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ississippi map turtle...Western tiger salamander...Argentine ornate horned frog...Jack Demsey cichlid...Dinosaur bichir. These and other strange creatures that roam the earth, often unnoticed, small and sometimes slimy, have become a passion for my brother, Christopher “C.H.” Brown, a junior at Saint Edward’s School. Such animals have actually found a home in C.H.’s bedroom. These wild animals, each with unique traits and purposes, caught the interest of C.H. at a young age. Starting with a Cuban tree frog in the backyard at age five, C.H. searched for snakes, lizards, crabs, and even snails just for the opportunity to observe them. “The way these animals look and act has captivated me,” says C.H., who has spent hours following the animals’ habits and researching their behavior. “I love the way each creature has unique features, including its own personality.” C.H.’s love for animals, big and small, led him to adopt a bearded dragon, a lizard that he named Zeus. Zeus allowed C.H. not only to learn facts about the animal but also to care for it. Gradually C.H. began expanding his pet collection to include a Mississippi map turtle, an ornate horned frog, a Western tiger salamander, and dozens of fish. His oldest pet, an Argentine horned frog named Waka Waka, turned three this year, with the help of C.H. and an exotic pet veterinarian. The saga began when C.H. recognized that something was off about Waka Waka. He observed that Waka Waka’s legs were abnormal in color, and after doing some research online he concluded that the frog had contracted a rare illness known as red-leg syndrome. C.H. then set off for help from Dr. Ariana Finkelstein, who works at the Sebastian Animal & Bird Hospital. Dr. Finkelstein quickly confirmed C.H.’s suspicions and indicated that the source was likely a fungus in the coconut fiber medium in Waka Waka’s tank. “I was really worried, because I care deeply about each and every one of my animals,” said C.H. He immediately moved the frog to a clean tank with a different substrate. “I wanted to take every precaution to ensure Waka Waka’s survival.” n another occasion, C.H. rescued a green sea turtle he found floating near our dock. Seeing the turtle struggling to swim, he quickly jumped into a kayak and carefully pulled the turtle aboard. The turtle had a broken shell and bumps on its neck caused by a boat propeller. C.H. knew exactly what to do: he called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which sent a turtle rescue team. During Covid lockdown, C.H. turned to a related passion – fishing – on breaks from virtual school. An absurd amount of fishing rods, lures, and tackle boxes floods our dining room or, as my mom calls it, the house “tackle box.” C.H. fishes every chance he gets, whether in the Indian River Lagoon or in the small pond across from our home. Like a marine explorer, he spends his weekends riding the waves of the lagoon in a boat searching for new spots where fish prosper.
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Dr. Finkelstein examining Kermit’s underside
Dr. Finkelstein checking Waka Waka for red leg syndrome
Dr. Finkelstein monitoring Waka Waka’s weight March 2022 / ISSUE 134 / Vero’s Voice 13