On Wednesdays We Wear Scales 🐍💅

  On Wednesdays We Wear Scales  A midweek check-in from your favorite pink-haired reptile nurse. Hey! Happy New Year I’m sending this one just after midnight because new year, fresh start, and very practically, that’s when my email count resets. This issue is a little different. Instead of focusing on a single reptile or invertebrate, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year, the animals, the lessons, the changes, and the growth that came with building Sweet Ave Zoo a little more intentionally every month. Feature: The Keeper (Me, Hi) This year wasn’t about adding the most animals or building the flashiest enclosures. It was about becoming a better keeper... more patient, more informed, and more willing to pause before saying “yes” to something new. I learned to: • Upgrade before expanding • Slow down impulse decisions • Design enclosures around behavior, not aesthetics • Accept that “good enough for now” is sometimes the most ethical choice Sweet Ave Zoo gre...

  On Wednesdays We Wear Scales  A midweek check-in from your favorite pink-haired reptile nurse. Hey! With the holidays officially here, this week felt like a good time to slow down a bit and talk about something that’s been on my keeper wish list for a long time. This issue is all about a dream tarantula, one of those species you admire, research, and quietly hope might one day make it home with you. And since it’s Christmas week, I’m also sharing a gentle keeper reminder for this busy, chaotic time of year. Feature: A Dream Tarantula Some tarantulas just stay on your “one day” list... not because they’re rare or flashy for the sake of it, but because everything about them feels intentional. Iridopelma is that genus for me. Known for their soft iridescent tones, gentle coloration shifts, and elegant build, Iridopelma species have a quiet beauty that doesn’t always translate in photos, but absolutely stops you in your tracks in person. They’re arboreal tarantulas that appreci...