Reptile Salvation

BEZURCER asked:

This is the third video in our youtube channel where we are putting informational videos on some of our reptiles. This video is about our Bearded Dragon Spike and our Russian Tortious Mick it includes some tips about feeding and housing. … Bearded Dragon Russian Tortious Mick Spike Desert Habitat Exotic Reptiles Turtle Feeding Housing Care

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ReptileFanatic44 asked:

this is a vid of some very exotic reptiles and amphibians

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Tracy Pridemore asked:


One of the more popular exotic pets on the market over the years has been the boa constrictor. Some individuals are not aficionados of reptiles, but those that are enjoy boa constrictors for their grace, beauty, and strength. Snakes are relatively easy to care for, but special handling and maintenance is necessary for your safety as well as theirs.

Boa constrictor is a catchall term for several species of the reptile snake, some of which are endangered and protected. The two most common sub-species you will find readily available in the pet store are the red-tailed boa and the common boa constrictor. The lifespan of the average boa is twenty-five to thirty years, so if considering the animal as a pet you need to remember that it is a very long commitment. The average size for a full grown red-tailed boa constrictor is eight to ten feet long with a weight up to fifty pounds. Though generally docile in temperament, you should respect their strength at all times.

When selecting these pets you should generally opt for a captive bred animal. The snake breeds fairly readily in captivity and these animals are usually more healthy and docile than wild animals. All constrictors are either in the threatened or endangered category in the wild thus giving all the more reason to purchase a bred animal. When selecting a snake look for these signs of a generally healthy animal.

* alert

* strong body

* no loose skin

* tongue flicking

* clear skin

* no external parasites

* healthy scales

* no wounds

* reaction to handling by coiling and then relaxing after a bit

To house one, glass aquariums with a locking screen top will suffice for small to medium sized animals. Once the snake is larger a secure cage with a minimum floor space of ten square feet will be required. Line the bottom of the cage with paper towels, or a durable indoor/outdoor carpeting. Reptile bark may be used as well, but this is a more expensive way to go. Whichever method you use keep the bottom clean to retain the overall health of the snake.

The temperature of the cage provided to the boa constrictor is critical, so use very accurate thermometers to keep them within the ranges of eighty-two to ninety by day and seventy-eight degrees to eighty-five degrees by night. A slightly warmer “basking spot” of ninety to ninety-five degrees should also be available for the snake. Never allow the snake direct exposure to any heating element including heat rocks, constrictors are very susceptible to burns from such sources.

To feed one provide a separate enclosure other than the regular housing for this purpose. This creates an association with feeding somewhere other than the usual cage reducing the chance of an accidental bite when usually handling the animal. The smaller the snake the more often feedings need to occur. Usually every five to seven days for young snakes, ten to fourteen days for slightly older snakes, and adults needing fed every three to four weeks. Generally mice, rats, and rabbits are the best food and you should ensure the meal is no larger than the widest part of the snake. Once feeding has occurred do not handle the snake for twenty-four hours to ensure proper digestion.

A sturdy water dish is also required within the cage, as the boa will tend to bath during shedding to help with the skin removal. This will also add extra moisture to the air in the cage for the conditions snakes prefer. Another essential accessory is a place to hide, as well as a sturdy branch for crawling. These are two things which the animal needs to feel more comfortable and at home in their enclosure.

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jackie40d asked:

What a long 4 hours geez only 1 SUV came in and picked up 2 . . And the Exotic Reptiles and Prey is not open yet ! Darn it, was looking forward to the Komodo Dragon Lizard and throwing a small Ilegal alien in the pit with it LMAO … “Failure Salvador” “Illegal Day labor Center” “No Jobs” “No Money”

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Robert Herriman asked:


There are an estimated 3% of households in the United States that have pet reptiles. They are once again becoming a popular pet.

Salmonella is by far the most common and important disease transmitted by reptiles, in particular, turtles and iguanas. It is estimated that approximately 75,000 reptile-transmitted human infections in the U.S. annually.

There is a significant risk of having these types of pets, especially around young children. They are at a much greater risk of infection than adults for two reasons; they are at much closer contact with the turtle, and their handwashing habits frequently leave a lot to be desired.

Pet turtles have been recognized for decades as a major source of human salmonella infection. Turtles are usually healthy carriers of salmonella which shed the organism on an irregular basis in their feces.

There is widespread contamination of salmonella in turtle breeding and nesting areas. They get the bacterium either in the egg or after hatching.

There have been attempts to control salmonella by turtle farmers by using antibiotics; however the outcome has been unsuccessful and produced even more dangerous antibiotic-resistant strains.

Treatment of turtles is not recommended. With knowledge of possible health hazards andproper sanitation are usually all that required in preventing human infection.

In 1975, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the commercial sales of turtles of less than 4 inches in this country. A 77% decrease in turtle-associated salmonella infections were noted after the ban.

More than 90% of reptiles are asymptomatic carriers of Salmonella. This is related to the hatchlings eating the feces of infected reptiles which is usual behavior for iguanas and other lizards.

Those at greatest risk of serious infection are young children, the elderly, people immunocompromised or immunosuppressed either because of disease (AIDS) or due to chemotherapy , liver disease or pregnant.

What can be done to prevent infection?

1. Don’t keep a turtle or other reptile particularly if someone in the household is in a high risk group.
2. Wash hands thoroughly immediately after handling these pets.
3. Disinfect all areas the reptile comes into contact with.
4. Keep the pet away from the kitchen or other areas where food might be prepared or eaten.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

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Frank Robertson asked:


You may unknowingly give your pet dog food that is not healthy for them. Making your pet happy and providing the best that you can for them is one of the goals of a pet owner. When you love your pet you want them to get the best of everything that you can give them. You think you are doing right because the pet food companies lead you to believe that pet foods have healthy meats, vegetables and grains. But the part that they don’t tell you is that the so called healthy ingredients may be processed to the extent that they no longer contain any nutritional value.

So what can a loving pet owner do when they want to make sure that their beloved pet is getting real nutrition. They become informed of what is healthy for their animal. Some prepared foods can have nutritional value but very few of them do. A healthy alternative is making your dog’s food and treats at home. This can also be a cheaper alternative to the ever increasing price of prepared food.

Preparing food alternatives for your pet can have many benefits. The nutritional value is higher because the foods are not overly processed. You have more control over what your pet eats. For some pet owners, the self satisfaction of being able to make your dogs food is one of the greatest benefits.

Homemade dog foods are full of grains, meats and vegetables. You know this for a fact because you are putting these ingredients in the food yourself. For commercially made products, you left to having to believe that the ingredients are what the company says they are. Some ingredients are not regulated so you are not sure what it really is.

Making homemade pet food is not difficult. Most people don’t do it because they think that it will take too much effort. If you can make a batch of cookies, you can make dog food and dog treats. Just think of how you will feel knowing that you made what your pet is eating yourself. All you have to do is mix up a few ingredients, shape and bake. How easy is that?

There is only one drawback to making your own food; knowing what foods you can use as ingredients in the recipes. There are some foods that dogs really don’t need in their diet or can even be lethal in their diet. We all know that chocolate, tea and other caffeinated products can harm your beloved pet. Did you know that onions and garlic can be just as dangerous? Too much can be toxic. Too much liver can cause a vitamin deficiency.

Once you understand what you can use for your pet, then you can make a quality homemade dog food and healthy treats that you’re pet will love. These treats will be made from soy flour, pureed vegetables (such as those found in baby food), pieces of meat and cereals. The meat can be processed in a food processor to make it easier to work with. Knowing that you can easily make a healthy alternative to commercial dog foods can make the effort worthwhile.

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Michael Lee asked:


With all the new and controversial pet food recalls, it is no wonder that pet owners have preferred making homemade dog food for their pet animals in lieu of commercial and, quite possibly, bad dog food and cat food considered as contaminated. So what’s all the fuss about? What unlikely result can bad contaminated dog food do to your pet dog, and more importantly, what can you do keep it from happening? Just what are in these supposedly good dog food that has got pet owners in an uproar?

We humans are discouraged from consuming too much canned goods for various health reasons. The same holds true for dogs.

Moist dog food is packed in cans. You can just think of all the harmful ingredients injected into the dog food package, mostly to bring a good taste, enhance palatability, and even improve appearance.

What’s truly disconcerting is the fact that animal by-products, the main components of pet food, are already bombarded with chemicals long before they reach the processing plant. So even if the can’s label tells you otherwise, there’s really nothing like a ‘No Preservatives’ guarantee.

Dry dog food is even worse. And because canning in itself is already a preserving process, moist dog food contains less of the contaminated materials used to prolong shelf life compared with its dry counterpart.

Another problem is the ingredients themselves, usually meat, poultry, and grains. Any part which is not good for human consumption, such as innards, blood, and bones, make up the by-products that are ground and blended into what we know as commercial pet food. In reality, they are bad dog food.

The thing is, it is not always slaughtered animals that make their way into these meals, but oftentimes, unhealthy meat of farm animals are included also. And the drugs and bacteria, like Salmonella and Escherichia coli, thriving in these meats do not always die during product making, which incidentally, destroys much of the nutritional content as well.

Furthermore, when moldy grain is thrown in, as well as all the other synthetic and unnatural additives the numbers of which are too many to count with both hands, you then have a lethal canine cocktail. It doesn’t take a genuine nutritionist to know that this spells disaster for the end user, i.e., innocent little Fido.

Injurious outcome of bad dog food include vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. But that’s just for starters. The more dangerous toxins, like cf1 butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin, which are all permitted in small doses, can cause cancer, organ failure, and ultimately, death when ingested after sometime.

So what can you, the dog owner, do about all this? Voice your concerns. Call pet food manufacturers and demand for better quality products so you get your money’s worth. Better yet, try making your own homemade dog food. At least then, you can be sure about what your loving dog is actually eating. If you have any doubts on the food you’re feeding your dog, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Your ever-loyal and devoted dog needs everything but mouthful presence of contaminated bad dog food. Don’t you think it’s time you showed him just that?

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Jason Oh asked:


What are the Dog Food Secrets that most dog owners are not aware of?

Most, not all commercial dog food are junk!

It is stuffed with fillers, meat by-products, chemicals and
preservatives, with one primary function; to sell commercial dog food to
unsuspecting dog owners.

Unfortunately, most dog owners do not realize that feeding their family
dog with a commercial dog food causes more harm than good. They are led
to believe that the food product is filled with nutritional
requirements.

In fact, dog owners are poisoning their pet dog everytime they are fed
with the so-called pet food.

Veterinarians and dog nutritionists tell us that many commercial dog
foods have inadequate proteins, fats vitamins and minerals.

Commercial food products are made from harmful ingredients that are
simply unhealthy and a hazard to your dog’s health and longevity.

Dogs have simple stomachs and short digestive tracts for digesting meat.
They also lack the saliva enzyme amylase, which is necessary for
pre-digesting starch.

Essentially dogs need the following ingredients in their food-

- Healthy animal fatty that is easily digestible and easily metabolized
as a source of energy. Poultry such as chicken or turkey have more
unsaturated fatty acids and are more suitable for dogs.

- Vegetable oils, such as soybean oil, lecithin corn oil, wheat germ
oil, sesame seed oil or linseed oil all contain high levels of linoleic
acid, an essential fatty acid for dogs.

- Carbohydrates is another important nutrient. Sources of carbohydrates
can be found in rice, oatmeal, corn or wheat. These are easily digested
when properly cooked.

- Fibre, a complex carbohydrate is essential for proper digestion and
stool formation. Beet pulp, tomato promace, rice, soy hulls, oat hulls,
and wheat bran are good sources of fibre.

- Vitamin and mineral is an absolute nutritional necessity for dogs.
Although the vitamins and minerals make up less than 2% of the total
food by weight, they provide some of the most crucial nutrients. These
include 12 to 16 vitamins and 15 to 25 minerals.

Do not add food supplement, or vitamins, as it will cause more harm than
good.

The next time when you buy your favorite dog food, think carefully and
ensure the above essentials are in your dog food.

And if you want to extend your dog’s life, read ‘Dog Food Secrets’.

Avoid harming your dog.

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BBCWorldwide asked:

South America has probably one of the most rich eco systems in the world, supporting hundreds of rare species. The Planet Earth team investigates the growing concern over species extinction in this eductational video from the BBC.

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