Reptile Salvation

Karen Gall asked:


When trying to choose the right pet lizard,  there are many things to consider.  With such a large range of pet reptiles to choose from there are many characteristics to consider also.  There are red eared sliders, Leopard geckos, Bearded Dragons, Iguanas, and Chameleon. After many hours of studying and researching, the bearded dragon was the one we chose as the right pet lizard for our family.

There are four basic things to consider when choosing the right pet lizard.

1. Size is a consideration.  Some lizards like the Iguana can grow as large as three feet which can cause quite a problem when trying to find housing for a lizard of this size. The bearded dragon reaches a length of 18-20 inches.

2. Bearded Dragons are docile and easy to care for. They are great for kids because they are usually awake during the day and sleep at night.

3. Small Beardies can start out in a 15 gallon glass aquarium with a heat lamp and UVB fluorescent light bulb. It is crucial for any type of reptile that you choose for a pet, that you have a UVB light for the absorption of calcium.  Without calcium, their bones will not form correctly.

4. Diet consists of crickets, meal worms and lettuce.  They are usually a very robust type of lizard and don’t require any type of special care other than a weekly bath and reptile calcium on their food.

Keeping your aquarium near a window does not give your reptile adequate lighting or heat.  Always use the proper light bulbs and heat lamp.  Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature for your Beardie. It should be between 85-100 degrees. This will maintain your pet reptiles metabolism for a good appetite and proper digestion.

Kansieo.com

Azlan Idris asked:


With so many choices on the market, how can you be sure you are feeding the right food for your dog? The information’s all there on the label, if you know what you are looking for. Look for the nutritional claim right up top.

Is the food 100 percent nutritionally complete? If so, it is for nearly all life stages. Growth and maintenance, on the other hand, is for early development, puppy foods are marked as such, as are foods for senior dogs.

Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. The first three or four ingredients will tell you the bulk of what the food contains. Look for the highest quality ingredients, like meat and grains, to be among them.

The guaranteed analysis tells you what levels of protein, fat; fiber and moisture are in the food, in that order. While these numbers are meaningful, they will not tell you much about the quality of the food.

Nutritional value is in the dry matter, not the moisture content. In many ways, seeing is believing. If your dog has bright eyes, a shiny coat, a good appetite and a good energy level, chances are her diet is fine. Golden Retrievers rarely skip their meals.

Some studies have shown that soaking food for a short period of time prior to being fed increases its digestibility and lessens the chances of gastric disorders such as bloat.

As dogs mature and slow down they no longer have the protein or caloric needs of younger dogs. The ingredients of the food should reflect these changes.

Caffeinated Content

Back in the late 60’s my parents still owned a lot of property, in fact they owned over 350 acres, and milked roughly 75 cows per day. One summer day I encountered something that I will never forget, in fact almost 40 years later the incident still remains strong in my mind.

On a lazy August afternoon I was out in a field with my dad, watching him work on the PTO shaft of a tractor, when all of a sudden my dad hollered for me to come to him. He had me climb up on the tractor, and listen to something. Hear that whistle he said, listen…. sure enough I soon heard what sounded like a wolf call, like when the teenage boys see a pretty girl go by, they whistle at them, will, this sorta sounded like that. The noise seemed to be coming from the top part of the field, which was a pretty steep hill. Dad, said, they do that a few times to try to lure people out in the open, or to come closer to them, before they attack.

What is it? I asked dad, a hoop snake, he replied. I’ve seen them twice in all of my years here on the farm. They grow up to 5 feet long and are thicker than a normal snake, they crawl to the top of fields and lay there silently watching for farm animals or even humans to wander into the fields below them. Once they spot a target they will start a series of whistling that can mimic a humans, this often causes the target to wander closer to the snake to investigate the whistling source.

Then the snake will tighten it’s muscles and will bend it’s self into a circle or hoop shape, and being to roll down the hill using its body and gravity to propel it’s self towards the intended target. As the snake is near the target, it leaps and thrusts it’s tail at the victim, on the end of the snakes tail is a very sharp hook or barb that can pierce through a piece of wood. Inside this barb is a strong poison, even stronger than a diamond back rattlesnake.

Dad and I listed and we clearly heard 4 distinct whistles coming from the field above, soon we could see a snake come rolling down the field in our direction. Dad started up the tractor and waited a bit as the snake got closer, as it neared us, Dad moved the tractor forward just as the snake passed by and flung it’s self in our direction. It missed both of us but the barb on it’s tail had become deeply embedded in one of the large tractor tires, punching a hole into it, allowing air to escape. Dad was quite upset, because the tires were very expensive and often were difficult to patch, so he climbed down off the tractor and killed the snake with a rock, while it was attached to the tire. He pulled out his pocket knife and cut off the barb, for me to see. It resembled a spine I had seen before in bullheads and catfish.

I have never seen a hoop snake after this incident, but to this day some folks around this area still mention them. I believe they are now very rare and seldom seen. Just like the small green grass snakes that live here, my brother and I saw one years back, but never again. Some folks say there are no such things as hoop snakes, will they are wrong, I seen one first hand, and I still have the barb that was embedded into the tractor tire back in the summer of 1969.

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

By: Robert Benjamin

About the Author:

Create a video blog…instantly.

ReptileFanatic44 asked:

this is a slidshow of exotic reptiles YAAAAA so ya

Caffeinated Content

Katie Gee asked:


So you are in the market for a pet frog, toad or salamander and you are wondering what your first step should be? We can spell it out in one word: RESEARCH. Because there are literally thousands of amphibians to chose from, before purchasing one you need decide which one is going to work best for you.

If you are thinking that an amphibian would make a great pet because they are low maintenance, think again. Some require specific temperatures, amounts of light, water among other things. So, you need to be sure that you are going to be able to give your new pet everything they need to be healthy and happy. Many require fresh food daily, so you can’t just throw in some insects for them to eat and go away for a three day weekend. You need to make sure that someone will be able to look after their dietary needs while you are gone.

We suggest that you begin to look at pictures of toads, frogs and amphibians on line, pick the ones that catch your interest and then begin doing research on them. This way you are getting one that is pleasing to your eye and fits into your lifestyle.

After you have chosen the amphibian you like, begin to research stores where they are sold. First, you want to make sure that it is legal to have the amphibian you want. It is actually against the law to own or sell certain types of amphibians. You want to make sure that you are buying from a reputable seller.

While we don’t discourage from buying online as there are many reputable sellers online, we do encourage you to check out local pet stores as well. If you have any problems, need additional information or supplies for you new pet, they are close by and you can get supplies when you need them instead of having to wait for delivery.

We also suggest you your plans for your new pet by a local Veterinarian. The Vet might have some helpful suggestions as to where to you can buy your pet and what will keep him healthy. Some cities have Veterinarian offices that specialize in amphibians and reptiles, which would be a great resource for you.

Now that you have these tips to get you started, it’s time for you to start researching your pet amphibian possibilities. With so many to choose from, you should have to problem finding the right pet for you. What are you waiting for? Start your research today.

Caffeinated Content

Snake proof boots, also often commonly referred to as just snake boots, are a great bit of outdoor clothing protection against venomous snake bites. But snake boots are also a little bit controversial, since there is some argument over whether or not they are necessary.

Some people say that normal hiking boots or regular cowboy boots can stop snake bites, but they’re not specifically designed for this and the difference between coming out of a snake bite completely unharmed or taking some major venom from a big rattlesnake is an awfully big difference to risk on a “maybe.”

Can normal cowboy boots stop a rattlesnake bite? Maybe. The answer you get depends on who you ask, and at least searching around online will give you answers on both sides of the field, so it’s hard to figure out who’s telling the truth, who isn’t, or if this is just one of those questions that has a lot of gray and no clear cut answer.

Snake proof boots, on the other hand, stop snake bites from pit vipers and any other type of venomous snake you might run into. Period, end of statement. These boots will stop a snake bite, while there is still a major debate over whether or not cowboy boots, or normal hiking boots, actually do the same or not.

If you are going to be in an area that is known for having a lot of venomous snakes, especially if you are “out in the boondocks” where quick medical attention might be impossible, why in the world would you trust your safety to normal hiking boots instead of snake proof hiking boots? Why wear normal rubber boots in the swamp, when you can be wearing snake proof rubber swamp boots?

The question on whether or not snake boots are really necessary might continue to rage on, but as to the question of whether or not snake boots are a scam, the answer is simple: no. This type of footwear is designed to prevent the wearer from being injected with snake venom, and that’s exactly what these specialty boots do.

Snake boots come in many forms, so whether it is for hunting wild turkey in a southern swamp, or going on a long adventure hike on the Appalachian Trail, there is a pair of snake proof boots that should be perfect for whatever you need them for. Why take a chance? Find a great pair of snake boots, and walk in secure confidence!

By: Shane Dayton

About the Author:

Caffeinated Content

Joseph Devine asked:


They need it hot, really hot. But some need it humid like the rainforest and others require a drier climate to mimic their desert biosphere. Herps, a group name for reptiles and amphibians, cover the spectrum in their needs. Whatever humidity level that your pet requires in their home, it is very important that you monitor and maintain it continuously. The wrong humidity level could cause your lizard or iguana to not shed their skin correctly, attract a severe fungal infection, or even pneumonia.

Controlling the moisture

There are three variables that determine the amount of moisture in the air of the enclosure or aquarium

· Ventilation
· Temperature
· Introduction of water in to the atmosphere

Ventilation

Tropical species do best in full enclosures with small side vents that conserve heat and humidity. Avoid using enclosures made of wood or pressboard for herps that require a high level of humidity. Wood may rot or swell when moist. Heat can escape more readily in glass and plexi-glass aquariums with wire mesh tops. It is better to keep desert and other species with low humidity requirements in these tanks.

Temperature

You should use at least two thermometers to monitor the temperature. Check them at least once each day to be sure the heat sources are working properly. Place one thermometer by the floor where it is the coolest and one by the basking area.

An ideal herp environment should be maintained through the use of multiple heat sources. Using an under-the-cage heat mat will keep the base temperature of the enclosure at the proper level. To provide a warmer spot, use a basking light or ceramic heater. Herps tend to do best when they have a gradient of temperature available in their environment so they can move from a warmer to a cooler spot for their comfort.

Introduction of Water

If the humidity in the enclosure is too low, there are several techniques you can use to add moisture into the environment. Pools give amphibians and some snakes the space they need to completely submerge themselves in water as well increase the humidity. Foggers are another device that add ambiance while increasing humidity. A low tech system is using a spray bottle to spray the enclosure with water at intervals. Be careful, and do not overdue this to avoid mouth rot and pneumonia.

For more information on humidity levels for reptiles and amphibians, visit your local St. Louis vet clinics at www.stlouisveterinarianclincs.com

Caffeinated Content