Beyond Bizarre

For lovers of the unloved.

[srhelena-ofmary]

[the-memedaddy]

[beyondbizarrepets]

Or lizard, or rodent, or turtle, or bug, or-

[bogleech]

A request was made for me to post any cute centipedes I might know of.

Centipedes pretty much all fall under a “sleek and lethal” aesthetic but to me one of the cutest things of all is when a tough fierce predator gets gentle and protective. A mother centipede will stay wrapped around her eggs and babies not only to keep parasites at bay but to hold them up off of the ground and keep them clean of any fungi or bacterial infections! Some studies find that if the babies are already hatched, the whole family will scatter and fend for themselves when disturbed (such as by a huge human uncovering them), so the babies don’t “need” the mother’s protection, but she’ll still hold onto them for a long time if she can. Every extra day that they get a little more time to grow under her watch probably makes a difference.

[beyondbizarrepets]

“Sleek and lethal” is the best description of centipedes I’ve ever heard.

[beyondbizarrepets]

Tiger-barred Centipede

The other most common giant centipede in North America, Scolopendra polymorpha. 

[there-is-only-chaos]

[vulture-kitty]

Friend: “So I’ve decided to get a gold fish! I have a bowl for it and everything”

Me: “Yo I know the PERFECT one for you, here;”

Friend: ????

Me: “you don’t put a fish in a fUcKiNg bowl”

[beyondbizarrepets]

END BOWL FISH

[beyondbizarrepets]

Giant Desert Centipedes

This beautiful pair of Scolopendra heros were found in Wichita, Kansas. Scolopendra heros is one of the few giant centipedes found in North America, the other most common being Scolopendra polymorpha. 

[beyondbizarrepets]

Long tailed grass lizard -- tails on these guys can reach over a foot long.

[crystalroca]

[beyondbizarrepets]

Magnificent.

[beyondbizarrepets]

The giant vinegaroon aka Mastigoproctus giganteus uses a long “whip” at the end of the body to flick a vinegar-like substance to deter predators. They’re neither spiders nor scorpions -- instead they’re one of the few members of Thelyphonida (whip scorpions)! As intimidating as they look, vinegaroons are generally very docile and easy to handle. 

[beyondbizarrepets]

Gally, a beautiful female juvenile snapping turtle. Eventually moved her to a 200-gallon stock tank.  TURTLES ARE BIG AND MESSY! BE PREPARED FOR A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO A VERY EXPENSIVE ANIMAL! 

[ramenreptiles]

Blatantly stealing this meme to bring you this important message.

Everyone has to start somewhere

Don't be a dick

[beyondbizarrepets]

BEWARE OF HITCHHIKERS

ALWAYS QUARANTINE YOUR ANIMALS

This Mediterranean house gecko was brought to me after hitching a ride on a truck to Wisconsin. At first glance the animal seemed healthy, but closer inspection revealed an infestation of highly contagious reptile mites. Common mite treatments don’t work on most geckos due to their hydrophobic skin, so this individual was treated with a 6 week quarantine in a cage with paper substrate replaced daily.

House geckos are highly invasive. After treatment this animal was re-homed. 

[beyondbizarrepets]

First meal for a hatchling buffalo leech. 

[beyondbizarrepets]

First Meal

Hatchling buffalo leech before and after its first suckling. These guys can reach over a foot in length. And their food is free :) 

First suckling date: 6/12/2020

[bugsaremypassion]

[beyondbizarrepets]

Long tailed grass lizards, one of my favorite species. This individual’s entire body was about a foot long, but only three or four inches of that was their body.