Jester Spot

Proud carer of 5 jesters Clown activist Clown husbandry

[jesterspot]

as october kicks into gear and halloween approaches i wanted to talk about a topic i feel very strongly about: clown themed costumes. at its core dressing up as a clown for halloween or any other costumed occasion is not an issue, have fun with it! what i take issue with is how these costumes (especially the cheap kind found places like amazon or spirit halloween) are often a generic “clown”. the clown husbandry community has worked so hard to raise awareness on the different breeds and discernible characteristics of clown types. not only that but it’s important to know the difference in case you ever come into contact with a wild clown. while my intention is never to demonize wild clowns i also don’t want to give anyone the impression that they should feel like they can approach them. like any wild animal, clowns who haven’t been socialized around humans can’t tell our intentions and may become afraid and aggressive. it is important to be able to tell the difference between clown breeds so that you know how to react should you ever come across a wild clown as they all have their own quirks and unique behaviors. if anyone is interested i can make a list of some tactics for encountering different breeds out in nature.

[leviathansnake]

Bathing your clown

I've seen so many different posts related to clown care and such but I've seen nothing on bathing or cleaning your clown which I hope is due to a consensus on bathing because it is a highly irregular process and can vary wildly between different species.

so far I've seen three different ways of cleaning clowns that are either specific to a breed or just generally accepted across different breeds.

Dust baths Some clowns such as some Pierrot, hobo, and other thicker/denser coated breeds need dust baths as opposed to soap and water because similar to chinchillas, if there's moisture under their coats then there's a possibility they could develop mold or other fungal infections which can be incredibly harmful or even deadly to your clowns.

Just leave them alone Some clown breeds actually could be harmed by the lack of their natural pheromones. Again Hobo clowns shouldn't be washed EVER unless it is medically necessary, they should be left to their own natural smell as it is an indicator of many things to this bred (what troop they are part of, who they're mated to, mood, etc.). Hobo clowns should be left with an optional dust basin to bathe in however that is OPTIONAL and should not be forced on the clown to be bathed.

Regular bathing and trimming. Of course there are clowns that need regular bathing and trimming just as any standard pet does. So far I've found that its typically show breeds, smaller clowns, and the more common family breeds that can be bathed regularly. Although, you should still use a clown safe scentless shampoo & conditioner as again sent is important to clowns. plus it shouldn't be anything that could stain them a different color.

A clown's nails should be filed down regularly and you should brush their coat & teeth regularly regardless of breed, but that's just common clown knowledge.

Please find what bathing method is best for the health of your clown, there are also exceptions to every rule but you should find what method is safest and healthiest for your clown and what makes them happiest.

[jesterspot]

and remember if you have a clown that needs to be washed, taking them to a pond or ocean and letting them swim is not a replacement for bathing and in fact swimming can be dangerous for several breeds.

[jesterspot]

anyone know a good place to get clown food/supplies? the local shop i used to go to closed and i’ll go to circus city if i have to but i know they’re a big chain and don’t actually have very good clown food. plus i dont want to support a store that treats the clowns its selling as poorly as ive heard they do.

[jesterspot]

Important reminder that you should always wear gloves when handling wild clowns. I know they’re cute but they can carry many diseases such as jellybeanosis and balloonopothy which while usually asymptomatic in clowns can be harmful and even fatal to humans. Even in the case of domesticated clowns be wary unless you know the owner well and trust that their clowns are well taken care of and up to date on all of their vaccines.

[kikothedragoncat]

Recently I’ve been seeing a lot of people going: “My mime keeps fighting with my other clowns!” And it’s like ???? YEAH NO SHIT??

I can’t believe I actually have to say this in 2023 but

Mimes are NOT social breeds!

Like, you can’t seriously expect a mime to share the same tent as a rodeo or a jester without any consequence? Unless they are raised together, your mime is just going to perceive the other clowns as a threat.

Prolonged exposure to close contact with another breed is damaging to your mime’s mental health. It’s not okay. Look after your fucking mime.

[jesterspot]

This! And to add onto this, it is very important to properly introduce a new clown of any species into a tent. It is a different process for different species and not all species should even be introduced to each other. For example Mimes and Scary Clowns are solitary creatures and should be kept in their own enclosures. Additionally, you could introduce say a Harlequin and a Rodeo clown but their differences are large and they should not live in the same enclosure. For the most part clowns should live with their own species for optimal enclosure conditions and reduced social stress. This doesn’t mean your clowns of different species can’t interact, just check to make sure they’re compatible and at the end of the day they should be sleeping in different tents. As for introducing a new clown to your other ones, it can vary across breeds but the general protocol is to introduce them in a neutral space away from home and then when they’ve gotten used to each other bring them back to their enclosure and they should all be fine. With some species this can take hours, others it can take days and your new clown may have to stay in an interim enclosure until they are integrated into the group. I know with my jesters it usually takes about half a day and we usually go to a public park or main street. Always remember to do your research and see what is best for your breed!

[ducktumble]

Do I need to unwrap taffy and candy or can clowns do this on their own? I don’t want to hurt my new theater kid friend.

[jesterspot]

for the most part clowns will unwrap candy on their own if they want to, though they occasionally enjoy the crackle of a good wrapper. some breeds of clown do need help unwrapping their candy but a theatre kid should be just fine on their own. I will caution you against taffy for a theatre kid, however, as it can be too chewy for them and sometimes prevent them from spontaneously bursting into song or worse fatigue their jaw and prevent them from singing for an extended period of time. this can cause great distress in a theatre kid. but as a once in a while - supervised- treat it should be fine just as long as you don’t let it become a regular part of their diet.

[flappy-tambourine]

Improper clown housing

Enclosures like these do not provide the same comfort and safety that bouncy castles, and bouncy houses, and ball pits provide. Getting a bubble like this for your clown because “you like the aesthetic” is cruel. The see through bubble will make your clown feel improperly hidden or and safe which can lead to severe stress and panic attacks. This bubble will provide little to no enrichment for you clown. It can also be a hazard, some clown breeds have poor eyesight similar to how birds can’t see glass and have poor depth perception. This is why having brightly colored and padded walls such as in a bouncy house are crucial for the safety of your clowns. Clowns deserve a place to feel comfortable and safe. These bubble houses should not be used as a replacement for a bouncy house or ball pit. Sadly I have seen them be marketed as a two in one replacement for both. New clown owners need to be aware of this and steer clear of these.

[jesterspot]

This is very true except in the case of the Mime. Since they are frequently seen pantomiming invisible walls or boxes around themselves - it is thought that this is a reflex similar to a cat purring and used to denote extreme feelings both positive and negative - it is good for them to be in an enclosure that mimics this. The clear walls give the illusion of, well, an illusion which can be a great comfort, but they are also very real, constant, and solid which can put your Mime at ease and lift the stress of constantly defining their own invisible walls. This is not of course a replacement for a Mimes mimery and even within their enclosure it is important to keep tabs on it and seek medical help if you notice a decrease in the activity.

[queenarielviolet]

I want to go to a clown zoo

It's like a normal zoo, but every exhibit has different types of clowns in it

No other types of animals. Only clowns. And similar species like mimes, jesters, and prop comedians.

[jesterspot]

friendly reminder that clown zoos are highly immoral much like regular zoos. they aren’t meant to be kept in such small enclosures and are frequently fed old cotton candy or taffy, or incorrect diets for their species. while clowns are natural entertainers, a zoo is not the correct outlet for them and they are often unenriched. stop supporting clown zoos!