🦂 Gold Dust’s major glow-up + a reminder to not be a dick...

Gold Dust’s neon glow-up, the science of scorpions, and our new favorite Babe Co. collab! On Wednesdays We Wear Scales 🦎💅 A midweek check-in from your favorite pink-haired reptile nurse. Hey! Grab your iced coffee and settle in, because today we are celebrating a serious, literal glow-up. If you’ve been hanging out in this corner of the internet for a while, you know that keeping exotic pets means witnessing some of the coolest biological transformations on the planet. But before we talk about our glowing star of the week, I have a tiny bit of homework for the newer members of the crew: We have an official home archive now! If you missed the early days, want to read about the tarantula that started this entire journey, or just want to binge-read old animal stories, you can check out every single past newsletter right here on the Sweet Ave Zoo Blog Archive. Now, let's talk about a tiny terror who isn't so tiny anymore. Featured Creature: Gold Dust’s Big Glow-Up ✨ For this week's Feature Creature, we are checking in on issue number 31’s guest of honor: Gold Dust, my Arizona Bark Scorpion! 🦂 Way back in Issue 11, Gold Dust was just a microscopic, translucent speck. If you sneezed too hard near his enclosure, you probably would have lost him in the substrate. But after a series of perfectly timed molts, he has officially grown into his title. Watching an invertebrate grow is honestly wild. Because they wear their skeletons on the outside, they can't just expand gradually like we do. Instead, they have to completely burst out of their old, hardened skin to get bigger. Right after they squeeze out, their new armor is completely soft and pale, making them super vulnerable until it cures and hardens. Gold Dust has successfully conquered that high-stakes wardrobe change multiple times now, and seeing him go from a fragile little speck into a confident, robust hunter has been a proud keeper moment. And yes, before you ask, he still glows like a neon green glow-stick under a UV blacklight. That party trick never gets old! 💡 Keeper Notes: What Does a "Glow-Up" Really Mean? Since Gold Dust is rocking his adult look now, I wanted to clear up a fun myth about scorpions and blacklights. A lot of people think scorpions glow under UV light because of some crazy, active venom superpower or a warning signal they control. In reality, it’s all down to a specific set of compounds in a incredibly thin layer of their hardened exoskeleton called the cuticle. When a scorpion molts, that brand-new, soft skin actually doesn't glow right away! It only starts to fluoresce after the new outer layer completely cures and hardens over a few days. Scientists still debate why they do it, some think it helps them detect light so they know when they're safely hidden in the dark, while others think it's just an accidental quirk of their armor's chemistry. Either way, it's a fantastic reminder of how beautifully weird arachnid biology is. ⚡ Product Spotlight: Wearable Protest with Babe Co. Switching gears from venomous critters to bold, unapologetic style! I am so incredibly excited to highlight my newest collaboration with Babe Co.! If you aren't familiar with them, their entire vibe is centered around audacious individuality, empowerment, and wearable protest. They make high-quality statement jewelry for people who refuse to stay quiet and love a good laugh, so naturally, I fell in love with their message instantly. I am currently staring at my mailbox impatiently waiting for my "Don't Be A Dick" necklace to arrive. Honestly, is there a more perfect daily mantra? Whether you need a personal reminder while dealing with internet trolls, a subtle statement piece for your daily routine, or just a general reminder for the rest of society to exercise basic decency, this piece is an absolute mood. Make sure to use code SWEET_AVE_ZOO at checkout! MY WEBSITE Visit Our Socials Sweet Ave Pawtucket, RI 02861 View in browser You are getting this email because you've subscribed to sweetavezoo at beacons.ai/sweetavezoo. If you'd like to stop receiving these emails, you can unsubscribe from the list.