Poke Report #1 - 3

A Footnote on #1 – 3; Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, & Venusaur (Bulbusaurus Plantus). Type Designation: Grass/Poison. Average Height: 2’04/3’03/6’07. Average Weight: 15.2/28.7/220.5 lbs. Average Lifespan: 200+ Years. Conservation Status: Survives Only in Captivity and Conservation Areas

Habitat and Location: Centuries prior, the Bulbasaur line was fairly widespread, if not exactly common, across the Kanto region. A population that formerly existed in Alola is now believed to be extinct. Today however their numbers have declined so severely that at one point the species was thought extinct.
Conservation efforts that began in the 1950’s have rescued this species from the brink thanks to the Starter Program, but their wild populations still remain functionally extinct. Today they survive only in captivity. While some areas attempt to recreate the old herds of long ago, these have been gone for a long time now. Perhaps in the future they can be reintroduced.
Bulbasaur and their evolved forms have historically dwelled in locales with large amounts of vegetation, warmth, and sunlight. A versatile and robust species, this family can tolerate a multitude of climates and temperatures that are outside of its preferred range, giving it a well-deserved reputation as a hardy line. They are mainly active during the warmer months, and hibernate during the winter as do many Grass Types.
For many years there was rumored to be a secret grove of Venusaur that was occupied primarily by both Venusaur and Ivysaur who were gathered there to evolve in secret. While archaeological efforts have found evidence of multiple such locations that may have been used in the past, none such exist now.
If it could be said that this family has a preferred habitat, it is in more humid environments with large amounts of sunlight. These Pokemon were frequently found in swamps before the swamps of Kanto were drained away to nothing. Their presence is indicative of a thriving environment, especially in their final evolution Venusaur.

The excessive amounts of pollen let off by this Pokemon drift and pollinate large swathes of flowers, helping in the growth of flora. Throughout their life, these Pokemon share a symbiotic relationship with Bug Pokemon that also encourages co-existence, being an important source of food for Pokemon such as Butterfree, whose flocks once followed these Pokemon as they migrated.
The line moves in large herds, plodding slowly across the region and feeding as they travel. This slow speed unfortunately made them easy targets, one of the primary reasons for their near extinction as hunters and trainers over harvested them.
The line had few predators, but they, like so many others, could not compete with mankind once it began its inexorable push onwards. The species does well in captivity, so it is hoped that some day soon, herds of Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur may once again roam the region of Kanto as they did so before.
Bulbasaur is vulnerable to predation when it is young, but its fully evolved form Venusaur is effectively invincible to predators. A herd of these Pokemon moving through the area is likened to a slow stampede. They consume all vegetation in their path, grazing and plodding and leaving behind little beyond dirt and excrement. Yet their pollen and fertilizer propagates growth, so it is often that they leave behind an area richer than it was before they left.
Because these Pokemon are purely nomadic, they have no set habitat. Although the ones of today are confined behind gates and wires for their own safety, if allowed to roam on their own they’d roam the entire breadth of the Kanto region. Ancient Humans used to wander behind the path of these Pokemon, far after everything had grown, following the path of growth and picking food to survive upon. As such, these Pokemon were sacred to the ancient peoples of Kanto.

General Anatomical Description: It was long debated as to whether or not the Bulbasaur line is closer to amphibians or reptiles. The answer seems to be more towards Reptiles, but they lack notable traits of Reptiles such as having scales and being warm-blooded.
This family tree of Pokemon is known as Dicynodonts, a very old genera of which this line is the absolute last. Indeed, fossils of Dicynodonts and other Pokemon like them have been found as far back the Permian era. What this means is that Bulbasaur and its evolved forms are what we term a “living fossil”, a remnant from an age prior which has exhibited little change since.
The jumping off point as to when this species hybridized and became symbiotic to its plant is somewhat clear, but that lies within the fossil record portion of this report. I will begin with a discussion of Bulbasaur, and then discuss any differences in biology as the Pokemon evolves over the course of its life.

Bulbasaur, as with all of its evolutions, is a quadrupedal Pokemon of short yet stout and powerfully muscled legs. These limbs have three squat digits which are used for rooting for partially buried vegetation such as tubers, and though it renders Bulbasaur slow, this Pokemon has an incredible tenacity and is difficult to tire except under extreme exertions. A Bulbasaurs skin has turned a light shade of emerald green due to its heavy vegetation diet as well as the symbiosis with the bulb upon its back. It is speckled with portions of darker green that are used to tell individuals apart. Each Bulbasaur has different markings, giving this species a degree of individual distinction similar to us Humans having our own unique facial structures.
A Bulbasaur’s head is connected to its body via a short, tough neck. It has a wide mouth with two prominent fangs that are used to help crush up tough vegetation, as well as a blunt snout. It has two red eyes and two short, pointy ears. None of Bulbasaur’s senses are particularly exceptional, save for their smell in specific circumstances.
Bulbasaur is greatly attuned to plant fragrances, which allows it to both search out fruit as well as detect hormones that this species releases through glands. By far the most noteworthy part of a Bulbasaur, and the part which gives it its name, is the large bulb upon its back. The seed of the bulb is planted within a Bulbasaur embryo while it remains in its egg.
This bulb is crucial to the development and life of the Bulbasaur. If removed or rendered inoperable for any reason, then Bulbasaur will perish within minutes. The bulb coils around the Bulbasaur’s organs, meaning that removal will result in the host’s death via synchronous organ failure of every single part of the body. Its quite gruesome. Luckily for the host, the bulb is well attached.

A Bulbasaur’s bulb is part of a plant species that has been given the scientific name Rafflesia Venusaurum. It is a unique member of its species of foul-smelling, meat-eating red plants. Although it retains its meat-eating diet, this is primarily for small insects, and the plant has not yet bloomed within Bulbasaur. Instead, the plant exists in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Comparisons have been drawn to the Paras line, but this relationship is much more co-existant.
The plant needs Bulbasaur to stay alive or else it will die. As a result, the plants roots extend and enwrap around all of Bulbasaur’s organs, providing it energy through photosynthesis. The health of Bulbasaur is directly tied to that of its bulb. This is also why Bulbasaur is almost strictly diurnal. When night falls, this Pokemon rapidly loses energy and falls asleep.
Photosynthesis will account for almost all of Bulbasaur’s growth throughout its life. In the event of an emergency, the plant will drop some of its seeds into Bulbasaur’s stomach cavity. These seeds are rich in nutrients and act as an emergency pick-me-up for the beleaguered Pokemon. The plant itself is only a battery at this stage in the line’s development. However, once Bulbasaur evolves, it takes on a much more proactive role within the Pokemon’s life.
Finally, Bulbasaur possesses two coiled vines it uses as grasping appendages. These are mainly used to grasp low hanging fruit for consumption, but offer the Pokemon a fair amount of limb leverage that other Pokemon do not have. This Pokemon indicates it is ready to evolve when its bulb begins flashing blue. Bulbasaur generally evolves at age 10+.

When Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur, its body changes slightly. It grows both larger and heavier. The plant has bloomed into a sharp pink bud, and has also increased in size. Due to the weight of the bud increasing, Ivysaur cannot stand on its hind legs anymore, and has become slower than Bulbasaur.
This large bud is surrounded by four leafy fronds and a short brown trunk. At this stage in the line’s development, the Rafflesia plant is more active. It is also at this stage of development that the line becomes sexually receptive. When the bud begins to bloom, it lets off an intoxicatingly sweet aroma that attracts both Bug Pokemon as well as other Ivysaur.
Reproduction in this species is unusually complicated, and that’s part of the reason for the species scarcity. The plant absolutely must be pollinated before it will allow the host body to reproduce. Because it essentially holds the host body hostage, this makes it overwhelmingly difficult for Ivysaur to create offspring. This slow rate of reproduction and low rate of replenishment is what has contributed so sharply to their decline.
Because their plant now requires more sunlight, Ivysaur are more active in the day than Bulbasaur, up at sunrise and staying up until it is well and truly nighttime. Like Bulbasaur, when the bud flashes blue, it is ready to evolve. Few Ivysaur ever evolve unless they reach 50+ years of age in the wild.

For the rare few Ivysaur that emerge into Venusaur, they are essentially immortal now. Venusaur is heavily muscled compared to its prior evolutions, a necessary trait given the vastly increased weight of its plant. Said plant has now grown once again to its fully mature state.
Venusaur has a greatly slowed metabolism compared to its prior evolutions. There are days on end where Venusaur will barely move, if at all. Other times it moves constantly, trying to find sunlight. Most of its life is spent eating and soaking up sun rays. It is a simple life, and one devoid of all but the most desperate predators. The plant upon Venusaur’s back is fully mature now, and exists in a tranquil state of feeding on small insects as well as providing energy via photosynthesis. The fronds of this plant have become thick and rubbery, so much so that they can be effectively used to repel all but the deadliest and determined of attacks.
The pollen of a Venusaur is like an ominiscient tool, able to pollenate most flora in the Kanto region. Venusaur sheds small amounts of pollen constantly, as well as large clouds when disturbed. The scent of the flower produces a mildly hallucinogenic aroma which becalms the minds of all around Venusaur, including aggressors. This serves not only to ward off potential dangers but also to mediate conflicts within a family group.
Many Venusaur exist independently from herds, owing to the fact that each Venusaur is a massive drain on local resources. It is also at this stage in its life that the line’s poisons are most active. It is often forgotten that Bulbasaur’s family is in fact partially Poison typed. Venusaur’s meat is mildly toxic and inedible, while Ivysaur’s is at most bad tasting. Only as a Bulbasaur is this Pokemon safe to consume.
These poisons mainly manifest themselves in the Pokemon’s pollen, which is not fatal but serves as a potent allergen that is enough of a factor to ward off any aggressors. When it rains, the aromas let off by this plant increase in potency, a smell which has been likened to that of marshmallows and has resulted in this Pokemon becoming popular as a source of fragrance by aristocrats showing off their gardens.
Venusaur are very long-lived Pokemon, often outliving their trainers and being released into the wild. One noted Venusaur who now lives in a sanctuary by the name of Beet has served over nine different trainers over a period of 357 years, though it should be noted that 300 seems to be the general upper limit for this species.

Demeanor and Society: The Bulbasaur line is well known for its domesticity and good behavior, something which has endeared it to the population as being a good first Pokemon. Younger trainers who are started out are strongly encouraged a Bulbasaur as their first Pokemon, as they are simple to train, easygoing, and hardy.
Even from the egg, Bulbasaur are well known as being even-tempered Pokemon. They are patient and adaptive to hardships, rarely throwing tantrums or having extreme displays of emotions. Bulbasaur are good mediators, who serve as a wall to lean upon and a voice of wisdom among other younger Pokemon who often follow.
Breeders can attest that Bulbasaur seem to be born with the wisdom of a five-year-old, and mature rapidly so that by the time they’re ready to evolve, they have the maturity and sense of a wizened elder. Impressive to say the least.
Because of this calm personality, Bulbasaur are seen as intelligent for their age, even by other Pokemon. They are smart enough to understand a bad decision when they see it, which gives them a sense of survival other young Pokemon may not possess. As Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur and then again into Venusaur, it continues to mature at a rate greater than expected.
Ivysaur are considered adults, regardless of age. Even halfway into a Bulbasaur’s life and as early as the age of 4 it is likened in intelligence to that of a teenager. As an Ivysaur, Bulbasaur is sterner faced than its prior evolution, less prone to frolicking and more serious. Though stereotyped as a serious Pokemon, Ivysaur is still possessed with a calm demeanor.
Due to their stoic nature, Ivysaur make excellent guardians who take their roles very seriously. Ivysaur easily integrate into Human society. They serve as laborers, assistants, and pets all with ease. Perhaps the one irking trait that one can do to irritate this Pokemon is to demean its intelligence. This Pokemon, be it Bulbasaur or Venusaur, hates the idea that it is being thought of as stupid or slow.

By nature, these Pokemon hate to be liabilities. From birth they have an instinctual drive to be helpful, owing to being a herd species. Every individual must look after themselves to some extent, and in turn must also be on the lookout for threats to their herds continued existence. This translates over into their personality. The best way to get under this family’s skin is to tease its competence.
Bulbasaur are the youngest of the group, and are led and taught by Ivysaur. Venusaur are generally unwilling or too busy to involve themselves in the interest of the little whelps, assuming they aren’t off entirely on their own. Bulbasaur are attentive listeners. They learn well, and then they pass on what they have learned to other Bulbasaur.
Bulbasaur grow up fast, maturing quite quickly compared to other Pokemon. As an Ivysaur, it is a calm tempered, if stern being. Ivysaur is not known for being reckless, and will consider the consequences of each action. Ivysaur are the main guardians and protectors of the herd. As only a very small number of Venusaur exist within a herd, the job of running things generally falls to the Ivysaur.
Ivysaur relay orders and instructions that the Venusaur give back to the rest of the herd. They are responsible for educating and teaching Bulbasaur as to how the world truly works, and also to guard the herd. Ivysaur ride within the edges of the herd, and Bulbasaur ride within the inside. Venusaur ride at the front, leading the herd as the herd leader.
The life of an Ivysaur is tough. They must protect their charges, so they fight constantly. This, combined with always being on the move and shepherding Bulbasaur results in a high mortality rate for Ivysaur. This is important to the ecosystem, as a single Venusaur is very taxing upon its environment, so populations must be kept low if possible.

Ivysaur are the main vectors of reproduction among the herd, as although Venusaur can reproduce they are too busy and rare to consistently do so. Once a season, generally before winter sets in, the Ivysaur rut and reproduce among themselves. Unlike other Pokemon they do not quarrel to display dominance, but reproduce and copulate amicably as if it were a duty to do so. When they hibernate, they germinate their eggs within themselves along with nutrients stored for the spring, and come spring they proceed to lay their eggs. Ivysaur have an average lifespan of around fifteen or so years in the wild, accounting for all of their trials.
Lastly are the Venusaur. Venusaur are slow Pokemon of high patience and wisdom, having been among the rare few Ivysaur to live long enough and accumulate enough power to evolve into their final state. Venusaur are known for their cooperative personalities, though they also have a bad habit of questioning what they perceive to be poor decisions. Although highly unlikely to become violent towards their trainer, they may become obstinate if a lack of intelligence or forethought in decisions are made. Still, the safety of being around them has made them popular for a reason, and Venusaur attacks are extremely rare, only occurring under the most deliberate and extreme of circumstances.
In the wild, a Venusaur is a herd leader, and there are never more than three or four per herd. In fact, it is common for there to be only one. These Venusaur sit at the front or rear of the herd, protecting weak points. Wild Pokemon won’t bother a Venusaur, and rightly so, as they are incredibly mighty and ruthless to threats. A Venusaur does not let attackers live. They feel that a threat allowed to escape will return, so they finish them off with their powers.
Because Venusaur eat much, much more than the rest of the herd, they will leave if the herd is pressed for resources or has too many Venusaur. Generally, it is the youngest who will leave, and they will live solitary lives on their own. These solitary Venusaur are peaceful, thoughtful creatures that aren’t bothered, and don’t bother, others. They simply go where the food is.
Venusaur are the leaders of the herd, and if there are multiple, they kowtow to the eldest. They decide where the herd goes, when to move on, and take care of difficult decisions such as when to abandon a dying member of the herd. The herd must move in order to keep itself fed. As they do not move quickly, those who cannot keep pace are left behind. When a member of the herd grows too sick or injured to continue, the others will crowd around them and gift them their favorite things before abandoning them to their fate.

The only herds that remain exist in sanctuaries, wildlife preserves, and captivity. The behavior of these herds mimics those of the prior herds, but the limited space has changed their behavior. Because of this, some of what has been stated above may no longer be fully accurate, or is accurate only from a historical context.
Herds survive because of the even temperament of the members. They are rational and make decisions after careful deliberation. Venusaur believe that all difficult decisions should take a day to think over. Ivysaur are slightly more rambunctious and fretful, fearing for the herd’s safety at all times. The Ivysaur and Venusaur sometimes clash in decisions, but ultimately, they will adhere to the Venusaur. Rebellions or break-aways are all but unheard of unless the herd leader is incompetent or incredibly senile, and are rarely successful.
Herds are well known throughout their areas, so when a herd is wiped out, it is difficult to create a new one. Often, they are made by solitary Venusaur meeting and creating their own herd, using their strength and long lives to grow the herd over time. There were rumors of a hidden sanctuary of the herds, where Ivysaur and Bulbasaur congregated to evolve. As to whether or not these rumors are true is difficult to say, though certainly if there were any they are long gone.
While the herds of the past glories are gone, the legacy of them lives on the culture memories of the people. Many trainers owe their success to the steadfast Bulbasaur that accompanied them from the beginning, and came with them all the way to the end. That, and the fact that Bulbasaur has a type advantage to the first two Gyms if one does the Kanto Circuit via Pallet Town’s starting spot.

Intelligence: These Pokemon are intelligent, social, and critical thinkers, but they somewhat lack emotional intelligence in some places. Because of this, these Pokemon can be interpreted by many as being emotionally reserved. They don’t like to display ‘weakness’, which means that fits of intense emotion are very unusual for them. Some may dismiss this as cold, though the truth is they bottle it up. As Bulbasaur they are diligent, learning from their elders and absorbing all that they can like an obedient schoolboy.
Once a Bulbasaur evolves into an Ivysaur, they begin to consider themselves as wise, even moreso as a Venusaur. Venusaur think of themselves as guides, and have difficulty recognizing the fact they are wrong, for they tend to get an ego due to their power. However, this is rarely to the degree that it becomes an issue, rather that they are incredibly stubborn on the subject of yielding that they are perhaps wrong or misinformed.
For these reasons, we rate the family line a C on the intelligence scale.

The Food Chain: The entire Bulbasaur family line are herbivores, and ravenous ones at that. They feed on a varied diet of vegetation and fruits, with fruits in particular being seen as sweet and greatly cherished. They do not consume plant based Pokemon, save for particularly ravenous Venusaur who are starving. Sometimes however they will steal kills from other Pokemon, being opportunistic scavengers if the chance arises. Although they do not care for the taste of meat, food is food, and they are not picky eaters. Notably they will eat even the most rancid of weeds and plants, and their appetites are like that of goats.
Wherever a herd moves, they carve a swathe of vegetative destruction, eating all greenery before them. These Pokemon will spend most of their life eating and moving, often simultaneously. Yet where they go, they fertilize the ground, and they are taught to never eat the roots of a plant so that it may propagate even after eaten. So, although they temporarily destroy, they still are an important part of the ecosystem and help it to regrow.
The plant upon the back is meat-eating, but consumes small insects to sustain itself. It photosynthesizes in abundance, which helps to provide excess energy that this line absorbs as extra power. If left in the sunlight, these Pokemon can continue to exert themselves all day.
Though one would think this would make them good pack animals, they aren’t cut out for a life of physical labor in captivity at all. Although the Bulbasaur line is blessed with few predators, this does not mean that they have no threats. Poison-types that can bypass their poisons or Fire-types that can simply charbroil them remain their largest threats. Nidoking/Nidoqueen in particular are known predators of Venusaur, who can sustain themselves off of their meat for months.
Bulbasaur are born with poisoned flesh and toxic blood. Although not lethal to ingest, it ruins the taste, and causes great discomfort. As a result, only aforementioned types will prey upon these Pokemon. Bulbasaur in particular is the most vulnerable until it evolves, so the Ivysaur will always be by their side protecting them, ensuring they come to no harm. Still, accidents happen, but the general mortality rate for this species via predation is rather low.

Conservation Status: The Bulbasaur line is extinct in the wild, having been so for the past several decades. Originally the herds of this Pokemon would roam freely across the Kanto Region. However, with the sudden rapid urbanization of Kanto, the amount of free space for wild and roaming Pokemon like Venusaur, Ivysaur, and Bulbasaur began to sharply drop off.
These Pokemon were shot and seen as pests who ate crops, as well as hunted for their bulbs when in infant state, as it was said to be a potent ingredient in medicines. By the turn of the last century, there were perhaps as few as six-hundred of these Pokemon left in Kanto. By the thirties, shooting them was made illegal, though it was too late. The line was effectively extinct within fifteen years, but conservation efforts to save the species began in the fifties, with limited success due to lack of funding until the beginning of the trainer programs in the sixties.
Bulbasaur was selected as one of the three starter Pokemon, giving it a much needed boost in popularity and helping to save the species. Suddenly the money came pouring in. Campaigns to save the Bulbasaur were met with uproarious approval, which led to sanctuaries and investments from concerned and wealthy citizens. These sanctuaries aimed to give the Pokemon an optimal free-roaming environment, but the truth is that until they are properly re-introduced into the wild that there will never be an accurate portrayal of the herds as they were long ago.
Reintroduction attempts have been made in multiple regions, so far with little success. One herd roamed Kanto for around twenty years after being released in the nineties, but it has since died off after a particularly nasty Pokemon of undetermined typing tore them to pieces. The reason for the quarrel is unknown, but none of the herd survived, and may have been an act of poaching.
In captivity the line does well, but as it has been so long since the species was in the wild scientists fear that they are becoming domesticated and losing their wild instinct. Only time will tell how these Pokemon fair. At the very least, it is in no imminent danger of extinction.

For Pokemon Trainers: Bulbasaur is one of the three starter Pokemon available to those who enlist in the trainer program in the Kanto region. As a result, among Kanto trainers, especially those who select Pallet Town as their starting location and tackle Brock, Misty, and Lt. Surge first, it is a common sight to behold upon the routes of Kanto.
Bulbasaur is widely considered to be the easiest of the three starters to train. It is obedient, loyal, and steadfast to its Trainer, giving it a very good reputation as being reliable and solid in a pinch. As Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur it doubles down upon this, taking a sense of pride in its relationship to its trainer and seeing itself as a sort of second in command.
Even as a Bulbasaur, this Pokemon likes to assume a position of authority over the others in the group. Not in a bossy manner, but certainly as a leading voice. By the time they have evolved into an Ivysaur, they will generally become more assertive and confident in their role, which can potentially cause it to butt heads with those who do not like being bossed around so. They rarely become disobedient, sometimes even to a fault. Ivysaur is usually too young to consider that their beloved trainer may in fact be wrong on anything. The possibility often doesn’t occur to it.
When this Pokemon evolves into Venusaur, it adopts a bit of an ego. It doesn’t like to admit it is incorrect, but is rarely aggressive or confrontational. It does have a bit of pride to it though, so it will seldom back down from a challenge unless it sees the challenge as being ultimately pointless. Venusaur liken themselves as wise, coaches of lifes mysteries. Especially if they are still retained by their original trainer, they see themselves as the de facto leader of the team, and don’t like being questioned or disrespected.
Nevertheless, this creature’s preferred method of discipline is a stern word, not violence. This Pokemon’s even temper throughout its life is what has appealed to so many trainers before and since, because it makes it easier to manage than, say, a Charizard. You don’t see Venusaur going on rampages, and it takes a very poor trainer indeed to make these Pokemon rebel against their trainer.
A final note is that these Pokemon tends towards a morality of ‘good’, which means that they are seldom cruel or vicious. As a result, overly wrathful or violent trainers may have trouble with this Pokemon, especially if they prefer brutal battles. In the competitive scene, Venusaur is a popular pick for a Grass Pokemon, and one is currently in use by Erika in the Kanto League, as well as the legendary trainer Red.

For Pokemon Breeders: Bulbasaur and its evolved forms are one of the three official starter Pokemon for trainers in the Kanto region. This necessitates them as being an important breeding species. Breeders are paid handsomely to ensure plentiful stocks of Bulbasaur for young trainers, and of the three starters it is arguably Bulbasaur who is the hardest to breed. At the same time however, they are also the easiest to take care of, especially when compared to the notoriously aggressive horror that is trying to live with a Charmeleon.
Bulbasaur and their kin are patient and obedient, making them excellent for first time breeders who wish for a peaceful work environment. Despite this, this line reproduces both slowly and infrequently, procreating only a few times during its long life. This line becomes viable when they evolve into Ivysaur, and this is where the bulk of reproduction occurs. Only rarely does Venusaur reproduce, and in both cases the end result is Bulbasaur.
Ivysaur only produces one egg, while a Venusaur can create as many as a dozen. Therefore, trying to get these Pokemon to reproduce is an issue of time and patience. The line has little libido, which means that even after coupling it may be many, many years before the Pokemon actually begin the breeding process. Furthermore, the influence of the plant ensures that this Pokemon will receive passive suggestions to not reproduce if conditions are not ideal for their plant host.
The plant must be pollinated first before the host is allowed to procreate, which can further inhibit breeding efforts. This pollination is typically done by Bug Pokemon, even though the plant itself cannot reproduce unless Ivysaur or Venusaur reproduces. This necessity of requiring pollination before reproduction is thus believed to be vestigial, as it is of no benefit to the host or the plant whatsoever. Therefore, breeders must make sure that their Pokemon live in ideal conditions for this line if they wish to see any success stories occur.
Young Bulbasaur are not coddled unlike other Pokemon young. They are expected to fend for themselves within less than a year, and are given instructions by the Ivysaur in the group in how to do so. Child mortality is generally average for infant Bulbasaur, especially when they are first born and still adapting to their host.
Infection is the most common cause of death when the host plant and the Bulbasaur fail to properly bond, resulting in internal bleeding that is often exposed to pathogens as a consequence of the plant accidentally exposing its host. In general, however, Bulbasaur do not need much looking after once their first few months are over and done with.

House Life: The Bulbasaur Pokemon Line make adequate pets if one has the means to support them such as sufficient outdoor space. Because of the biological needs of this Pokemon to wander and its nomadic nature, this Pokemon does poorly in enclosed urban environments, especially if confined to an enclosed space for long periods of time. As it evolves from Bulbasaur all the way to Venusaur, its need for space increases. Therefore the line has often been referred to as a “rich man’s Pokemon”, simply because many people do not have the money to afford the space these Pokemon need to be happy.
As for attitude however, this line is very docile, if a bit stubborn later in life. Generally, if it makes it to Venusaur, this line will outlive its owner. Most Venusaur at this point will inhabit the wilds outside of their local city, not entirely accustomed to being fully wild but not willing to find a new owner. Thus, Venusaur found within the close confines of cities is a surprisingly more common sight than one would think, which always attracts trainers looking to catch one.
Bulbasaur does not require as much attention or maintenance as other Pokemon, especially among starters, and its independent and resourcefulness makes it adept for someone who cannot spend all of their time attending to a Pokemon’s needs. Many Pokemon from this line also become show Pokemon, who compete in competitions as their owners attempt to bloom the most fanciful Pokemon. These competitions are judged in three tiers, once tier for each evolutionary stage. The owners will try and cultivate all sorts of herb and foliage on their Pokemon, to varying stages of success. The winners of these competitions are those who manage to look the most exotic. As for the Pokemon in question, they generally think its very silly, but will happily take any medals they are awarded.

Health Hazards: As a Grass Type who is linked to their plant, this line’s most common health problem is a rejection of their host in the Bulbasaur stage. This can occur if the host is born prematurely or with pre-existing conditions, which results in a breakdown of the body. Sadly, in this case death is guaranteed, as neither Bulbasaur nor its trademark bulb can function without one another. The same goes for the rest of the line. If the plant dies, then the host dies too. To prevent this, owners should take care to ensure proper environmental conditions are always present for this line of Pokemon.
Arthritis is also a common issue for this Pokemon due its over-reliance upon its legs. Always moving, constantly working, its common for Venusaur to have joint problems the more they age, with some even popping up as early as when they are still Ivysaur. Standard treatment for arthritic Pokemon applies here, though it tends to be less effective upon this line.
A final noteworthy issue with their health is unwitting parasitism from the plant. In the event the plant feels threatened, it may attempt to drain vitality from its host as a means to stay alive, leaving the host weakened. Although rare, this can occur if the plant is exposed to longterm suboptimal living conditions. Parasitism is generally an uncommon issue because it jeopardizes the health of the host, and so long as the Pokemon is in good or even adequate care, it should not be an issue.

Fossil History: Bulbasaur and its line are the very last of an ancient lineage of creatures known as Dicynodonts, an ancient form of reptilian creatures that mostly died out long ago, only surviving within the Bulbasaur line. As mentioned prior, the symbiosis between Bulbasaur’s bulb and the parasitic plant is a more recent stage of development, with its ancestors being much simpler Pokemon believed to be of a different typing.
The Dicynodonts became widely extinct after the Early Triassic, but continued to survive in primeval Kanto while going extinct elsewhere. Slowly these species dwindled and died out except for a few animals and Pokemon until the great extinction of the Cretaceous wiped out the majority of their remainder.
Bulbasaur’s fossil history can be traced back roughly 30 million years ago when their ancestors were first infected. From there a rapid evolutionary change can be seen in its fossil history, with the modern Bulbasaur remaining mostly unchanged since 28 million years ago, aside from shrinking in size consistently throughout its line, save for Venusaur, which actually grew slightly larger. It is not clear as to why the Bulbasaur line survived while its relatives died out, but the general scientific agreement for now is simple blind luck.
The Dicynodonts are an unusual genus of Therapsids, a genus which includes modern day Mammals. Although a halfway point between amphibians and reptiles, Bulbasaur displays one mammalian trait in that it is warm-blooded. Although originally postulated to be an evolution to better help its plant, this is now understood to be a common trait shared between all Dicynodonts. Though the rest of its relatives may be gone, the Bulbasaur line remains an excellent look into the past through the eyes of a living fossil.

Summary: In summary, the Bulbasaur family is one which is dependable, reliable, and popular. It is an excellent first choice for a trainer, and an excellent choice for a veteran trainer as well. As a house pet it is a bit more difficult to manage if one does not have sufficient room, but if provided with its needs it will generally manage itself. Its agreeable temperament and ability to fend for itself have made it the simplest of the Kanto starters to manage, and has only led to its growing popularity, helped by the fact it is the first Pokemon in the National Pokedex. Being as safe a pick as one can theoretically get, it’s difficult to go wrong with Bulbasaur.