[sailorbrazil]

thursday..... and i bet you wish you were her

[ostdrossel]

The fancy Redwinged Blackbird with potential bilateral gynandromorphism is still around, here are some more clips from the last couple of days. I have not edited them other than stringing them together for this video. This is how they were recorded. Every time I think it must be a molt, this bird turns around and looks completely like a female. So intriguing. It also has a lot of red on the face.

[proton-wobbler]

The male plumage suggests this bird is undergoing its very first molt into the adult male plumage but yeah, birds molt symmetrically. Both sides should be showing the young male plumage, not just one. This is a almost certainly a gynandromorph!!!

Edit: I also just noticed that you can see the right ('male') wing and leg are longer and thicker than the left ('female') side!! Male RWBL are usually a little bigger and heavier than the females so seeing this on the same bird is so cool!!

[sunbornperyton]

okay could anyone who owns a blue-tongue skink give me some advice here

ive been wanting to eventually get one for YEARS, but the process of actually getting one is extremely daunting and theres a lot of conflicting info out there

is substrate an absolute requirement or is impaction / other health concerns too much of a risk? [i know if they arent on substrate theyre still going to want to dig sometimes and id have to find a way to let them do that] if substrate isnt a good idea, what IS recommended? my beardie is on a textured mat of sorts [unsure of the material] because carpets get stinky and are hard to clean. would a skink do well with that or better with something else?

do they actually need a smaller enclosure size as a baby or juvenile. everybody says that and ive never seen a lizard who actually seemed bothered or effected at all

how difficult is it to get a baby one used to handling?

ive seen 4x2x2 is the proper minimum enclosure size for an adult blue-tongue. are they able to thrive well in that size enclosure very well or do i need to be worried about looking into an even more expensive and large setup

whats the best way to go about getting all the stuff? with how expensive everything in a setup is to buy, not including the actual animal, whats the best way to get it all without being too worried about spending too much money at once? i know reptile cons are generally a great start for setups AND animals since the costs are typically cheaper, but whats a good plan for when to buy what in what order?

[rolliebug]

Hello, I was browsing the tag and am responding because nobody else has yet. Even though I don't personally own a bts - I have worked with them in a zoo setting and have been keeping lizards in general for abt 13 years. Hopefully I can give some info that helps.

Substrate is not technically a requirement but is necessary in order for the skink to act out natural behaviours. Both skinks I have worked with were digging all the time, often choosing their own burrows over premade hides. It helps them feel secure and enriched long-term. You can easily reduce impaction risk by only feeding them on a plate so they don't accidentally ingest substrate, and making sure they have a large and consistantly full and clean water bowl. Most dirt/sand impaction cases I have seen over the years were a result of a very neglected and dehydrated lizard just not having enough moisture in its body to flush out the small amounts of particles that would normally safely and easily pass through. A healthy lizard should have no risk on appropriate substrate.

No, the enclosure can be as large as you want as long as there are plenty of hides and permeable cover (like fake plants) so they can walk around without feeling overly exposed.

Answering this one for lizards in general since I haven't personally worked with a baby bts - it usually depends on the temperment of the individual and the way you approach. Just be calm and consistent and let the lizard choose to come out and engage with you and it should be fine. The adult skinks I've worked with were both very mellow with handling as long as they were lifted from underneath and their bodies were properly supported.

Yes, a 4x2x2 should be fine as a minimum. If you have the space and funds, its definitely recommended to go bigger, but its up to you. A good idea to help your lizard thrive in its space is to rotate in and out what decor you have in the tank each week - different fake plants and hiding options - so they have new things to explore regularly in the same way they would moving between different areas in the wild.

Look for things that you can use second-hand. In my area theres always people selling old enclosures on facebook marketplace or craigslist. Anything that is glass or hard plastic can be disinfected and made safe to use for your skink. The main thing you really don't want to cheap on is lights and any other heating elements that could become a fire hazard - buy those new from a pet store or online reptile shop (I like PangeaReptile, they have big sales a few times a year).

A resource I really trust is Reptifiles.com, she has very in-depth care guides with well researched info if you want to read more.

[feather-bone]

Met some living things by the river do you think we can be friends? :)

[definitely-not-several-bugs]

Sniffle... ermmm.. whimper.... bleah.. sob.....

[cuttledreams-bugs]

Finally drew the Bugs ✨ (plus a few friends)

[asteroidtroglodyte]

Me, tears streaming down my face, sobbing, as I stare at the stars: it’s just so beautiful

The medieval peasant I went back in time to give a bag of Doritos to, concerned: what terrible and powerful sorcerers they must have in your age, to be able to veil the vault of heaven itself from view, as you say

Me, sniffling: I didn’t realize, I can’t, it’s so much, I, I… are the chips good, at least?

Medieval peasant, trying to make me feel better: they’re… magical, strange traveler

[twilightofthesandwiches]

Hey! Spin this wheel of Every Pokémon!

This is now your Pokémon Partner. Whatever you would want to do in the Pokémon world, your Result goes with you. It would be your Ace in Battles and/or contests or they might just help you around with your regular Not-Inherently-Pokémon Job or just hang around your house as your beloved Pet. If you really really want to BE a Pokémon than this is the Pokémon you just turned into.

How are you feeling about it?

HELL YEAH!! THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE POKEMON!!

OH!! I LOVE THIS POKEMON!!

Yeah, this Pokemon is great!!!

This Pokemon is good!!

This Pokemon is nice, but nothing more

...I mean, it could be better

This Pokemon is okay…

I have mixed feelings about this Pokemon…

Not bad, but I’m still kinda disappointed…

Well… it could be worse?

I mean, at least it’s better than NOT having a Pokemon, right?

OH NO THIS IS ACTUALLY WORSE!!

Voting ended onApr 3

[young-replica]

[triangleguy]

everybody hates led headlights but it is 1000x worse when you have an old car. this is what i deal with on a daily basis

[taurzza]

[polkadotmotmot]

Nickie Zimov - October Sketches 7, 2024 - Oil, acrylic powder, ink, and mixed media on canvas

[visorforavisor]

I think disability justice would be easier if abled people understood that being disabled is a mixture of all three of

I can’t do that without negative consequences

I can’t do that unless I have support for it

I can’t do that

and that trying to treat one of these as if it’s another one will get you nowhere.

[iplaywithstring]

can I add 4. I can't do that now even if I can at other times

[bugetopia]

Behold! The butt scritch

[letmeinimafairy]

A bigger decorative piece with cave painting handprints. River pebble and tempera

[destinationsolo]

Australian Aboriginal Art Painting by GABRIELLA POSSUM “MY GRANDMOTHER’S COUNTRY”

[taylortut]

i CANNOT express how much more lovable my friends are to me at their most annoying. i'd rather hear the same story 3 times than not at all. i'd rather read a 22 message text rant about something totally inconsequential than not hear from you all day. i'd rather you tag me in the stupidest post i've ever seen than not know that it made you think of a conversation we had a month ago. BE ANNOYING AT ME. I LOVE YOU