like to have cynical conversations about the state of the world and complain about men with sully. the three of them definitely have a girls’ club going.

-inigo (the only child character i bothered to include) is olivia’s son to an unnamed father. his interests have always been in the performing arts field, but as that isn’t realistic anymore, he spends a lot of time with everyone. sometimes he’ll go and sit with ricken, and they’ll browse the castle library for fairy tales and folklore and read it together, and sometimes they’ll try and write their own and then perform it for everyone else, on stormy nights when the mood is dismal. they’re always stupid but they’re funny- they both have a gift for dramatic comedy- and everyone looks forward to their shows.

i feel as though i should warn people that it’s henry/gaius, though that isn’t the focus of it. it started as a bad shitpost and now it’s a ship so… [wattpad voice] don’t like don’t read, you feel

#fire emblem: awakening #henry #chrom #robin #frederick #just tagged the most popular ones to get attention (:#wow i think this is my first original post about fe #anyway #hmu if you have more questions i love this au that i created 2 days ago #zombie au #my au #i am thinking #i may call this the 'have some death!' au #so just in case #have some death! au

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fisherfurbearer · 7 years

Text

On the Topic of Researching and Mental Health.

Sometimes I think about why I do the amount of research that I do. Sometimes I think and ask myself, “Why the fuck are you like this.”

This turned into a rather long but important (at least to me.) post, so I’ll put it behind a break so it won’t clog people’s dashes. I don’t expect anyone to read it, but I think it helped myself to type it.

As a good few people of reptiblr and off this site have learned, I’m a real chatterbox and one to ask MANY specific questions in the name of research. I research all the time, day in day out, in some cases for literally HOURS on end. I talk about this sometimes, and it’s one of the biggest reasons I managed to undertake getting two geckos of a more uncommon species as my first reptiles.

I’ve been doing this for the past 5 years, starting with reptiles, and soon enough growing to amphibians and as of a few years ago, invertebrates and birds. I consume so much information and have dozens of files saved all over the place...on my old phone, new phone, old netbook, my dad’s old and now-broken laptop, my new laptop...just everywhere. I don’t know the exact number of words I’ve written, but clicking on a random file I have one here discussing the care, purpose (i.e. who it’s being fed to, how often, or if it’s a pet), and routine for keeping a wide variety of feeder and pet invertebrates. This file is 1,137 words alone. Today, maybe an hour or so ago, I started writing another file discussing a supplement routine for the future when I have more reptiles/amphibians, and it’s already 315 words just talking about supplements, as I fly back through so many tabs of articles, forum posts (one of which is really cool! I’ll make a post about it after this one), etc., and reading through many breeder and hobbyist’s personal experiences and advice on the topic.

Ironically, I never really considered WHY I did this until I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When I was in the hospital, I spend hours each day writinginformation from my head about roaches and their care and maintenance. Over and over again, talking about their practicality as pets and feeders, their nutritional needs, care, and my plans for the future...I had PAGES and PAGES written in a purple or blue Crayola marker on printer paper about this, sometimes rewriting the same things over and over. I didn’t think much of it until my “medical team” asked if I always talk as fast as I do, and if I find myself talking quickly all the time or writing tons at once. I told them about my research and my writing, I was so excited about it...but it hurt so much, it was like a knife to my heart hearing that they basically chalked it up as a symptom of this nightmarish disease. My “highs” were always this I guess. Rambling on and on for hours to my partner about what I learned that day, or asking people here or breeders or specialists on a species my very specific questions that I couldn’t find elsewhere, bouncing from source to source devouring information and taking it all with just enough salt and skepticism to not believe the first thing I see...hell, even now I find myself excitedly typing these run-on sentences and digressing into other less-coherent thoughts. Looping back, it hurt that the sheer amount of research I’ve done, and my passion, were cut down to a symptom of this disease which has been ruining my life for the past almost year.

Just. Being told that. Still sticks with me. That was months ago, about a half-year, but it still wounds my heart realizing this extremely devoted passion and hunger for knowledge and my devotion to providing my animals better lives and welfare even if they seem small and insignificant is just. A part of a disease.

I don’t think it is though. Not entirely. Just mostly. The excited fever I get when I stay up until dawn researching and reading about chickens (don’t get me started. on chickens.) and geckos and pigeons and vivariums...gosh it makes me so happy, even when the rest of my life is falling apart, it makes me so gosh darn happy. I do realize it’s not healthy to stay up and watch the sun rise, and my insomnia is getting worse, and wasting (is it wasting? I don’t know anymore.) literally HOURS UPON HOURS of my life nearly every single day and night might not be the best thing...but I don’t know. I guess it makes me worthless fucking trash most of the time, rotting my life away at a fucking computer pestering people who don’t know me with so many questions, and researching and planning for a future that will never fucking happen but. I. Don’t. Know.

Still...my research and my passion has gotten me though some not okay times in the past few years, and the 1.5 years I spent researching and readjusting my Eurydactylodes plan a dozen times or more was well worth it. I never could have gotten my boys or any of my invertebrates without doing this first. These animals are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, short of experiencing college for a short time and being with my partner. They give me confidence, they give me a reason to live when there isn’t one. I mean hell, the geckos are named what they are for a reason. Vladimir and Estragon waited for Godot, their reason in life, but really I was the one waiting for them all these years.

Ha. What an idiot I am. How fucking quickly my head goes from telling me I’m...just the worst garbage to ever walk the earth, then jump to reminding myself just how wonderful and amazing it all is.

I suppose I read back and I already forget how much it hurt, how angry I get at myself for my research and excitement, how hard I maul and dismember myself and my confidence for doing what I love. When I asked myself is it wasting my time, why am I like this, is it all just the disease, am I even myself is it even worth it...I say all of those things...but the second I begin thinking and typing about the little geckos under my care, my little Didi and Gogo, my roaches, my isopods, my little loves, it all changes. They remind me why I’m here and why I do what I do. They make it all worthwhile. They’re worth it, my research is worth it, my passion, and my LIFE are worth it. It’s NOT just some disease. It’s not ok to stay up and run on a couple hours sleep and watch the sun rise because of the depression and insomnia and the research...but the rest of it, this research and my passions and planning for the future I want to have...IT’S FUCKING WORTH IT.

BEING ALIVE IS WORTH IT and RESEARCHING is worth it, for the betterment of my sons and myself. I never could have gotten this far without planning for so many years or learning so much. And even then I still have so much to EXPERIENCE too! So much to live for and touch and see and experience, and mistakes to make and learn from. I know I’m off to a great start because of what I know now and what I’m experiencing and I’m happy. I’m not happy all the time, and I have horrible days still, and sometimes just want to cave my head in with a hammer and crunch my teeth into the pavement, but REGARDLESS I am glad to be here and I’m glad that I’ve spent so much time learning about what I love. It was worth it, it was worth it. I say it now and I’ll say it for as long as I can. It was worth it. It’s not just some disease making me “too excited” and making me talk fast or write more or become obsessive. It’s me! I’m me and I’m alive and I’m here and what I do means something, no matter what anyone else says.

I. Think I’m starting to lose myself just a little though, haha...I don’t think anyone will ever read this far though, so it’s ok. c: I cried a lot writing this but I think it’s ok, tears happen, and I’m like a proper waterworks haha. Just a real disaster. I don’t even really know what I’m saying and I’m sure I was just a grammatical disaster and I don’t make much sense, but I feel better at least.

Maybe if anyone does read this...take it as a lesson that...stuff like this, where a Maybe Positive or a thing you feel like is a part of you...might also be a harmless symptom of a mental disorder...remember that it doesn’t exactly define who you are. My disease has really crushed my life, and hearing that it causes something that I always thought was really good hurt a lot. But I don’t think it’s a waste, and it’s not JUST because of this disease. It’s a part of me, my passions are my life and they are not going to be defined by the “highs” of some fucking disease. If anything I will tame them, and I will strengthen them, and I will forge my weapon to help cut back and manage this god awful nightmare with the positives it’s given me.

Take that, depression and bipolar! You think you can best me, but I have research and reptiles/roaches/small terrestrial crustaceans on my side!! c:<

#ramblings #reptile research #i dont know what to tag this as uhh #long post #text post #i dont want to put this in the rep.tiblr tag or anything...#so i think ill leave this as is #so yeah #not sure if anyone will read it but thats ok #i feel...just a lot Cleaner after typing this. i feel better.#i am here.#and it was worth it.

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kaijutegu · 7 years

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I go to over a dozen different zoos a year and I've never seen one that didn't cohab snakes. I was hoping (but not expecting) that maybe the size of the shared space decreased the animals' stress. Most zoos are great until it comes to their snakes :/

Yeah, there’s a LOT of issues in reptile care. There’s- actually, ok, this gets interesting. Sorry in advance for turning this into a Big Long Thing! But there’s all kinds of reasons that zoos do what they do- and while I don’t work in one, I know a good bit of the history of reptile keeping.

Reptiles in zoos have a long history of being poorly kept, largely because the zookeepers didn’t know any better. Before the 1900s, zookeepers applied a lot of mammal care principles to their reptiles and they died pretty quickly. However, at the start of the 20th century, reptile care got a lot better thanks to this really awesome British herpetologist- Joan Beauchamp Procter. She had this radical idea that reptiles need appropriate heating and UV light and had the London Zoo’s reptile house built with special glass that actually allowed UV light to filter through. She also had this really well-socialized Komodo dragon who would walk with her on a leash and kind of acted as an informal service animal when she had to start using a wheelchair- but that’s not important to the story. The story is “what’s up with cohabbing and why do we do it,” and by “we” I mean both zoos and captive hobbyists because if you get off the internet and talk to people who have been in the hobby since the 80s, you’ll find that there’s… well, there’s a distinctly old-school way of keeping animals that involved a lot of cohabitation.See, in the 1970s and 1980s, you get the real explosion of the reptile hobby trade, and that is where things get really interesting. There were these reptile collectors- people like Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield- who made a living off of traveling the world and playing fast and loose with international animal import/export laws. Many of them sold animals to zoos, but zoos had really tenuous relationships with these guys because they would go up against them in court but at the same time, they were often some of their best customers because these smugglers were the only way new and rare species got out of their home countries. The zoos were faced with a bit of a conundrum- the smugglers were going to get these species out anyways and there was nothing they could really do to stop them. Time and time again, they’d get arrested, but they kept managing to come up with creative new ways to get out of trouble. And the animals’ habitats were being decimated, things were going on the endangered species list faster and faster- wouldn’t it just be better if the zoos bought into this trade and that way they could get a species survival plan going? So they kept buying animals.

Which brings us to the next problem: the reptile smugglers were pretty much the only people who knew how to keep these animals alive, but they always valued quantity over quality when it came to care. They were the ones writing the magazine articles and taking the trips and doing the collecting- and so a lot of what we know about husbandry comes directly from these guys. This includes a lot of cohabbing practices- you’ll see in the older care guides that they often recommend keeping animals together to encourage breeding.

I don’t work at a zoo, so I can’t say for sure why zoos still cohab. I know they have way more resources and animal care experience than your average pet owner, and way more space for enclosures. I know the history of how we got care information, and I also do know that zookeepers have to take their educational mission into consideration as well. Perhaps in the future we’ll see more exhibits that have one focal animal - but I’d love to get some actual zoo staff chiming in on all of this!

(Also, recommended reading if you want to know more about the wild and wooly days of the early reptile trade- Stolen World: a Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers, and Skulduggery by Jennie Smith and The Lizard King by Bryan Christy.)

#reptile husbandry #blackwolf7337 #answered

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leroyanitaus · 7 years

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I want to open a breeding facility for feeder animals and some reptiles and invertebrates. Please tell me what you think.

So I my past two ideas for having a pet shop wouldn’t be very fruitful. However someone suggested I breed the animals I’m interested in and go from there. I would love to do this but I don’t have much space at my house so I would have to get a place to do this. Does anyone have any experience with this and know how big of a facility I would need? I plan on selling and shipping to hobbyists, pet…

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fanningplumbers · 7 years

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I want to open a breeding facility for feeder animals and some reptiles and invertebrates. Please tell me what you think.

So I my past two ideas for having a pet shop wouldn't be very fruitful. However someone suggested I breed the animals I'm interested in and go from there. I would love to do this but I don't have much space at my house so I would have to get a place to do this. Does anyone have any experience with this and know how big of a facility I would need? I plan on selling and shipping to hobbyists, pet…

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allenmendezsr · 3 years

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The Bearded Dragon Guide

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The Bearded Dragon Guide

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You May Be Making Serious Mistakes with Your Bearded Dragon’s Care, Handling, or Habitat Setup if He/She Shows ANY of the Following Signs:

Has runny eyes or nostrils

Has a lack of energy

Stays hidden all day

Is aggressive towards people

Seems dull in color

Has trouble breathing

Seems panicky/stressed when held

Desn’t notice you when you approach the cage

Has jerky movements

Desn’t have an appetite

Desn’t go to the bathroom regularly

Attacks or frequently scratches their cage

From: Steven Hold

Dear fellow bearded dragon enthusiast,

Introducing “The Bearded Dragon Guide”…