Reptile Salvation

Pythons are generally arboreal, that is, they occupy trees and broadly considered to be a longer lived snake and the ball python is no exception. They are the world’s largest snakes. Pythons are exothermic or cold blooded and can reach a length of 25 feet. Pythons are vertebrates. All pythons are members of the family Boidae. Unlike boas, pythons are egg layers.

Burmese Pythons are typically 18″ to 24″ long at birth. Burmese pythons are one of the largest snakes in the world, able to exceed 20 feet in length. These pythons are jockeying with the native alligators for the top spot in the in the Florida Everglades food chain.

African Rock Pythons are tan with brown spots that have black outlines.

Adult Ball Pythons are usually a little over one meter long, that’s 36 – 48 inches in American measurement. Ball pythons are popular due to their small size and docile temperament. They can also be anyone’s favorite snake to keep and breed. Ball Pythons are native to Central and Western Africa and are ‘crepuscular’ being most active at dusk and dawn. Ball pythons are one of the longest-lived snakes.

Reticulated Pythons are meeting extinction within the subsequent fifty years.

Pythons are also one of the few snakes that exhibit parental behavior. Most pythons are rather ill-tempered, contrary to the boas. Most pythons are terrestrial to semi-arboreal, and a few, such as the green tree python (Morelia viridis) of Australia and New Guinea, are strongly arboreal. The pythons are possibly the only species aside from humans that can take on alligators. Royal pythons are most operational at night, when they hunt for their food. Contrary to what one might think, pythons are gentler and easier to maintain than rats.

BOAS

Boas are a type of snake that is members of the Boidae family. These boas are very secretive and mostly nocturnal or crepuscular. Calabar Boas are a burrowing species, and rarely come above ground during daylight hours. Nearly all Halmahera Island Boas are wild caught; this species is hard to breed and even harder to rear. Boas are very strong, and can easily topple such a structure when moving about.

Pythons and Boas are both of the Family Boidae. Boas are known for their placid temperament, which make them ideal as pets. Boas are live bearers; a small litter of babies is born 6 to 8 months after mating. Red tail boas are a very tame and docile snake.

Boas are also non-poisonous snakes that usually reside in Central and South America and are from the same family as the python and anaconda. Emerald green tree boas are solitary. Generally Boas are much nicer in temperament. Boas are ambush predators and rely on this camouflage to capture their prey.

By: Arjun Mukherjee

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What can and can’t be consumed in today’s society is a very interesting field of discussion. Many different cultures eat all kinds of native flora and fauna which seem weird or barbaric or just plain gross in the perception of other cultures. From the eastern cat and dog industries, in which most westerners are completely torn between disgust and confusion for the practice to the lesser known snake or insect eating variety.

Eating the flesh of cows, chickens, pigs, and several other mainstream mean/poultry sources are some of the primary dietary intake for western societies. In India for example consumption of cows and pigs is considered very taboo due to India’s belief that they are sacred animals. While many cultures eat/and don’t eat various animals for survival, religious, ceremonial and various other reasons, who and why would a western country partake in what many consider taboo of eating an unconventional animal?

Many countries have animals on there coat of arms but no country in the world except one actually considers theirs food. Australia is that country, the Australian coat of arms consists of two animals both native to their soil. One is the koala and the other is a kangaroo, whilst the koala is protected by law as an endangered species due to the loss of habitat, the kangaroo is plentiful throughout Australia. There are several species of kangaroo and every so often they border on pest status as their population fluctuates up and down, occasionally calling for state or nationally sanctioned culling.

It could be the pest like nature and the similarity between kangaroo meat and beef that has caused Australia to be the only country in the world that eats its national emblem, but is that a taboo or is it more like a local delicacy that only borders on exotic and not in the realms of taboo. Whatever the exact motivations behind the production of kangaroo meat, if you ever happen to find yourself in Australia it is definitely worth it to experience the taste of a grilled national emblem!

By: Jake Stevenson

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Family: Cucurbitaceae

Genus: Trichosanthes

Species: cucumerina

Synonyms: Trichosanthes anguina

Common names: Snake Gourd, Snakegourd, Pointed Gourd, Serpent Gourd, Chinese Cucumber, Gualou

General Description: Snake Gourd is an annual climber with lobed, rich green leaves. It has white flowers that bloom in the summer followed by white striped slender fruit that turns orange when ripe. The unique fruit can be up to six feet in length. The lacy white flowers bloom only after dark. The genus Thichosanthes comes from the Greek and means “hair flower”, which describes the fragrant and delicately fringed white petals. This species is commonly grown for its use as a vegetable or use as a medicine.

Location: This tropical vine is native to southeastern Asia and Australia but is currently cultivated throughout the world.

Uses: Many parts of this plant are used including the fruit, seed and roots. The fruit is considered to be anthelmintic, emetic, and purgative. The seed are cooling. There are also a number of medicinal uses for Snake Gourd including use as an aphrodisiac, a laxative, and to treat worms. It can be used ot treat ailments such as wasting, thirst and fever. Another interesting use for Snake Gourd is the fruit can be used as a soap substitute.

Snake Gourd, which is part of the pumpkin family, is chemically very diverse. Peptides in the plant are used as an abortifacient in China. Alkaloids have also been reported in the family which, however, is noted for a class of compounds called the cucurbitacins. Saponins, sterols, and phenolics are also known.

This tropical plant is commonly eaten in Indian and other southeastern Asian dishes. It is a common ingredient in many curries.

Disclaimer: The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Any reference to medicinal use is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

By: Tony Mandarich

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If you’re living in the country or even in the city, the potential to be bitten by spiders or snakes are relatively high. One of the most common spiders, the House Spider has poisonous venom, can be fatal to certain people who are sensitive to those toxins. Hundreds of people are admitted to emergency room for spider or snake bites. Snakes are also known to be found in suburban areas of America and Australia. The potential to be bitten is low if you are bitten by snake, but there is always a chance that it can happen to you.

If you are bitten by a spider or a snake, there are 7 easy tips to remember:

1. Check for vital signs. Make sure the person is breathing and has a heartbeat. If not, contact the emergency services as soon as possible and follow ABC (air, breath, circulation) first aid rules. You may need to perform CPR if serious

2. Keep the person calm and still. If the person is moving and thrashing around, this may increase the spread of poison to their body.

3. Bandage the limb or affected area tightly from one extremity of the affected limb to the other. Also make sure to immobilize the limb with a splint. That is, you may need to splint the limb with a stick or strong branch to stop the limb from moving. Once done so, put the bitten limb lower than the heard and head. This is done to stop the poison from spreading any further to the vital areas.

4. Don’t try to **** the venom out. You can spread the venom to your mouth which can cause paralysis to your breathing..

5. Do not wash the skin, as the venom on the skin can be used to identify the anti-venom. It can also assist to determine the best possible management for the bite.

6. Contact an emergency service as soon as possible.

7. If possible, try to capture or/and kill the animal that has bitten you. This will help with the treatment of your bite. If you cannot, make sure you can describe what bit you.

By: Tito King

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Many people ask me how dangerous are snakes?

The answer is that snakes have accumulated as many myths as sharks over the years. Like shark stories, most general beliefs about snakes have very little foundation in the truth.

However, they still remain animals that have developed unique ways of defending themselves and should be given the respect that they deserve.

Snakes are wild animals that just want to live out their lives the way they were designed to. With the exceptions of a few species that live mainly in Australia and Africa, the vast majority of venomous snakes have absolutely no interest in humans and do not attack.

In fact, people who live in warmer climates have quite probably been within inches of a venomous snake and never known about it. Snakes will often give fair warning before striking by hissing or using their rattles. They do this because they do not want to waste their venom on species that are not their prey.

Humans have a macabre relationship with snakes that is not really justified. The mere mention of the word initiates an anxious reaction that is deeply embedded in our unconscious mind as a primeval defense strategy against unnecessary injury.

So what do you do if you or somebody else are bitten by a snake?

The first thing to do is to lie the person down and keep them still. That includes yourself if it is you who was bitten. By doing this we are trying to keep the pulse low. However this has limited effect because the anxiety one feels after snake bite raises the pulse. In saying that, running about most definitely makes matters worse.

The second thing to do is to identify the type of snake that bit the person in question. If you can’t identify it make a mental note of exactly what it looked like.

Get some ice if possible and put it on the lesion. Keep the injured part of the body as still as possible. Apply a splint if you have suitable materials at hand.

Get medical help. Use your mobile phone to call an ambulance. If the ambulance station is far from where you are, ask for a helicopter or failing that start to drive in the direction of the ambulance. mark your car in some way that the ambulance will recognize you. e.g. use a shirt as a flag. Call the police they may be closer to your area. If you are in a park or wilderness call the ranger service. They may keep anti venom.

Meet the ambulance half way and transfer the patient to the ambulance.

NEVER attempt to **** the poison out or cut the wounded area. You may poison yourself and cause the venom to disperse more quickly. Only apply a tourniquet or any other type of blood flow restriction device if you are advised to do so by a medical professional.

Facts about Bites:

Normally a snake will strike very quickly and will inject about 1/2 – 1/4 of a drop of venom from each fang.
Venom takes time to mix with the blood. You can demonstrate this by taking taking a glass of water and gently placing one drop of ink onto the surface of the water. You will notice how it takes a long time for the ink to mix throughout the water. Venom is the same. The venom is somewhere embedded in the tissue. It needs some time for it to spread evenly throughout the body.

If you are going into a wilderness, let the authorities know where you are going and when you are expected back. Take distress flares with you and find out if you will have reception for your mobile phone. Find out where help stations are situated, including emergency telephones.

Wear sensible boots, Do not turn over logs and rocks. Do not sit down without first checking the area and especially do not lean on fallen trees or rocks without checking them well first.

Do not be tempted to touch wildlife including snakes. Give them a wide girth, keep clear. Do not leave your boots outside of your tent at night, snakes like to crawl into places for protection from the cold.

Do not leave food scraps because they will attract the local rodents. Snakes follow their food source which is small animals, especially rodents. No rodents equals less chance of snakes.

If you don’t have a tent, sleep above ground in a hammock if you can. Follow these simple rules and your chances of being bitten are much less.

Remember! of you are going to work in your garden or pick something up in a place that has good camouflage for snakes like under bushes, among leaves, rocks or timber test the whole area gently with a long stick first.

By: Andrew Routledge

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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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Kelly Marshall asked:


A few short years ago, feeding your dog was so much easier as compared to today’s nutritional advice. I remember when my father’s dog ate whatever the whole family would eat, including apple cobbler! In addition to table scraps, he also enjoyed eating commercial dog food. My father’s dog had a happy life and lived well into his mid-teens without contracting any serious illness or disease.

Picking a commercial dog food was also easier back in the good old days. There were a limited selection of brands to choose from and these pet foods all had basically the same ingredients, only varying in color and flavor.

Today, however, there are so many varieties to choose from. The following list below are some of the popular commercial foods available for your dog:

Vegetarian Food For Your Dog

Most people don’t realize that vegetarian dog foods allow vegetarian dog owners to exercise their dietary beliefs with their dogs. Vegetarian foods include all of the necessary vitamins and nutrients that your dog needs, just as long as they are properly made. In addition, a vegetarian diet is also great for dogs that are allergic to meat.

Raw Dog Food

Many dog owners believe that a diet of raw food is the healthiest way to feed their pet because this is the way wolves and other wild dog species ate. This belief has no scientific facts to value its accuracy. However, a diet of raw food can expose both you and your pet to dangerous bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli.

Giving Your Dog Therapeutic Food

Therapeutic dog foods have been the growing trend in dog food products in recent years. It is only available through a veterinarian and is prescribed for cases of preventive treatment, as an after-surgery diet, or for health problems, for example, like food allergies.

Try Organic Dog Food for Your Dog

Several dog food products found in the market have pesticides and other bad chemicals. If you want to give your dog food that is free of these horrible chemicals, you’re your dog organic food. Warning, the term “organic” can be very misleading, so make sure that you read the ingredients carefully before making your purchase.

Dog Food That Contains No Preservative or Natural Preservative

There are dog foods that contain preservatives in the form of artificial chemicals such as ethoxyquin, BHT, and BHA. These are added for two reasons in order to prevent the food from spoiling and keep the taste lasting much longer than traditional dog food. Some dog foods have natural preservatives such as vitamin C (often listed as ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (often listed as tocopherols).

The next time you buy a dog food, buy it with natural preservatives and make sure to thoroughly read the ingredients first to make sure that the preservatives are actually derived from nature instead of it being artificially synthesized.

Last but certainly not least, try buying dog foods that are free of any kind of preservatives. These products have be properly sealed in a cool, dry, bug-free place and used immediately to guarantee freshness.

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Jerry Yapkh asked:


Having a dog is not all about fun and play. Proper nutrition is a key element in the health and long life of your dog. A healthy dog is a happy dog. To maintain a healthy, balanced diet for your dog, you will need good dog food, common sense and a veterinarian. Dogs require six types of nutrients: water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Those commercial pet foods billed as 100 percent complete and balanced provide all of a dog’s requirements, except water. But all is not what it seems with commercial dog food. Don’t short change your dog’s health. Provide him with clean, fresh drinking water at all times. Water is the key to a dog’s ability to regulate body temperature.

Generally, the more a dog eats the more water it needs. Don’t be surprised if your dog drinks a lot in one day and less in another. If there is more water in the food, the dog needs to drink less. That is why dogs eating canned food usually do not spend as much time at the water bowl. Canned food contains about 75 percent water and dry food has about 8 percent to 10 per cent. However with all the scary dog food recall in 2007 and it is still happening today since there is no regulation that makes it compulsory for commercial dog food manufacturers to recall their pet food. So it is better to be equipped with recent knowledge and dog experts’ advice regarding feeding your dog with usual commercial dog food.

Do you know that…

Table scraps will not provide the balanced diet dogs need. Ideally, table scraps should not be fed. If you do offer them, table scraps should never make up more than 10 percent of the dog’s daily food intake. A point to remember is that it does not mean you must feed your dog food that human eat just because you want to avoid commercial dog food due to the recent pet food recall. You must know what food for human is suitable for your dog. Indiscriminately feeding your pet could be worse off. Feeding a dog raw eggs repeatedly can cause a deficiency of the vitamin biotin. Raw egg whites contain avidin, an enzyme that stops biotin from being absorbed into the body. Symptoms of biotin deficiency include dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), loss of hair and poor growth.

Although dogs enjoy meat, it is not a balanced diet. Raw meats may contain parasites, and cooked meat can be high in fat and do not contain a proper balance of nutrients. Some raw fish can cause a deficiency of the vitamin thiamine. Symptoms of a thiamine deficiency include anorexia (complete loss of appetite), abnormal posture, weakness, seizures, and even death. Raw salmon will also transit deadly parasites. Raw liver, fed daily in large quantities, can cause a vitamin A toxicity in dogs. This is particularly true if it is fed along with a complete and balanced diet already containing ample vitamin A.

Milk is a food and not a substitute for water. As a food, milk is incomplete and does not provide a balanced diet. It can be useful as a treat for some dogs; however, large quantities of milk may not be well tolerated. Milk contains lactose, which requires the enzyme lactose digestion. If the intestinal tract does not contain sufficient lactose, a high level of lactose can cause diarrhea. Small soft bones (such as pork chops or chicken bones) should never be given to dogs, as they may splinter and lodge in the mouth or throat.

Switching Dog Foods

You can’t switch dog foods overnight. Your dog may end up with gastric “distress”. It’s messy. So switch foods slowly. Start out with a ratio of new food to old in the 1:4 range. Monitor its intake and digestion. Choose a good quality food and stock up. If you change brands, do it slowly so that you do not upset the dog’s digestive system.

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