Tag: exotics
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Exploring Biodiversity
“The value of biodiversity is that it makes our ecosystems more resilient, which is a prerequisite for stable societies; its wanton destruction is akin to setting fire to our lifeboat.” -Johan Rockstrom
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Metabolic Bone Disease: What to Do
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,…
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The Problem with Exotic Trading
There is nothing more exciting than walking into a pet store to find a new companion. For the most part, animals in stores come from captive breeders–meaning they can sustain numbers without having to catch more from the wild. A problem has potential to emerge when the animal under desire can only be wild-caught. Take…
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Eye of the Tiger: Caring for My Eastern Tiger Salamander Larva
Earlier in the semester, I stumbled across an Eastern tiger salamander at Petco, still in his waterdog form. This type of salamander is known for its hardiness compared to other salamander breeds. My little guy’s name is Milo, though he hasn’t stayed little for long. Spanning a length of 140 mm, he is an ideal…
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Hopping to the Spotlight
One of my favorite things about hiking is getting to interact with the beautiful creatures around you. Around this time last Spring I was meandering through Chewacla—a park in Auburn, Alabama—when I came across these social fellows. Both Fowler’s toads, the toad pictured on top held a darker pigmentation, causing him to beautifully stand out…
Compassion Crossing 