#pokemon mythconceptions

[adventures-on-foster-island]

Today on Ellisa’s Pokémon mythconceptions, I’d like to talk about some spooky looking Pokémon that often get over looked as battle partners and personal companions.

The Zubat line

Zubat is one of the Pokémon world’s most infamous Pokémon. As we all know, you can’t step foot into a cave or take a walk at night in their native regions without encountering several of these bats. The reason there are so many of them is due to their large egg clutches, short gestation period, and short hatch time. Releasing Zubat in non-native areas is strictly prohibited with high fines for those caught doing so, as it only takes a few weeks for two Zubat to become fifty, and even a small population of them can wreck havoc on ecosystems that aren’t prepared. Most of the ones we take in aren’t actually the ones who were abandoned, but rather probably a few generations down the line, and they come en mass. They like the caves beneath the island, and play a part in our small ecosystem. People are often scared or annoyed by this line, as their Pokedex entries state that they drink a lot of blood, which they do. In the wild, Zubat and it’s evolutions hunt, however trainers usually get blood bags leftover from collection drives, at the end of their shelf life, from Pokémon centers and hospitals. They require a lot of time and work, supplying enough food and exercise, as well as having a sleep schedule opposite from most humans, however they make really good companions for people with certain disabilities, such as blindness, people who work night shifts or have otherwise backwards sleep schedules, and as message carriers for spies. This line is also being studied by scientists because of their ability to change their own blood type to match what they are drinking, in hopes that one day we will be able to change the blood type in a bag for transfusions.

[adventures-on-foster-island]

This time on Ellisa's Pokémon mythconceptions (a working title), we're talking about some ghost type Pokémon that unfortunately are often misunderstood, and abandoned after the spooky season.

The Gastly line:

The Gastly pokedex entry about it being born of toxic gas and spirits is.. debated, to say the least. Although it is true that they are capable of killing, they're quite shy in the wild, and incidents of human death by Gastly are few and far between. Additionally, being licked by a Haunter won't necessarily make you ill or kill you (some say it tingles when their partner shows affection), and Gengars' curses are usually harmless pranks. They have dangerous defense mechanisms to protect themselves, but they don't go out of their way to hurt anyone. They're also quite intelligent and make really great companions if you take the time to build trust with them! Plus their gaseous bodies can come in handy in all sorts of situations; I've heard plenty of stories from forgetful trainers who's ghost type Pokémon slipped through the wall to help when they locked themselves out of the house, or helping investigate the terrorist organizations in different regions.

The Duskull line:

Duskull's Dex entry isn't an old wives tale like many others. Indeed they are known to whisk away crying children and tirelessly persue victims, but things aren't always what they seem. These little ghosts watch over children like fairy godmothers, and if their child is mistreated, they try to take the child away from the situation. Either they succeed, and become young trainers, or they get caught, and the Duskull haunts whoever hurt the kid for forever. Both of its evolutions do indeed have hollow bodies, and while things can get lost in their little pocket dimensions, these pokemon are also really great at holding onto important items. This whole line makes great service Pokémon, doing everything from nanny work to assisting disabled trainers to caring for elderly. They are very kind and patient, capable of telling medications apart, remembering schedules, and can lift nearly any weight. Many nursing homes employ Dusknoir, since its believed that they help guide spirits and ease the transition to death.

Mimikyu

Because they hate to be seen, and start making their own costumes at a young age, Mimikyu are often found paired with Leavanny. The grass type will teach Mimikyu how to sew when they are young, after finding them crying over a torn costume. These two species work well together in the fashion industry and on the contest scene. The pairing has helped increase Mimikyu's popularity, however they aren't all fashion inclined. All they really want is love and support, so don't be afraid to get to know one!

[adventures-on-foster-island]

Today on Ellisa’s Pokémon mythconceptions, I’d like to talk about some festive Pokémon often abandoned shortly after the winter holidays. These Pokémon are often purchased or caught as decorations and gifts for the season and then abandoned within the late winter to early spring months when the novelty wears off on the selfish trainers.

Delibird - These Pokémon tend to be selfless and naive by nature and are often willing participants to festivals and events during the holidays. Event staff will go looking in cold, mountainous climates for Delibird, as well as the others on this list, and either capture or trick them into leaving with them to go to other regions. Unfortunately, once the season is over and the Pokémon are no longer needed, event planners leave them wherever they are instead of adopting them or returning them to their natural habitats. Most Delibird prefer to live on cold, snowy mountains and spend little time interacting with others, so it’s especially important to have a conversation with one before trying to capture them for your team. Of the Delibird we rescue, we only adopt out about 10%; the rest go back to their natural habitats after rehabilitation. Those who do prefer human companionship are some of the sweetest friends to have and are strong enough to hold their own in battle, even if their “presents” are a little unpredictable.

The Snover line - Snover and Abomasnow have no natural predators and few competitors in most regions, aside from Galar, and therefore tend to be quite curious and have little fear of humans. This leads to a similar problem as with Delibird; they easily trust people who mean to use them as decorations. Snover are often decorated with string lights and ornaments and other shiny things, although the specifics vary by region, and are given lots of attention for their beauty during the winter holidays. Abomasnow are usually seen as too large, intimidating, and rare for this, however trainers who have raised one may offer some decorations to their partner this time of year. This tradition is mostly harmless, except when festivals hire people to capture them for events in warm climates and then leave them when the holiday is over. Snover who have a trainer can survive the heat, with the help of Never Melt Ice and air conditioning indoors, but ones who have been stranded overheat quickly and Pokémon Centers aren’t always equipped to handle the volume of them that are brought in. Unlike Delibird, Snover are highly curious and often enjoy a trainer’s company, making them great Pokémon to travel with. If they prefer not to evolve, they thrive in medium/small spaces in any climate, however, an Abomasnow requires a much larger, preferably outdoor and very cold place to roam. Sometimes if a Snover makes the decision to evolve, and a trainer can’t provide them with the adequate environment, the best thing to do may be to put them up for adoption to a family up north or return them to their natural habitat to continue living among its own.

[adventures-on-foster-island]

Today on Ellisa's Pokémon Mythconceptions we're going to talk about Magikarp, a Pokémon we care for a lot of regardless of the season.

Lots of people catch Magikarp with the goal of evolving it into Gyarados, without taking the commitment into consideration. Magikarp are often difficult to battle train, and trainers will give up after a few months, abandoning the Pokémon into the nearest body of water. Not only is this traumatic for the Pokémon, but it also wrecks havoc on the ecosystem if Magikarp aren't already present in the water. They are bottom feeders, and will muck up the water of their new home by searching for food in the mud. Other indigenous species may not be capable of surviving in the murky water, and die off quickly as if poisoned, further polluting the water. This kind of environment attracts algae that will cover the entire surface of the water, feeding off the muck but suffocating anything left living in the water. It only takes two Magikarp, or one and another Pokémon in the same egg group, to over populate an entire lake within a few weeks. There are strict laws about releasing Magikarp because of this, although its pretty hard to enforce, as finding the original Pokémon who had been registered to a trainer number in a sea of it's children is next to impossible. Often, if a body of water becomes overwhelmed by Magikarp, rangers will be called in with big nets to remove them. Sometimes these Pokémon are released back into a body of water where they have natural predators to keep the population under control, or they may be sent off to a processing plant to be turned into Pokémon food if there are too many. We have a sizeable collection of them in our bay, and use them to teach trainers about the species, but rarely adopt them out unless the Pokémon expresses an interest in evolution and battle.

Magikarp tend to do well in either salt or fresh water, however some do show a preference. You'll need at least 100 gallons of water to house a single one, so it's recommended to have a pond or pool instead of a tank. They aren't picky eaters, and Pokemarts sell water type fish food for fairly cheap. Make sure to include plenty of aquatic plants, and they do better with a friend or two than solitary. If you and your Magikarp are considering evolution, you'll need a much bigger body of water to house them in, roughly 100 square feet to roam around. Some gyms and research labs offer free housing of large Pokémon for people who can't, however it's usually a first come first serve basis. They also need a lot more food, and usually need to hunt. They prefer bug types and smaller water types, as well as eating water type food and aquatic plants.

Gyarados aren't all super violent and aggressive like their Pokedex entry states, in fact some are super affectionate! Aggression usually comes from a lack of stimulation, too small of an enclosure, or not enough food. If you've provided your partner with all of those things and properly bonded with them and they are still aggressive, take them to a Pokémon Center to make sure they are in good health. Sometimes things will get stuck in their teeth or between their scales and cause them pain, which leads to them lashing out.

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How to care for your Kantonian Cubone or Marowak

A popular ground type, Cubone and Marowak have a lot of mythconceptions surrounding their nature and care, so today I'm going to set the record straight.

The Pokedex entries on this evolutionary line are extremely outdated and contain a lot of information that the scientific community has known to be false for quite some time. Cubone and Marowak are a highly social species with tribal cultures that date back centuries. These reptilian Pokemon wear the skulls of their respected ancestors, and communicate using rhythms and other sounds to share stories of their history. The myth about Cubone wearing the skull of their dead mother came about because one scientist just happened to find one whose skull helmet did belong to the Pokemon’s mother who had passed, but this isn’t common. The skulls most Cubone wear belong to their ancestors, as a way to remember those who came before them. Cubone and Marowak have a strong sense of community and often become depressed when taken from their families, which is why Cubone are so often depicted as crying. In the wild, Marowak don’t typically leave their homes to start a new tribe until at least a year after they’ve evolved, and may get homesick if taken too early. Strong trainer - Pokemon bonds can happen with young Cubone if the Cubone was actually an orphan, and if the trainer can actually provide the proper care.

As reptiles, who mostly inhabit desert like climates, your Cubone will need a heat lamp and a heat pad in different places to regulate its body temperature. If you live outside of Cubone’s natural habitat, make sure you have a room dedicated to them with plenty of rough rocks to rub off shed skin and sharpen claws as well as warm spots. Because they are accustomed to an arid climate, you may need to invest in a dehumidifier if there is lots of rain in your area. Some ground types are prone to growing a slimy algae if they can’t dry out all the way. Despite needing dry living conditions, your Cubone or Marowak will still need access to fresh drinking water. You may not see them drink very often, but when they do, they might sit there for half an hour sipping until they are full. They only need bathing if they get really dirty or injured, but if you do have to bathe them, make sure to use warm, distilled water, a soft cloth, and only ground-type safe soap if necessary. Cubone are omnivores, preferring to hunt bug-types and eat desert grasses in the wild, however will generally be okay to just eat ground-type food until they evolve. They also enjoy berries; offer them a few kinds to find out what their favorite is.

When you first meet your Cubone or Marowak buddy, you will need to show compassionate dominance. Their tribes have ranks, and your new partner needs to learn to respect you, but it never will if it feels you don’t care for it. Take lots of time to spend with just your new buddy, even if you have other Pokemon. Show your Cubone or Marowak that you are in charge because you take care of them. Communicate with them with the help of a Porygon, Rotom, or psychic Pokemon to show them you really care to bond with them. Once you feel comfortable, start introducing your other Pokemon. This will curb any dominance fighting amongst your team members, as they respect you more than their need to be on top.

Upon evolving into Marowak, your buddy may not be as cuddly as you are used to for a little while. Try to respect their space, as culturally evolution is a big deal to their species. Marowak need time to hunt and be independent, so take them somewhere every few days where they are free to hunt wild bug types and smaller Pokemon for a few hours. It could be a good time to let your other team members out to exercise as well. On top of the hunt, provide your Marowak with high protein ground type food, and supplement every other day with fruits, vegetables, boiled eggs (shells on for calcium), and cooked meats.

For enrichment, both members of this line enjoy target practice. Set them up some targets at various heights and distances around your yard or a park or gym and let them throw their bone club until they tire themselves out. Cubone and Marowak also both enjoy team activities like battles and sports, although they may try to boss your other team members around. Give everyone a role, and things should be alright.

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First up on our "how to care for Pokémon" series is the Sunflora line. I'm a huge fan of these beautiful, friendly flower 'mon, and would like to highlight some cool facts about them along the way.

Sunkern are just little seed babies. Precious little things that are most active on early spring and summer mornings. Sunflora usually produce them as seeds in the fall, and those seeds remain mostly inactive until the weather warms up in the spring. A gentle misting once a morning until they wake up is generally enough care, though watch out for any mold growth, which should be removed with salt water (never soap!) and a very soft cloth before it has the chance to penetrate the outer shell. They will grow considerably during this time, and should be left on a sunny windowsill inside where it's warm. When Sunkern wake up in the spring, move them to a pot with good soil that already has leafy plants in it. Protect them from frost and predators by bringing them inside at night, and continue misting them every morning. If you live in an arid climate, it may be best to put them in a room with lots of windows and invest in a humidifier just for your little buddy. Don't forget to provide enrichment; just because Sunkern aren't known for moving a whole lot doesn't mean their brains don't need stimulating. Sunkern like to be read to, listen to music, hang out with some friends, some even like being carried around to go on walks or watching television.

As they get closer to evolution, Sunkern may settle further into the soil, and the leaves sprouting from their crown will lengthen. At this stage, they are drawing extra nutrients from the Sun and soil. Their shell may bulge and dull in color, appearing dry, before it splits slightly. This is completely normal, as long as you can see two pale white or green sprouts poking out, which will become their feet. If you see any other colors, or the sprouts are mushy or smell bad, take your buddy to the Pokémon Center right away. This stage usually doesn't last long; up to a month but usually a week or less, before the Sunkern is ready to evolve.

Sunflora are typically yellow and have a general size, however they also come in many variants that may not be discernable until they reach evolution. Their flower heads come in shades of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, burgundy, magenta, and even black, although some of those colors are only achieved via selective breeding and domestication. A few rare variants even come with multiple, smaller heads instead of just the one big one.

When a Sunflora has first evolved, it is typically full of energy and very eager to try its new limbs. As confident as they might be, your brand new Sunflora will be clumsy for a little while. Moss and clover are good soft landings for when your buddy inevitably falls flat on their face a few times. Make sure to check them over for cuts and scrapes, using vinegar water (still no soap) to clean any wounds to prevent infection. Sunflora require more care than Sunkern; more water, more attention, and now food. Although they preform photosynthesis and draw nutrients from the soil by rooting their feet in at night, they are usually very energetic Pokémon, and will need to eat grass type food at least once per day, typically when they first wake up, and more often if they aren't getting enough sun. Sunflora like to pick a place to sleep at night, since their bodies are very in-tune with the sun, so make sure to give them a few options to try out, and fertilize that/those places they do choose to sleep regularly.

Sunflora's limbs are the most delicate parts of their body, and should be protected, however most Sunflora can regrow alarmingly large parts of their bodies, even whole heads. If the weather is cold and wet, offer you buddy boots and a hat to keep their head and feet dry. Don't let them out in ice and snow for long periods of time. Water them when the sun is low in the sky to prevent water droplets from burning their skin, and bring a towel when you take them out in hot, dry weather for long periods.

Sunflora are often employed by nursing homes with memory care patients. Older Sunflora, who aren't as energetic as young ones, are still very friendly, and of course very pretty to look at. Patients are more likely to recognize faces that they see every day, and since Sunflora have a set sleep-time, can help ease "sun-down syndrome" by encouraging sleep subtly.

[adventures-on-foster-island]

Hello! A friend is asking me to look after their absol for overnight. The absol has some separation anxiety that my friend has been working on. They're getting better (absol can stay home during a work day if needed) but this would be the first time for absol to be apart from my friend more than 12 hours. Absol and I are familiar with each other, I have its pokeball and daily routines with me, but I'm still nervous. Any dos & don'ts of calming down an anxious pokemon/general absol 101 advice?

This is pretty common behavior for Absol, so don't worry too much. They tend to be a little timid around strangers and bond deeply with just one or two people in their lives. This doesn't mean that the two of you can't be close, just that it will take some time.

Since it's only one night, you shouldn't have too much to worry about, however it may put your mind at ease to ask around and "borrow" someone's Rotom, Porygon, or a psychic type trained to use telepathy. Having a Pokémon like one of these around can help you two communicate, and Absol are incredibly intelligent creatures. Just the gesture of putting forth the effort to try to communicate with them can go a long way to calming them down and bonding. You should also ask your friend to bring any of Absol's favorite toys or comfort objects, and the food he eats regularly in their own bowl. All of these things will help them feel safer and more at home.

If things start getting rough, try to offer Absol a walk outside or a quiet, dark place alone to calm down, and check on them discretely. Despite negative stereotypes, the species accounts for less than five percent of all Pokémon related injuries, so it isn't likely that they will lash out at you physically.

I'm sure you two will be okay, but don't hesitate to reach out if you need help!

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It's spring time here on the island! We just rescued a Bunneary (story coming soon), giving us a perfect time to talk about some Pokémon frequently abandoned around this time of year. I'll be focusing on popular pets for children and why they might not be ready to handle the responsibility.

Buneary

Buneary are one of the Pokémon we rescue the most this time of year, as they are popular pets given to children for the spring holidays. As cute and fluffy as they are, they require a lot of commitment. These little guys can take months to warm up to a new trainer, even if everything about their new home is perfect, and in the mean time can be very difficult to train. Just house training (going to the bathroom in a designated place, not chewing on furniture or other items, and not biting family members) is extremely time consuming, and they don't take negative reinforcement well at all. Buneary are easily stressed out and may lash out when provoked. Their normal typing makes a lot of people think that they aren't dangerous, but any Pokémon can be dangerous when upset. We release a lot of the Buneary rescued, after a good check-up and asking them if they even wanted to be captured. Some of them may stay and look for a human partner with us, and for those we recommend someone a little older, with more time and experience under their belt. Not to say that Buneary can't be your first Pokémon, but they are usually more challenging than the ones we recommend as starters.

Bunnelby

For the same reasons as Buneary, Foster Island rescues it's fair share of Bunnelby, though most often these guys escape their trainers rather than being abandoned. They are just as anxious as Buneary, but instead of lashing out, they dig. A cornered Bunnelby will fight if it has to, but they prefer to flee a fight when untrained. Young trainers often lack the tools and skills to house and train a Bunnelby, as they require specific kinds of care to make them feel safe so that they don't run away. In order to give them outside time to dig, which is a must of this species, you have to have either a fence that runs deep underground and comes back into the yard several feet, or very big, deep, raised flower beds not used for planting. It's the only way to keep a digging Bunnelby within your property until you've built trust and trained them. We are able to return some of these to their humans, if they have been registered to a trainer number and if the trainer is willing to put in the extra work to prove it won't happen again. They often pair well with Diglet, and we try to rehome them to people who already have that ground type experience.

Exeggcute

Egg dyeing and hunting are fun spring time activities enjoyed by loads of kids all over the world. Unfortunately, these egg like Pokémon occasionally get mixed up in all the fun. Although their insides are much closer to seeds, children often mistake them for eggs when hunting, and may accidentally separate a clutch, which usually gets over-looked by the adults. Additionally, young trainers may get over zealous and dye their partner Exeggcute along with the eggs. Not all dyes are safe for Pokémon, and not all Pokémon want to be brightly colored. The first mistake can be prevented by either having your egg hunt indoors, or putting deterents around your yard, such as having predator Pokémon near by or spraying chili infused water along the property line. If you and your Pokémon have talked about it, and the Exeggcute has decided they would like to be dyed, most vegetable based dyes are safe to use, but you can always ask your local Professor or Pokémon Center before buying something that could potentially injure your partner. Otherwise, Exeggcute can make a great partner for anyone, as long as your personalities match. They are relatively easy to care for, and there isn't much concern for unexpected evolution since they require a stone to do so.