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Your Neighborhood Gecko

Olivia G. Schweikart5 Comments

Because of their solo nature, it’s not likely to spot a group of geckos in the wild. However, one species of gecko has adapted to a more urban lifestyle: the Mediterranean Gecko. Better known as the Common House Gecko, these creatures originated between the Northern parts of Africa and Southern Europe.

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First introduced to other warm countries, the Mediterranean Gecko made its way to Florida and has been leaving a trail ever since. If you live in an urbanized part of the Southeastern United States, there’s a good chance you have a few house guests.

Don’t be alarmed yet, though. These lizards are ferocious insect hunters and are great for keeping down the insect population outside your home. The best way to spot them is at night on a lit porch where insects tend to collect, however on occasion, you may be able to see some wandering about throughout the day.  These geckos tend to be skittish and are likely to run from human presence, but if you happen to get close to one, their docile nature presents no cause for danger.

While there is a wide range of color morphs for Mediterranean Geckos, a few identifying characteristics remain the same. If you feel you have a few new outdoor companions, the identification guide below might prove useful:

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If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you’ve got yourself a fierce home defender! They may not be the best at insuring your cars, but they will definitely give bugs a run for their money.

 

Protecting the Pangolin

Olivia G. Schweikart2 Comments

Illegally trafficked for their scales, the Pangolin ranks as the number one most unlawfully trafficked animal, putting the species in imminent jeopardy of extinction.

Pangolin Image by WWF
Photo Courtesy of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

The use of the scales dates back to roughly 1820 in Asia, where the keratin flakes were used as armor coating. Aside from protein, additional uses of the animal were medicinal. In Chinese culture, drying the scales followed by roasting is believed to cure various ailments such as skin disease, infection, or paralysis.

Over decades, this once flourishing species began to dwindle in numbers and was placed on the endangered species list in November 2010 by the Zoological Society of London. In 2016, the 8 different sub-species of Pangolin were given the highest level of protection by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, IFAW, including against trafficking. The species is currently listed under Appendix 1 of CITES: Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species.

Despite the efforts to conserve the species, Pangolin trafficking is still active. Just last year, 12 tons of dried Pangolin scales were confiscated in China in an “empty” shipping container. According to the Maritime Executive, officials estimate 20,000 Pangolins were killed to achieve the amount found. The scales were believed meant to enter the Chinese Black Market, where the use of Pangolin for medicine is still widely prominent.

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Photo Courtesy of WWF

Organizations such as WWF and the IAFW are currently trying to counter the poaching efforts for this endangered animal. Unfortunately, however, until stronger international laws are achieved, these scaly critters will continue to need advocates to fend against what their natural armor cannot.

Stuck Like Glue

Olivia G. Schweikart1 Comment

I’ll be the first to admit, whenever I saw a butterfly with a broken wing, I was the kid to create a terrarium (not very decent, mind you) and stick him/her in it hoping it would grow back… and voila, the insect would be healed! Unfortunately, the outcome was always the same: they died. The sad reality is butterflies finish growing after their second stage of life, and without their wings, they don’t have the best mobility.

It wasn’t until I was bouncing around youtube one night when I found a video of a man actually repairing a wing for a butterfly with contact cement. Granted, the name gives the product a harsher sound than it is, as it is just a form of contact adhesive.

Without their in-tact wings, these beautiful insects are rendered flightless and will spend the rest of their days crawling around the ground. Without any intervention, this leaves them easy prey for birds, reptiles, bored toddlers, you name it. Luckily, there’s a solution, and if you’ve got the patience, the steps are quite simple.

If you are interested, the Live Monarch Foundation has a step by step guide to turning the quality of life around for these injured critters. Even if you don’t happen to find yourself in a situation like this, I find it worth the watch, because who doesn’t want to be an expert at butterfly wing repair?

 

Stay adventurous,
Olivia Grace

Debunking the Betta

Olivia G. Schweikart2 Comments

Among the top breeds of fish to own, Bettas are the most often maltreated and neglected. Sold in containers merely double there size, buyers often believe the fish are able to thrive in tight conditions. Like any other fish type, tight surroundings leads to increased stress levels, and as a result, the fish become more susceptible to illness.

Housing

The best way to avoid bringing stress to your aquatic companion is to provide adequate swimming room with plenty of hides for stimulation. As a common rule, at MINIMUM, for every inch of fish, you should have a gallon of tank-space for the environment.

Other important factors to remember are that Bettas are tropical animals and flourish in water temperatures ranging from 78-80 degrees F. When water temperatures drop and remain below 74 degrees F, the fish can grow lethargic and again take on added stress levels.

Decorations

There are pros and cons to both fake-planted aquariums and aquascapes. Perks of having a non-planted aquarium include a low level of algae, however, the plants chosen need to be of a silk variety, as the harsh plastic of most aquarium decorations can shred the delicate fins of a Betta fish.

While providing a more natural living space, planted aquariums can lead to fungal infections if the tank does not have a decent filtration system and excess food/dead plant material is left to rot.

The tank style truly depends on the amount of time and money the owner is willing to put in to ensure a clean and sustainable environment.

Diet

Due to their carnivorous nature, Bettas require a wide-range of protein in their diet. Most pellet mixes will be sufficient, though it is more than acceptable to supplement bloodworms and freeze-dried krill into their diet from time to time.

Tankmates

A common misconception is that Betta fish have to live in isolation. While males need to be isolated from other males of the breed, sorority tanks often function quite successfully after an initial hierarchy is sorted out.

Bottom feeders such as snails, loaches, plecos, and African dwarf frogs, all make good companions as well due to their docile nature and tendency to stay out of the Betta’s way.

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As always, it is important to make sure you have the money and time to dedicate to these beautiful creatures before you bring one home. Though they may be small, these fish do require time and attention to ensure they are living a healthy and proper lifestyle.

 

Stay adventurous,

Olivia

Metabolic Bone Disease: What to Do

Olivia G. Schweikart11 Comments

Muscle spasms, loss of appetite, lethargy—all are common symptoms of Metabolic Bone Disease, also known as MBD. The sad reality of purchasing reptiles in pet stores who don’t hire specialists is often the UVB lighting is not replaced as often as it should be. Though UVB bulbs and light strips may still emit a light frequency, the potency of the fixture decreases over time, limiting the actual amount of UVB exposure the animal is receiving.

What to Do if Your Animal Shows Symptoms

As convenient as it would be to simply bring your reptile to the vet, often buyers are placed in a state of emergency when the new companion they bring home goes into severe spasms. This is a severe state of MTB, and while the animal IS capable of making a recovery, the likelier alternative is the animal will pass.

While under UVB lighting, the animal can be submerged in an electrolyte bath—X part clear-infant Pedialyte to X part water is sufficient. If the animal shows improvement between spasms, a meat-heavy baby food, for example, pureed chicken can be placed on the tongue of the reptile.

Opening the mouth of your reptile can be tricky, especially if they are in a slightly vegetative state. The safest way is to take a small skewer with a flattened end and gently pry open the side of the mouth. From here, the baby food can be glided across the tongue with a Q-tip, dull toothpick, etc.

For less severe symptoms, such as lethargy and loss of appetite, the best bet is to take your reptile to an exotic-trained veterinarian that can identify the source of the issue. As mentioned earlier, it is best to run through the components of your enclosure to consider if MTB is a possibility, or if there could be other issues brewing. UVB strips are excellent for target large areas of a terrarium, however, as their potency fades over time, they need to be switched out. As an average, every six months is reasonable for a strip or bulb to be replaced.

When Purchasing an Animal

Everyone tends to get caught up in the excitement of getting a new animal, and often overlook how the animal is acting, the housing environment, or diet provided.

Before ever purchasing a new companion, it is crucial to be an observer to the creature in its environment. Take note of the diet currently being fed—is it nourishing, is there a lack of nutrients? Notice the skin of the reptile—are the scales in good condition? Look at the eyes—are they reflective and clear, are they dull and cloudy? Most importantly, notice the interaction of the animal with its surroundings and be sure it does not appear lethargic. A new animal should be just as curious as you are to it. If the animal requires special lighting, don’t be afraid to ask an employee the last time the UVB bulb was switched.

Always be sure to hold special lighting as a priority for new companion animals. Unlike housing decorations, a lack of this could prove detrimental to the health and the two should be considered inseparable at the register—if you buy one, you buy the other.

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Olive, Chinese Crested Water Dragon

Before you purchase any animal, be sure to do your research, not only the habitat and diet but of the potential ailments as well. Above all else, don’t be afraid to question the health of the animals being purchased, as this could better prepare you for the road ahead for you and your new companion.

Stay adventurous,

Olivia Grace

Back in Business!

Olivia G. SchweikartLeave a comment

Over the summer, I went on tour with a traveling Drum and Bugle Corps, which took me away from the blogging world for a while. Needless to say, I’m back, and getting to see the rich wildlife we have across this country has me fueled more than ever! Who knew dragonflies could come in so many different shapes and sizes?

Some of the creatures I met were on the larger scale, but the vast majority were on the smaller side.

I found this American Dagger Moth caterpillar on a backpack in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania. Though the protruding hairs from the green ball of fuzz can be alarming, you have no need to fear of it stinging you. Do take notice, however, that I have him on a stick. While they don’t sting, their hollow locks can break off when touching your skin and will release a nasty toxin.IMG_0850

Oddly enough, at the same housing site, I made another companion–a ringneck snake! Ever since I read about these beauties in a herpetology textbook, I’ve been dying to meet one up close, and I must say, I was not disappointed. Spanning up to 15 inches long, Ringnecks carry a docile temperament and make the perfect companions–be it short term or long term.

Exploring the different creatures across the country was definitely one of my favorite aspects of the summer, and I can’t wait to share with you countless of others. Until we meet again, always remember: Whether near or far, learning about nature’s creations will always link back to where you are.

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Knick Gnat

brkowalski6 Comments

Hello, all!

This is Brooke here!  If you don’t already know, I’m the editor of this blog and will be filling in for Olivia while she is off on a tour for her drum corps.  I’ve got to warn you all that I’m not exactly as lucky as Olivia when it comes to finding wildlife, so we may be scraping the bottom of the barrel here.  But hopefully, I can get you guys thinking a little bit about the smaller things in life!

So, I just recently got back from an Army camp, and there weren’t too many animals lounging around on base.  But I was lucky enough to have several of these cute little guys fly into my eyes/mouth/ears every day.

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Don’t worry, it’s not dead.  Actually I lied.  Yes, yes it is dead.  But considering that these guys were a little overpopulated, and definitely not endangered, I decided to sacrifice it for the good of this website and so that it wouldn’t fly into my eyes.

Although there are many varieties of what is commonly known as “gnat”, all of them fall under the suborder Nematocerca in the order Diptera.  One of the defining characteristics of the order Diptera is the two single wings design(as opposed to, for example, the four wing design of the dragonfly).  One interesting fact about the two single wing design is that it actually evolved from the four wing design.  Although there is always speculation about how evolution progresses, a large number of biologists would agree that the evolution of the two single wing design resulted from a developmental mutation involving the amount of a certain hormone being released during embryonic development.

But, I digress.  “Gnats” are typically found in warm, humid environments.  Depending on the variety, the literature will tell you that they eat things such as fungus, moss, nectar, etc.  However, like many other animals, they have begun to adapt to human habitation.  I personally have observed them to dine on things such as dead animals, human food, and sweat.

As annoying as they may be, gnats play an important part in the ecosystem, serving as food for other animals such as birds, bats, and even larger insects.  They can also serve as pollinators.

Well, that’s about all I have for you all today.  I would say, “save the gnats”, but I honestly don’t think we could get rid of them if we wanted to.  So how about  “appreciate the gnats?” Yeah, I like the sound of that.  I’ll talk to Olivia about putting that one on one of her little T shirts.  Best-seller?

Yours in animal conservation,

Brooke Kowalski

Happy Morph Day!

Olivia G. Schweikart6 Comments

I’ll be the first to admit this post is long overdue. Around Spring break, I figured Milo would complete his change within the week, but I was surprised to watch it undergo another month. That being said, he is now a happy seven-inch salamander!

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HANDLING SALAMANDERS:

Be sure to have completely moist, clean hands, as lacking to do so can present harmful salts and oils to the salamander; Limit handling to short intervals.

The first noticeable sign of his change was the regression of his gills. Eventually, he began to loom around the surface of the water, so I moved him to a shallower enclosure with a hideout to crawl out on. I will say this was the more tedious part of the transition–not so much the change of environment but waiting for him to fully make the leap from aquatic to terrestrial.

Beginning of Gill Regression

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Once they do make the switch, it’s best to allow them an enclosure of moist, loose dirt (NO fertilizer) with plants and shaded areas to hide under. As for diet, crickets, mealworms, and earthworms can be let loose in the enclosure for the salamander to feed on as it pleases. The benefit of having mealworms over crickets appears to be centered around Milo residing most of his time underground. This way he is not forced to come up for food and is able to remain under the dirt where he is currently the most comfortable.

He is definitely camera shy in his terrestrial form, but I do hope to have more pictures of his transformation in the weeks to come.

Adopt before you Shop: Easter Bunnies 

Olivia G. Schweikart14 Comments

Around April, many people decide to purchase bunnies from pet stores as the perfect Easter present. Unfortunately, a majority of unsuspecting new owners end up unable to care for the animal due to a lack of funding or knowledge on fundamental care.

That being said, there are a lot of owners that will end up taking great care of the animal, which then turns the situation into a matter of where to attain one.

An overwhelming amount of rabbits enters shelters each year as unwanted Easter presents in search for another family to love them. Usually, adoption fees are lower than the prices at pet stores, and you can still find the cuddly companion you would at a local shop.

Rabbits can be very affectionate and loyal pets when you put into them the effort and love they deserve. If at first they are shy, don’t worry! They are bound to warm up once they realize you mean them no harm.

This Easter, if you have the ability, please give a bunny a second chance at a home. It may be the best basket you unwrap this year.

In Terms of Care

Aside from a staple diet of pellets, rabbits can also be fed a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to meet their dietary needs:

Kale and Romaine Lettuce

Carrots

Grapes

Strawberries

Blueberries

Carrots and fruits should be fed in limited amounts or small treat portions due to their high sugar content. For additional required nutrients, feel free to see the care sheet below. This also encompasses housing for the pet, as well as recommended exercise.

Rabbit Care Guide

The Slaying Mantis

Olivia G. Schweikart1 Comment

crocus-100157_1280You come home from a long day’s work to relax in your garden, only to find yourself swatting at pests that keep multiplying. Not to mention, you’ve begun to notice recurring holes in your plant leaves.

With all the hard work you’ve put in, wouldn’t it be nice to have a form of pest control that you didn’t have to constantly re-apply?

Mantis religiosa, commonly known as the praying mantis, serves as an excellent protector in that it defends plants from invaders while itself requiring little human care/attention.

What’s the benefit?

Mantis religiosa casings typically hatch around 300 eggs, but do not be alarmed at this large value! On average, only around one fifth of the hatchlings survives to reach maturity.

After reaching adulthood, these insects will eat anything they can grasp. Often perceived as slow, mantids are actually voracious hunters and are able to take in their prey within a matter of seconds. Assuming sixty mantises make it to adulthood from the casing, you’re looking at a decent-sized army for your garden.

The average lifespan of a mantis ranges from four to six months. This allows for cases to be let down twice a year, saving you added time for routine pest maintenance. The odds are, however, that the mantises you place originally will breed to form their own cases, causing the initial purchase to turn into a long-term, compounding investment.

praying-166788_1280  praying-1197615_1280.jpg                                            Common mantis | Common Black Ant

How do you raise them?

When hatching, the mantises will need to be placed in either a hatching net or an enclosure that is large enough to accommodate the soon-to-be nymphs. Due to their small nature, the younglings will need to be fed fruit flies (flightless options are available at minimal cost). When they grow large enough to eat other, larger insects (e.g. ladybugs), they can then be released into your garden to be self-sustaining.

Where do I get them?

Mantid casings can be purchased for as low as $5.00 each from Arbico Organics. In addition, cases can be found from locations such as Amazon and Ace Hardware.

In case you are interested, I have listed a few general items to consider purchasing below:

Egg Cases | Arbico Organics

Egg Cases & Habitat | Amazon

Wingless Fruit Fly Starter Kit | Amazon