Myth: Koi and goldfish only grow as large as their tank. This was believed for a long time but over time people came to realize that the fish stopped growing but the organs inside grew. Causing a painful death.

Well, current science says that it is not a myth. Koi and goldfish constantly produce a growth inhibiting hormone called Somatostatin. When enough of this builds up (big fish in a little tank) the fish stops growing.

Lots of koi and goldfish that were kept in small tanks did die more often than the ones in larger tanks. Science has now figured out that the people that kept them in smaller tanks just plain did not take care of them as well (diet and water parameters) as the owners that placed them in larger enclosures. So, correlation doesn’t always equal causation

So you can keep them in smaller tanks as long as you give them the correct diet and water parameters. Also, if you do eventually move them to a larger tank they will grow again but they may be stunted and not get as large as normal.

Myth: Young snakes lack venom control and will expel all of their venom when they bite; and are therefore more dangerous than adult snakes.

False. Only a couple of venomous snake species have specific neurotoxins more prevalent in young snakes. But, the adults of the these species have a more complex venom. So, you still can die either way, it is just a matter of which system is attacked.

Younger snakes do produce a higher percentage of their venom per bite than adults, but they have less overall venom, so it is still less than the venom from a bite from an adult snake.

Myth: The Portuguese Man O' War is a jellyfish.

Truth - it is actually a siphonophore (one of the most fascinating organisms on the planet). A siphonophore is a colony of zooids that are genetically identical. Basically, some of the zoids form the floaty/sail part (pneumatophore), some of the zooids form the tentacles, some of the zooids eat and some of the zooids, well you get the picture.

The largest siphonophore (not a man o' war in this case, it is the Praya Dubia) ever seen was over 160 feet long. If you want to have a reason to never go in the ocean again, look up the 1991 video from Japan of a siphonophore. Nature is truly amazing.

Myth: since their only known location in the wild (Lake Xochimilko in Mexico) is heavily polluted and there are only an estimated 50-1,000 remaining, the pet trade of Axolotls will stop them from going extinct.

Partially true. Experienced breeders working with the scientific community have successfully bred captive Axolotls and then released them into other lakes and ponds with similar parameters and they have thrived. However, most people that breed them for sale are trying to make "pretty" morphs that people will pay money for. And much like snakes bred for looks, they would not survive long at all in the wild. Animal colors are intentional and serve as camouflage.

Myth: we eat approximately 8 spiders while we sleep in our lifetime.

This one is completely false. Spiders are very sensitive to noise and vibrations. They are terrified of us and even more terrified of our mouth since we constantly breather in and out. This myth originated in 1993 by a columnist to show how quickly misinformation could spread.

So rest assured (pun intended) you are completely safe from spiders while you sleep.

Myth: Snakes dislocate their jaws to swallow large prey.

False. The snake skull is fascinating. It differs from our skulls in the following ways:

1. Their lower jaw is separated. Each side can move independently.2. Their upper jaw is separate from their skull (attached by tendons only).3. All of the tendons in their skull are very elastic.

Once they have their prey in their mouth, they can move each section (top, bottom right, bottom left) independently to grab (with their teeth) and pull back the prey into their stomach. They are literally scooching the prey back down their throat.

Once the meal is complete, they stretch their jaws around to get them back in the normal position.

Bonus info - snakes have the ability to push their glottis (breathing hole) out of their throat like a snorkel to enable to breathe while they are swallowing large prey.

Myth: Snakes can't hear.

Truth - snakes have no outer ear or eardrum. But they do have a sophisticated inner ear system that uses their jawbone (quadrate bone) to pick up vibrations from the ground. It is believed that they use somatic hearing to interpret sounds from the air (sophisticated nerves that conduct vibrations in the skin to the quadrate bone)

The peak hearing of a snake is between 200Hz and 300Hz, and it just so happens the human voice operates at approximately 250Hz, so my little babies can hear me.

Anecdotal - When I first got Miles (Boa Imperator) I had him in a smaller enclosure. I bought specific lights to use to give him heat. He did not eat for the 2 months that I had those lights in there. I inspected the lights closely and realized they were making a vibrating sound that was inaudible to me at a distance, but it was apparently carrying these vibrations throughout his enclosure. I replaced those bulbs and he ate the next day.

Bonus - I cannot wear ear buds or headphones as both don't work right for my head. I use bone conducting headphones that go behind my ears and use a similar technique as a snake's hearing. This also allows me to hear normal activities since my ears aren't covered.

Myth: Fish like Plecostomus and algae eaters clean your tank.

Truth - Some species of plecos will eat a small number of algae, and fish like Siamese algae eaters will eat a bit more. However, they quickly outgrow the taste for algae and prefer the flakes and other food items that you feed your other fish. Also, plecos in particular have a huge bio-load (they poop a lot). This causes you to have to change more water and more often.

Snails are really good at eating algae, but they come with their own drawbacks. Nerite snails are the only freshwater snail that will not reproduce in a normal tank. The other snails will quickly take over your tank as they reproduce very quickly, and your tank can become overrun with them. I have 5 nerite snails in my large aquarium. The only drawback to Nerite snails is they legit like to venture out of the water (mine like to poop above the water line). Some people have even seen theirs climbing up their living room walls.

The best way to control algae is to minimize light usage and don't overfeed your fish. And, DO NOT ever use any chemicals advertised to get rid of algae from your tank. These chemicals get rid of algae by leeching all of the oxygen, which kills the algae, however fish also like oxygen.

Bonus - algae isn't bad for your tank. Any plant will absorb nitrates which help keep the fish safe. I just minimize light time and do the occasional scrub of the front glass, so it is easier to see the fish

Myth: Venomous snakes have triangular heads.

Not a reliable method to determine. Coral Snakes (venomous) have rounded heads. Water snakes (non-venomous) have triangular heads.

There is only 1 way to truly tell what snake it is. By knowing a crap-ton about snakes. Even I have a difficult time telling the difference between a water snake and a water moccasin. So, I just assume it's the bad one and leave it alone.

Bonus - Red and yellow, kill a fellow, red and black friend of Jack (or venom-lack). Yeah, ignore this. It only works on Coral snakes in the U.S. compared to milk snakes. Several venomous species have red and black bands. So, again, always assume it's the bad one and leave it alone

Myth: Snakes will chase you (this is commonly reported for Water Moccasins, a.k.a. Cottonmouths).

Truth - they do everything in their power to avoid any contact with humans or other large animals.

Possible misinterpretations.1. Mock charge. In order to appear dangerous and larger than they are, they will do a mock charge (strike in your direction) hoping to scare you away.2. Safe spot. Their known safe spot (den, rock, etc.) may be behind you and they quickly try to get to it, and this could be seen as chasing you.

We are not anywhere on any snake's food chain, so they risk more to themselves by being around us. As long as you keep your distance you are in no danger from that snake.

Myth: If you find a snake on your property, it is safe to relocate it.

Mostly false - for a few reasons.

1. It is illegal in most states. In Louisiana, if you are relocating the snake across property lines, or if the snake is venomous, you must get approval from the LDFW. You can only relocate a non-venomous species within your own property. It is also illegal to kill a snake unless there is immediate threat to safety.

2. If you relocate a snake within 1/2 mile from where it is found it has decent chances (about 50%) of survival. If you relocate a snake further than that, it has a very minimal (near zero) chance of survival. Snakes get stressed from the process, they are now in unfamiliar territory and are easy targets for predation, the place you relocate them to may already have too many snakes, leading to less food for the relocated snake.

Most of the time you are safe to leave the snake alone as they are great for pest control. The best thing to do is familiarize yourself with venomous snakes in your area (Cottonmouth-a.k.a. Water Moccasin and Copperhead are the most common in SE LA, we do also have Timber Rattlesnakes and Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes, but they are less common). All others

Bonus - Louisiana has 6 species of Kingsnake; Speckled, Prairie, Eastern Black, Scarlet, Mole, and Milksnake (yes, it is a kingsnake). Familiarize yourself with these, as you want them to have free roam as they will eat the venomous snakes. (A separate post on Kingsnakes will be in the future).

Myth: Rear-fanged snakes are less dangerous than the more commonly known front-fang venomous snakes.

Mostly true - But I'm sure you're asking right now, what in the hell are you talking about?

Most snakes that we consider venomous (rattlesnakes, copperheads, moccasins, etc,) use front fangs. These fangs are hollow and act like syringes to inject their fast-acting venom into their prey.

However, over 1,800 species of snake have rear "fangs". Unlike the front fangs, the rear fangs aren't hollow but have a groove in them to deliver the venom. Also, these snakes have to "chew" the venom into their prey. You may be surprised to learn that garter snakes have rear fangs. So, if you catch one of these friendly little guys, don't let it chew on you.

Most rear-fanged snakes have venom that is medically insignificant to humans. There are exceptions though; the Boomslang is rear-fanged and has one of the most toxic venoms for a snake.

Bonus - Pythia, my Western Hognose, and Luci, my Mexican Black Kingsnake are rear-fanged. People that have let their Hognose "chew" on them for 10 minutes have had swollen hands at the worst. So, it may be painful, but they cannot kill you.

Bonus-Bonus - If you are bit by a snake, use a small drop of alcohol (hand sanitizer works too) and place it right below their nose next to your hand. They hate the taste and will release quickly. Do not try to pull them off as you can easily break off their teeth, leaving them defenseless and unable to catch prey.

Myth: Animals can smell fear

Truth - Some actually can (I myself did not believe this).

1. Dogs - they recognize stress (fear) in the chemicals in our sweat. They either get protective or aggressive.2. Horses - they can sense adrenaline and cortisol. They get antsy and nervous when you do.3. Cats - they recognize stress like dogs and either become extremely affectionate to you or keep their space.4. Sharks - they detect chemicals released during stress and investigate because it usually means injured prey.5. Snakes - they detect lactic acid in your sweat from stress. But on the plus side, they use this a cue to get away.6. Elephants - they can smell fear in sweat. They then come together and socially decide how to react.7. Bees - they can detect pheromones in our sweat. They can use this to swarm.8. Rats and mice - they can detect fear from our sweat. They use this to steer clear.9. Deer - they can detect fear in sweat and breath. They use this to escape danger10. Wolves - they can detect fear and act more cautiously11. Bats - they can detect fear through sweat and breath. They use this to avoid danger12. Pigs - they can detect fear hormones. They squeal and act fidgety.13. Coyotes - they can detect fear in sweat and use this to locate possible prey.14. Goats - they can smell fear and actually detect fear in a human's voice. They use this to be more alert and watch us more closely.15. Dolphins - they can detect fear through scent and echolocation. They usually act in a way to help or defend us.16. Crows - they can sense fear in our sweat and can actually detect fear based on our facial expressions. They are like elephants and come together to figure out what to do.17. Octopus - they alo can detect chemicals in the water for fear. They will immediately camouflage themselves. 18. Raccoons, rabbits and bears - they can detect fear by smell and by observance19. Owls - they can detect fear in prey, making them home in on them quicker

Myth: Opossums are great tick control

Truth - they just clean themselves a lot and have low blood pressure.

I believed this myth and love finding out I was wrong. Learning is fun.

The scientific study that was done that declared them great at tick control was absolutely not scientific. They put several different types of animals in kennels and put 100 ticks on each of them. At the end they saw how many ticks had fallen off each animal (ticks get full with blood and then fall off). There were only 3 in the opossum's cage. So they assumed he had eaten them. Turns out they just have lower blood pressure, and it takes longer for the ticks to get full.

It has been scientifically proven that the Eastern Timber Rattlesnake in particular is better at tick control. They eat the rodents that carry the ticks. Yet another reason to leave snakes alone.

Myth: When a rooster crows, it lifts its head, so it doesn't go deaf.

True.

When a rooster's beak is fully open, soft tissues cover half of the eardrum. When they tilt their head back more tissue completely covers their entire ear canal.

A rooster's crow averages 100 decibels (about the same as a chainsaw) and can go as high as 130 (jet taking off).

Myth: The Burmese python problem in Florida was due to irresponsible pet owners releasing their oversized pets into the wild.

Truth - While people had been releasing pets since the 70's when the snake trade started to get more popular, this was only a minor concern.

When Hurricane Andrew hit southern Florida in 1992, there were several python breeding facilities that were destroyed. One of these facilities had over 100 Burmese Pythons that were actively breeding so were highly likely to be pregnant (females can lay 50-100 eggs per year). The release of this massive number of huge (over 16 feet and weighing up to 200 pounds) pythons turned a small problem into and invasion.

The Burmese Python is perfectly suited to the South Florida climate. Couple that with the fact that they have no known natural predator, they have been able to grow in numbers exponentially.

They have tried several things to control the population:

1. State-sponsored hunts and bounties2. Trained detection dogs3. Fitting large males with trackers to help locate females4. Public reporting

Some local wildlife has learned to hunt and eat the eggs and young pythons. Specifically, alligators, bobcats, black bears, cottonmouth snakes and vultures.

Myth: You can get Salmonella poisoning from pet reptiles.

Truth - very small chance.

While it is true that reptiles can carry Salmonella it is not very common. Other pets can also carry Salmonella along with other bacteria. So, the best practice is to wash your hands after handling any pet. I keep hand sanitizer next to all my reptile enclosures. What makes it more commonly found in reptiles is the fact they can be sick and show no signs. They are masters at not showing any signs of sickness. Whereas if a cat is sick, it shows outward signs of that illness.

I have handled all of my reptiles on multiple occasions, and I have never gotten Salmonella. That is most likely due to keeping their enclosures clean. Also from understanding how Salmonella spreads. Salmonella spreads from an animal's feces and then to us if we come in contact with the feces and then touch our mouth.

The only reptiles I own that I 100% wash my hands or use hand sanitizer for are the turtles. The reason is because they poop in the water, which now means if they have Salmonella, it will be in the water. So, even if I just touch their water I wash my hands.

Myth: Honeybees are dying off at massive rates and we cannot live without them.

Fact - Partly true and partly true.

Honeybees are responsible for pollinating about 75% of the crops we eat. Most of the data is coming from honeybee colonies run by big agriculture companies (in 2022 there were 2.7 million colonies). There have been massive losses, but nowhere near extinction levels. The main threat to these bees is a mite. This mite is now immune to all of the pesticides we use, including the main one we use, which is less harmful to the bees themselves. About 41% of these colonies have been lost over the last few years. However, many new colonies have been added (close to 4 million colonies now). But the overall honey output is only up 11%. Honeybees are naturally very hard working and are very susceptible to environmental changes. Living without honeybees would be difficult but we will not collapse from it.

This same thing is not happening to hobbyist's colonies. So, scientists are trying to find out why.

The bigger concern from a conservation perspective is wild bees (bumblebees, etc.). Which are getting dangerously close to going extinct. Most of these species are now critically endangered.

Myth: Most animals cannot see red light. (This one drives me nuts as a reptile keeper).

Truth - those that can't see the color red, still see a light, it's just not red. Like me, (I am color blind) just because a light is green (I cannot see green) does not mean I can't see it, it just means it looks like a white light to me.

A lot of pet stores still continue to sell red and sometimes blue lights to use with reptiles at night. Most customers happily buy them because science says that they cannot see red. Well, congratulations, now the reptile is wondering why you always leave that white light on for them all night. Like most animals, reptiles need a circadian rhythm (day/night cycle) to stay healthy.

Bonus - Those with sharp eyes may have noticed that some of the pictures I have taken of my animals it appears as though I am using a red light. Well, I am. It's LED lights on my train track near the ceiling and I just use it briefly when I go to bed. Red is the least disruptive (still disruptive) color when I do use it briefly at night.

Myth: Daddy longlegs are the most venomous spider, but their fangs are too small to pierce human skin.

Completely false. First of all, there is no species called daddy longlegs. 3 animals are commonly referred to as this:

1. Harvestmen - these are not spiders, as they only have 1 body segment. No venom.

2. Crane Flies - these also are not spiders. Down south we call crane flies mosquito hawks. Adult crane flies do not bite; in fact they usually don't eat at all. They only live for a few days and are just concerned with reproducing. No venom.

3. Cellar spiders - the true "daddy longlegs". They do have venom and can bite humans. However, their venom is not medically significant to humans at all.

Myth: Roaches can survive nuclear war.

Truth - needs more explaining.

1. Ground Zero - they die (10,000,000 degrees)2. Roaches can survive longer after initial impact and fallout because their cell cycles are slower (susceptible to radiation at cell division).3. A lower percentage of them would die due to #2, but over time they would eventually all die out (just slower than us).4. 1,000 rads (50km from ground zero) interfered with roach fertility5. 64,000 rads killed 93% of roaches

Bonus:1. 60 rads caused Flour Beetles to live longer2. It would take 64,000 to kill Fruit Flies3. It would take 180,000 rads to kill the Harbobracon Wasp4. The microscopic Tardigrade (water bear) can survive 500,000 rads.5. Tardigrades can live in space, at the bottom of the ocean, and tops of mountains. They can survive temperatures of near absolute zero to 302 degrees Fahrenheit. They slow their metabolism down by up to 99% and expel any water in their body.

Myth: Dragonflies are the best hunters.

Truth - In efficiency they are. Their success rates in hunting exceeds 95%. The second closest is African wild dogs at about 60%.

Bonus: To counteract their brilliance in hunting, they are prone to flying into water and dying. Their brain senses light as up and dark as down. When they fly over a water source that reflects light, they then assume that this light is up and flip over and then fly into the water.

Myth: Ostriches bury their head in the sand.

False - they just have really tiny heads for their body size. When they arrange the eggs in their nests or forage for food, from a distance it looks like their head is gone (so it was assumed it was buried).

Myth: You are always within 3 feet of a spider.

False (unless of course you're at my house!) If you are in a desert, city, or an airplane, there may not be a spider for hundreds of yards from you. Now, if you are in the grass, the odds that a spider is within inches of you is really high.

The average number of spiders in a 3 square meter (4x8 foot) area is 131. But it could be as low as 0 or as high as 384 based on actual location.

Myth: A camel's humps store water.

False. Their humps are for storing fat, which lets them go long periods without eating. As far as not needing much water, that is more of a physiological adaption.

1. They have extremely efficient intestines and kidneys which allows them to use more water.2. Their red blood cells are oval shaped, which allows them to become dehydrated and still circulate blood. This also allows them to drink large amounts of water at 1 time.3. They can easily regulate their body temperature which allows them to not sweat, reducing water loss.4. Storing the fat in their humps removes insulation from the rest of their body which allows heat to dissipate much quicker.

Bonus - camels will spit at you if they are annoyed or feel threatened. It's not just saliva; it is also some stomach contents which smell rerally bad.