So you’ve finally made the decision that you’re going to get your first pet reptile – but where do you even start?

Well luckily it’s not as hard as you may have thought initially.

The first factor to consider is what you can provide to your new pet. Consider factors such as the size of cage you could safely accommodate and the food you would feel comfortable giving. Could you feed live insects to a reptile, or a dead mouse? Or is the most you could stomach a salad?

Also consider the time you have available – not just right now – but try your best to make predictions about the future. Too many people buy a new pet reptile and end up having to put it up for rehoming because a job promotion means they don’t have suitable time any more or they have decided to start a family and a 2 meter long iguana isn’t the safest pet to have in the house with a young child.

The final thing from your perspective to think about is what you would like from your new pet. Are you expecting something you can safely handle on a regular basis? Or are you looking for an animal to go in a breathtaking display in your living room?

These factors alone will greatly help you reduce down the number of potential species on your hotlist, and the fact that you are new to keeping reptiles also means it would be foolhardy to try and keep any of the more difficult to care for species.

Once you have made a decision on the most likely animal for you, the next step is to read up everything you can on it. Find out the size and type of housing necessary.

Find out about what to feed and how often. Also find out where you can get that food from locally to you.

If possible, visit discussion forums or local reptile stores to ask questions to experts who can ensure you are fully prepared for this exciting new responsibility.

Once you feel you have a reasonable grasp on the species you are planning to keep it is a matter of buying and setting up the housing so you can be sure everything is working smoothly before you actually bring home your new captive.

This includes the installation of heaters, lighting, substrate and so on and monitoring it for a period of time to ensure the temperature and humidity remain suitable for your reptile.

When you are happy all this is place it is time to actually buy your pet. Ensure you go to a reputable pet store or specialist breeder for your animal – selecting one that is captive bred rather than wild caught if at all possible. Captive bred animals generally have fewer problems and so make a better starter pet – not to mention not depleting wild stocks of reptiles.

Ensure you choose a bright, healthy animal and allow him or her suitable time to settle into their new home before you start getting them out to play.

Lastly, ensure you find a local reptile-specialist vet so that if you should have an emergency you know there is someone you can call for professional help.

The Drawbacks to Owning a Pet Frog

Perhaps the largest drawback to owning a pet frog is the fact that many types of wild frogs are facing problems with extinction and general decline in population. Since this decline is largely due to human activities such as the pet trade, it is essential that you only purchase those frogs that are not experiencing population issues. This way, you can be certain you are not contributing to the decline of that particular frog breed’s demise.

Another drawback to owning a pet frog is the fact that their habitats can be quite difficult to keep clean and healthy. While the humidity, temperature and lighting requirements are simple for most frogs, many are very sensitive to waste and other contaminants in their habitats. Therefore, you have to be particularly careful about keeping the area clean. It is also important to keep these special captivity needs in mind if you are someone who enjoys traveling on a regular basis, as it can be difficult to find someone to care for your frog while you are away.

Feeding your pet frog can also be a difficult endeavor. In most cases, you will need to handle insects to feed your frog. If you are squeamish, you might not enjoy this part of frog ownership. If you have a larger frog, you may even need to feed it pinky mice, which can be a disturbing process if you are an animal lover.

Another potential drawback to owning a frog is its long lifespan. While it is nice to know that your pet will likely be around for 4 to 15 years, or perhaps even longer, it is important to note that you are taking on a very long commitment when you bring home a pet frog. Therefore, before you purchase one at the pet store, make certain you are prepared to take care of it for many years to come.

Special Considerations When Buying a Pet Frog

In addition to considering the potential drawbacks of frog ownership, there are several other things you should keep in mind before bringing one home. First of all, you should make sure to do plenty of research on the particular species you are buying. This way, you can be certain you are setting the habitat up properly and you can get everything set up before you bring your new pet home.

You should also consider the size of the frog. Just because the frog is small now, it doesn’t mean it will stay small for long. Be sure to purchase the right sized habitat and equipment to accommodate the size of your frog now as well as in the future

Most people, when they hear the word snake, have feelings of fear. While most snakes are actually quite gentle creatures, their features in horror books and film have given us an unreasonable view of these reptiles.

If you put aside the reputation they have gained and take a look at them with an open mind, you will see that many snakes can make wonderful pets. Though they are not the right pets for everyone. Snakes have some very specific requirements with food, shelter, temperature and handling and commitment. Before purchasing a snake for a pet, it’s a good idea to do research on the type of pet snake you’re looking for and what care and commitment requirements they may have. If you are worried about getting a pet snake because of having to handle the snake itself, many snakes are quite tame with proper handling.

Out of the diverse variety of snakes, however, there are only a few that will make good pets. These excellent types of pet snake range from garter snakes to more exotic snakes like the ball python.

Each species has its own unique needs and care instructions. When deciding on the type of snake you want, you need to consider these needs before getting your snake as a pet. The things you might want to consider are things like life span. How large the snake that you choose will get. Some snakes can get very large, so if you don’t have a lot of room, you may want to choose a pet snake that will stay smaller in size. Not matter what type or size of snake you choose for your pet, make sure you get a secure enclosure. Snakes have an uncanny way of getting out cages. If you don’t want to have to chase your snake around, make sure you get a cage that latches securely.

When choosing your snake, choose a reputable breeder and choose captive breeds over wild. Captive-bred snakes are tamer, easier to handle, and usually better eaters. They are also not prone to some of the illnesses you’ll find a wild snake prone to. Another consideration is feeding. Wild snakes will be used to live prey, making it harder to get them to eat already killed prey. Captive-bred are usually started on already killed prey so are less likely to refuse to eat. Also, already killed prey means less chance of injury to your snake and can be bought frozen. So you don’t have to raise and kill the food of your snake.

Of the snakes to choose from for pets, look at king snakes, corn snakes and ball pythons. The king snakes and corn snakes usually live about 20 years. So be ready for a commitment.

Turtles are one of the most popular, exotic and fascinating creatures available in a pet store. If you are thinking of adopting a pet turtle, your main prerogative must be to be well informed and aware of the techniques for creating a suitable habitat for your turtle, including a dry area and a wet area. Did you know that turtles can live up to 40-50 years old? You pet’s going to be your companion for most of your life. Don’t they deserve the best possible care you can give them? To ensure that your pet turtle is delivered high maintenance and proper care, you need to be well endowed with the basic information regarding your pet turtle’s care, treatment, diet and factual data.

Pet turtles flourish the best when they are kept outside in the open. Turtles are animals that indulge in hibernation during the winter months and if they are confined inside during those months, they will not but obviously not hibernate as they will not know what time of the year it is. In case they fail to hibernate, it may invite unwelcome health ailments of the liver. Further, pet turtles must be permitted to stay out in the natural environment to enjoy heat of the sun, graze on grass and marvel in the fresh surroundings.

If you decide otherwise and keep your pets largely indoors, then make sure you provide at least a forty gallon tank size in which your turtle can swim around freely. This is essential because there needs to be enough elbow space for a water only area as well as a dry land area and sufficient room between the two for the turtle to survive comfortably. A minimum of 1/3rd of the tank must be devoted to land and a part of this dry land must have direct access to rays provided by a UV light. The best way to offer this is to have large, flat rocks under the lamp that gives the turtle ample area to bask themselves. A temperature of about 80 degrees during the day and 70degress during the night must be regulated and maintained.

Unfortunately but true, turtles are not pets that are meant to be played with. They are best to be observed and watched from a distance through the walls of the tank. Turtles are cold blooded pets and hence it takes them a while to adapt to change in temperature. Taking a turtle out from its comfortable warm tank gives them quite a shock and could also hurt their immune system. Proper turtle care and maintenance commands for it to be as unchanging and predictable as possible. Most turtles, both land and water based, require a similar diet consisting of fresh, leafy greens and vegetables. Some kinds of land based turtles such as the box turtles or tortoise do not demand very extensive habitats and a very basic but safe enclosed outdoor housing is sufficient. Other turtle and terrapins, by contrast require both a dry as well as a wet environment.

Caring for and tending to turtles can be extremely rewarding and satisfying provided it is executed with a sense of commitment and integrity. If you are looking for a quiet and serene but still an exotic and affectionate animal to raise as a pet, you must consider a turtle. Most pet owners are ultimately satisfied with their decision and despite the fact that turtles are not huggable and cuddly pets, they exude warmth and love like any other four legged pet.

Generally when choosing cage accessories for your pet lizard, you want things that closely resemble the type of environment your pet lizard comes from in nature. Even though your reptiles are usually bred in captivity, you still want them to feel secure in their surroundings and have the terrarium be pleasing to the eye.

Always buy your cage accessories from a reputable reptile supply company. You don’t want to purchase items that have been brought in from outside without being properly treated. Many items purchased in a pet store are made out of resin. The resin rocks are easy to sterilize especially if you have more than one cage, and you want to move the accessories from cage to another.

Bearded dragons love the smooth grape vine branches that have been specially treated for the purpose of your pet lizard basking under a heat lamp. Make sure the branch is not so tall that your lizard can burn it self under the lamp.

Never use heat rocks for your pet lizards. Heat rocks can cause severe burns and cause internal damage to your reptile. Always use a heat lamp that your lizard can bask under.

Substrates are another consideration when accessorizing your reptile cage. Cage carpets are a favorite since they are easy to clean and if you have more than one, you can replace the carpet while the other is drying. Other substrates are clean white paper, calcium sand, and rabbit pellets.

Don’t use substrates that a lizard cannot digest like corn cob bedding,wood chips or any type of shavings. These types of bedding are not designed for your pet reptile, snake or lizard. When your pet lizard tries to eat a cricket, some of the shavings or bark could be ingested at the same time, and cause a bowel blockage. This can severely injure your pet lizard.

The only type of sand that is safe for bearded dragons is the calcium sand. It will say that is safe for pet lizards. Again use caution when purchasing sand for your hatchling Beardie. If too much sand is ingested, it can cause terminal internal damage.

The safest and easiest substrate is either the reptile carpet or clean white paper. We chose the green reptile carpet with a heavy resin basking rock than gives our Beardie something to hide under along with a grape vine branch that she loves to hang out on.

Fish tanks have intrigued people for a lot of years. Nowadays, it can be simpler than ever before to possess your own home fish tank setup by having an aquarium along with a great collection of fish. However which size aquarium is the most suitable?

Fish tanks vary from the ultra small 2 gallon size which you could most likely only hold a pet snail inside into the enormous 1000 gallon fish tanks that could possibly occupy almost your entire garage! An aquarium that is around 50 gallons will be within the huge end of the readily available dimensions of fish tanks, however it does include several benefits over scaled-down fish tanks.

It could appear peculiar, but the 200 litre aquarium tank, should you have the space for one, is literally less complicated to manage compared to the smaller tank. There is certainly sufficient water within the system continually flowing via filters, plus it usually takes a longer period for the levels of nitrates along with other contaminants to build up. In addition, it simply seems far better since you could keep more fish and admire them from various perspectives. The 200 litre aquarium tank can be a kind of self-sustaining eco-system on its own unlike a compact tank which would rapidly turn out to be filled with waste products as well as leftover foodstuff. There is certainly a lot more things you need to know than this, though the standard guideline would be to purchase the biggest aquarium tank you are able to simply because they are less complicated to look after, and also you will not likely ” to “outgrow” a huge aquarium as easily as a smaller one. Expanding the tank can be traumatic for you and your fish hence begin using the biggest tank you have enough money for and also have space for.

Using a larger aquarium tank will also allow you to have the choice of it becoming freshwater or even saltwater. The saltwater aquarium usually requires much more work than the usual fresh water aquarium, but you could place really gorgeous fish inside it upon having it operating smoothly. Therefore, a freshwater aquarium will probably be the best option if you are a novice at fish keeping. Once you have comprehended the fundamentals and have researched more about saltwater aquariums, you could utilize the 200 litre aquarium tank as a saltwater setting rather than a freshwater one.

One thing you will need to consider is the area a 200 litre aquarium tank will take. They can indeed be really huge and extremely bulky after it is filled with water and gravel, hence you will require a safe spot to position the tank plus a really good and solid fish tank stand to hold the tank. A suggestion which several aquarists is likely to make is to avoid facing the tank towards the window which gets direct sunlight as the excess light may warm the tank which might lead to a lot more algae growth.

Should you be just beginning in fish keeping, a 200 litre aquarium tank might appear challenging, but trust me, you are going to be joyful that you opt for the bigger dimension tank. Smaller fish tanks are more difficult to manage, particularly controlling the water parameters. However, the 200 litre aquarium tank could be a must-see and masterpiece of design when taken care of properly. No matter what size of tank you select, make sure you take care of it properly.

Most people, when they hear the word snake, have feelings of fear. While most snakes are actually quite gentle creatures, their features in horror books and film have given us an unreasonable view of these reptiles.

If you put aside the reputation they have gained and take a look at them with an open mind, you will see that many snakes can make wonderful pets. Though they are not the right pets for everyone. Snakes have some very specific requirements with food, shelter, temperature and handling and commitment. Before purchasing a snake for a pet, it’s a good idea to do research on the type of pet snake you’re looking for and what care and commitment requirements they may have. If you are worried about getting a pet snake because of having to handle the snake itself, many snakes are quite tame with proper handling.

Out of the diverse variety of snakes, however, there are only a few that will make good pets. These excellent types of pet snake range from garter snakes to more exotic snakes like the ball python.

Each species has its own unique needs and care instructions. When deciding on the type of snake you want, you need to consider these needs before getting your snake as a pet. The things you might want to consider are things like life span. How large the snake that you choose will get. Some snakes can get very large, so if you don’t have a lot of room, you may want to choose a pet snake that will stay smaller in size. Not matter what type or size of snake you choose for your pet, make sure you get a secure enclosure. Snakes have an uncanny way of getting out cages. If you don’t want to have to chase your snake around, make sure you get a cage that latches securely.

When choosing your snake, choose a reputable breeder and choose captive breeds over wild. Captive-bred snakes are tamer, easier to handle, and usually better eaters. They are also not prone to some of the illnesses you’ll find a wild snake prone to. Another consideration is feeding. Wild snakes will be used to live prey, making it harder to get them to eat already killed prey. Captive-bred are usually started on already killed prey so are less likely to refuse to eat. Also, already killed prey means less chance of injury to your snake and can be bought frozen. So you don’t have to raise and kill the food of your snake.

Of the snakes to choose from for pets, look at king snakes, corn snakes and ball pythons. The king snakes and corn snakes usually live about 20 years. So be ready for a commitment.

Rabbits are popular pets during the Easter season, but there are many things you need to know about keeping a rabbit as a pet before you bring one home. While they can make for great house pets, they do require special care and attention in order to live a long and healthy life.

Bonding with Your Pet Rabbit

Aside from the fact that they are cute and cuddly, rabbits make good pets for a number of reasons. For example, they are very social animals and are generally very tame, particularly if they are handled gently on a regular basis. Rabbits also have a tendency to form tight bonds with their owners and they can be very fun to play with and to watch. Rabbits generally do not care for being held, though they do enjoy spending time sitting next to their owners. In addition, since they are very social creatures, you need to be certain to provide them with attention and opportunities for exercise on a daily basis.

Feeding Your Pet Rabbit

In order to stay healthy, your pet rabbit will need to follow a diet that includes a variety of different foods. Rabbit pellets alone are not enough for a healthy diet, as rabbits also need to eat plenty of roughage such as fresh vegetables and hay. You should not feed grass from your lawn to your rabbit, however as it may contain pesticides, herbicides or other harmful chemicals.

Training Your Pet for Life Indoors

If you plan to keep your pet rabbit inside, you should also take a few steps to keep both your pet and your home safe. For example, keep toys and other small objects out of reach of your rabbit so your rabbit can’t chew on them. Not only is this a safety issue, it can also result in some of your favorite items getting damaged.

You can also prepare your pet for life indoors by litter training your rabbit. Although litter box training isn’t quite as simple as it is with a cat, a little time and patience will help your new pet learn how to use the litter box properly. Keep in mind, however, that rabbit urine tends to be very strong and it can be difficult to clean if it is allowed to dry up. Therefore, you should be prepared to clean the litter box on a regular basis. You can also help reduce the odor by having your pet spayed or neutered. In addition, if your rabbit does urinate somewhere outside of the litter box, you may need to use a vinegar mixture to get the mess cleaned up.

If you plan to put your rabbit in a cage at night or while you are away from home, you should avoid the traditional rabbit cage with a wire floor. While this flooring is designed to help make cleaning easier, the wire can cause sores to develop on your pet’s feet. Rather, cover the floor with a sisal mat, a piece of wood or other solid flooring that will be more comfortable for your pet.

Oxbow cavy cuisine, which is a timothy hay-layered pellet food, a guinea pig in adult stage will enjoy this food and it will promote good health. Should your guinea pig be a little under 10 months old, the recommended diet for this age group will be alfalfa hay- layered pellet based food. A guinea pig that is mothers-to-be and is nursing requires a higher protein and calcium consumption, which is where Cavy Performance plays its roll. Certain guinea pig chow contains artificial colors which have a bad influence on your guinea pig and makes them hard to please should they eat this kind of food. Guinea pig mixed feeds also consist of nuts and seeds; these are high in fat and are not healthy for guinea pigs.

It is recommended to always serve food in a heavy ceramic bowl, as to prevent it from been tipped over while eating. The sides of the bowls should be high enough to hold back the bedding and fecal pellets. Washing the bowl after every meal is strongly advised and you also have to make sure that the bowl is well dried before adding fresh food. A guinea pig however is more concerned about what contents are in the bowl more than the cleanliness. Water should be made easily available and free from contamination; you may do this by supplying more than one bottle of water which should be equipped with “sipper” tubes. Water bottles tend to become contaminated and clogged as the guinea pig chews on the end of the sipper tube and backwashing food particles up the tube.

Should you notice that your guinea pig is picking up a bit of weight, this could be the result of eating too many pellets, either out of boredom or they are lacking in exercise. Preferably decrease the amount of food, a guinea pig can fill up on hay and their daily vegetables, these foods are not fattening rather very healthy. Weighing your guinea pig on a daily basis and keeping a record of the weight of your guinea pig. Should you be concerned about your pigs’ weight, either a decrease or an increase in excessive amounts, veterinary advice is recommended.

When purchasing food, guinea pig recommended quantity is 2 x 4kg for a few weeks for the average amount of 5 guinea pigs.

A gradual change has to be made when introducing food; a guinea pig can be at risk to sudden changes in its diet, when first been introduced to a more solid foodstuff this in turn may make their tummies upset. Failure to introduce food at a gradual level usually results in refusal of water and food; this may lead to a disease. Towards new food; a guinea pig in general is a creature of habit and does not handle change to scent, surface, flavor, arrangement or appearance very well.

Even if you should store pellets in a cool, dry place, about half of the vitamin C content is ruined and lost probably within 6 weeks after purchasing.

Recommended food, as a guinea pig requires a lot of vitamin C can be found in;

Recommended Food                Calcium per ratio

Watercress                                            2:1

Turnip Greens                                       4.5:1

Swiss Chard                                         1.1:1

Squash                                                1:1

Spinach                                               2:1

Mustard Spinach                                     7.5:1

Kale                                                2.4:1

Dill Weed                                           3.2:1

Dandelion Greens                                    2.8:1

Loose Lettuce                                       2.7:1

Lambs Quarters                                      4.3:1

Cabbage                                               2:1

Beet Greens                                           3:1

Chinese Cabbage                                     2.8:1

Cilantro                                            1.4:1

Collards                                           14.5:1

Chicory Greens                                      2.1:1

Guinea pigs are high maintenance pets and needs to be cared for very carefully. A dose of vitamin C should not be disregarded and be taken with high regard. It has to be remembered that guinea pigs take time to adjust and lots of patience is required.

For starters, hamsters as pets don’t require much space compared to a mutt or kitling. The area that you must set aside in your own home is no more than the size of a ichthys (fish) household. Because they take up such little space, hamsters are very excellent pets for apartment living or for a modest home.

Do not underrate, however, the time that you will need to care for your hamsters as pets. The degree of time required to care for them is roughly the same as it would be for a whelp. Hamsters want to be fed and watered each day. Anticipate that the toilets must be cleaned frequently. Every day, the hamsters demand an hour of out-of-cage playtime. Their homes will need to be cleaned on a seven day schedule.

Regarding the monetary requirement, you will discover that hamsters are on par with other pets. Hamster supplies are not terribly expensive, but they are not free either. Although your hamster eats very little, you will use up quite a bit of bedding material. Hamsters are known to be a healthy species, yet any animal can become ill. Save money for occasional trips to the veterinarian.

Hamsters as pets may or may not be cuddly. The hamster that is most amenable to handling is the Syrian. The dwarf hamster species have not been kept as pets for as long a time as the Syrian, and thus retain more of their wild nature. Rather than being cuddled by their caretakers, the dwarf hamsters prefer to play “on” their human keepers. Syrian hamsters are slower than dwarfs, and cannot fit in such tight spaces as dwarfs can. Thus, escapees are especially hard to catch.

Dogs and hamsters are similar in that they look forward to human company. Once a hamster gets used to your voice, it will consider you part of its community. As a result, never leave a hamster alone for more than a day or two.

Hamsters do not tolerate warm to hot temperatures. They live underground where it is continuously cool. You must have continual air conditioning if you live in a climate where it will get warm. Whereas you yourself may be able to suffer through days of 85° F (30°C), this temperature can quickly kill your hamster.

The final thing to know about keeping hamsters as pets is that hamsters are nocturnal or crespuscular. This means that they are active at night or at dawn and twilight. As a result, plan to interact with them only during these times.

Lastly, as long as you’re willing to make the effort, hamsters do make gratifying pets

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