Dear Bill, My birthday was a few days ago, and my family, in their ever present lack of communication, got me a Rowlet, a Piplup, and a Torchic, along with a SNivy, Turtwig, and Treeko. Do i need to worry about the Avian starters picking fights with each other? and what of my Grass Reptilians? Also, any Care tips you can suggest for them? and are there any concerns i should watch for in their Later Stages? I’d rather avoid issues BEFORE i need to take a ‘Mon to the Pokemon Center ER.

This is … quite an ask, I must admit. So to begin, I’m afraid I can’t offer care tips for six vastly different pokémon in a small amount of space, so I’ll simply offer this as a general tip: read up on each pokémon species to get hints about their basic needs. For example, treecko is a tropical insectivore, so it will need a moist environment and a largely insect-based diet. While you could possibly double up on habitats or diets for like pokémon, it’s also worth it to be aware that two pokémon, as alike as they may be, might actually have different needs. (Turtwig is an herbivore, and snivy needs larger prey, like feeder mice.)

If you’re out on the road and these are meant to be your starters for a journey, it might be easier to care for all of them (that’s what kibble and general care facilities at pokémon centers are for), but if you live at home, a team this diverse might be difficult unless you have a lot of space and money. If it is difficult, consider leaving a few at a shelter or rehoming them. This goes especially if you plan on evolving them, as their needs—not only for space but also basics—will increase exponentially. It’s not impossible to house six fully evolved starters if you’re not a trainer, but it’s difficult. And, well. Expensive.

As for your avian pokémon fighting one another, most bird-like species are actually highly social, so it’s more likely that they’ll form a flock (and perhaps try to rope in some of the reptiles while they’re at it), especially once they understand they’re part of the same team. The others, meanwhile … generally, you shouldn’t have a problem because in most cases, starters are bred to be amicable with other pokémon, but keep an eye on that treecko and snivy.

Best of luck!

Bill, I need your help! I know my newly-hatched Snivy has a Lonely nature, but I think he’s a bit too clingy. He’s trying to be with me at all times. It was cute at first, but now it’s annoying. Do you know how awkward it is to try to use the restroom with those giant eyes looking at you?

Try having a house full of eevee do it.

On a serious note, anonymous, a lock on a bathroom door is a gift sent by Ho-oh for anyone raising baby pokémon.

Or for a more serious answer, eventually, it’s possible that your snivy will outgrow this tendency. In the meantime, try to give him a comfortable environment while at the same time training him to get used to moments without you. There are tips located here that may help: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/search/separation

Overall, don’t forget that your snivy is still an infant, so it’s understandable that he will be a little clingy. It’s important for now that you try not to train him to expect contact with you at all times while balancing his needs as a baby pokémon.

Best of luck, anonymous!

I had a snivy who I let sleep with me at night, usually curled on my chest or side. This continued to her being a servine but as a serperior she’s much too large to be on the bed/not crush me. I have a bed for her to the side of my bed but I still wake up being crushed due to her cuddling me. I’m trying to reinforce her new bed but I think she missed being small enough to cuddle. What can I do for her?

As odd as this may sound, have you considered wrapping her with warm blankets, perhaps one with weights (such as bean bags) added to them? Remember that members of the snivy line are grass-type reptilian pokémon, so they need warmth—such as, for example, from the human body—in order to sleep comfortably at night. This goes doubly for your serperior, who you may have also inadvertently trained to use you as that source of heat. Covering her with a blanket and adding weights will simulate the feeling of being close to you while allowing her to remain warm, even when the temperature drops at night.

Best of luck, anonymous!

The Snivy Line

Snivy
The Grass Snake Pokémon
Type: Grass
Official Registration #: 495
Entry: One of three pokémon traditionally offered to new trainers at the beginning of their journeys in Unova. Swift and intelligent pokémon, snivy are capable of executing incredible feats of agility in battle, regardless of whether or not their trainers order them to do so. That having been said, to answer some of the most common questions about this species, yes, researchers are aware of its species designation; yes, we are and have always been aware that snivy has limbs; and yes, it made sense at the time.

Servine
The Grass Snake Pokémon
Type: Grass
Official Registration #: 496
Entry: The evolved form of snivy, by battle experience. Despite having limbs, servine prefer to slither along the ground with such deftness and ease it is often described as “sliding.” It does this despite the fact that its ability to photosynthesize (and therefore fuel its basic bodily processes) can and will be inhibited if mud and dirt covers its scales. However, one explanation is that it preferred battle method is to sneak up on its opponent and use Vine Whip on them before they become aware of servine’s closeness, which is to say that servine’s locomotive preference is deemed worth it for the sake of fighting dirty.

Puns, Bill? Is that what this blog is reduced to now? —LH

Oh, come now, Lanette. You may think I’m stooping to a new low, but you know as well as I do that I was already there. —Bill

Serperior
The Regal Pokémon
Type: Grass
Official Registration #: 497
Entry: The evolved form of servine, by battle experience. Noted for their noble looks, serperior have the capability stopping their opponents in their tracks, simply with the toss of a head and a particularly withering glare. This, in addition to their sleek but elegant looks as well as their general attitude towards their trainers and fellow pokémon, have earned it the nickname the regal pokémon, which makes it the only member of this evolution line with a completely logical and fitting species name according to the general public. (Yes, we know.)