Ask just about any boy or girl if he or she would like a pet and you will usually get a resounding 'yes' for an answer. Kids have a knack for adopting all kinds of creatures. It goes without saying that cats and dogs rank as top choices for pets. Also right up there are goldfish, hamsters and gerbils. Well, along with these obvious picks is the bearded dragon. This critter loves to be around people and always gets the description of 'cool.'

A lot of people may not be thrilled with the idea of having a pet lizard. But, of course these kinds of dragons are not the kind that spit fire and haunt dungeons. His official name is pogona and he hails from the rocky and dry woodlands in Australia. And the best part is he has a great personality.

They love hanging out on branches and are accomplished climbers. Moreover, they are omnivores. They love crickets, worms and cockroaches. For veggies they won't turn down escarole, grated carrots, and broccoli. But do not ever feed them iceberg lettuce, it can cause dehydration. Citrus fruits are a bad idea as well.

An annoyed bearded dragon will show his awesome spiny neck scales. Luckily he will not do this to his owner. This display is for the times when it feels threatened.

As alluded to earlier, the pogona makes for a sociable companion. They are very active as youngsters but still friendly. Once they become adults, they are not as active but still enjoy the companionship of people. In addition, they can be your friend for up to ten years. Their average life expectancy ranges from five to eight years.

So many times people cringe when they consider having a reptile as a pet. Well the bearded dragon can upend that perception. He is an unassuming creature that relishes the company of his owner.

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Written by Angie Blair using tags: animals, family, Pets, reptiles

Whenever individuals wonder about getting an iguana, various questions come to light. More often than not, one of these questions is: Where can I keep it? Many people then search to find out the components of a proper cage for an iguana. If you are looking for the best iguana cage then here is a bit of guidance for you:

1) The size of iguanas is the 1st thing you need to know about so that you know how large your iguana cage has to be. Some people have the wrong idea that the terrarium size will limit the size that the lizard can grow. This is simply not true. Under good conditions an iguana can often grow up to 6 feet! This means that you will be required to own a large cage for iguana. In fact, a lot of folks provide an entire room instead of a cage!

Of course, if you aren't yet able to make this space for your iguana, you could choose to postpone it until your iguana grows to its full size. Nevertheless, the iguana cage that you use should be large enough to contain the regular activities of your iguana. It cannot cramp the animal in any way. If you choose to wait until your iguana has reached its full size, you should at the bare minimum prepare and make plans for the future when you are going to require a bigger iguana habitat.

2) Heating - Iguanas are cold blooded. This means that they need to regulate their body temperatures by moving around their environment. What does this mean to an iguana owner? It means that you need to provide a variety of temperatures within the iguana habitat. This is so that the iguana is able to move from the different spots to properly control its body temperature. You must also try to have a source of heat other than light which can be turned on during the night time.

3) Moisture level - Iguanas necessitate high levels of humidity to live happily. They become easily dehydrated because iguanas aren't really inclined to drink very much water. This is due to the fact that the native habitats of iguanas have high levels of humidity and that keeps them from becoming dehydrated. Dehydration might lead to kidney diseases. This means that not enough humidity may hurt the life of your pet iguana. An additional reason to keep an iguana habitat humid is that humidity can help loosen shedding skin. This means that an iguana will have and easier time shedding if it is in a humid environment. If you truly want to keep your iguana healthy, you must furnish an iguana space that features a humidity of 65 to 75 percent.

4) Lights - Iguanas need a steady source of UVA and UVB light. Without question, the best thing that you should use is the sun. This does not mean that you should place your iguana enclosure in direct sunlight. The glass or material of iguana enclosures usually filter out the UV light which is needed by iguanas to produce vitamin D3. This vitamin helps in calcium consumption. This means that you need to allow your iguana to get in direct sunlight as much as possible. This will help in growing strong bones and reducing the risk of MBD which is a common cause of death with iguanas kept as pets.

Other than the sun, a cage for iguana should also include an artificial source of UVA and UVB light. This is to make up for days when the sunlight is not enough for your pet.

Get Free Iguana Keeper's Training and learn about iguana lights, good iguana food, and Life Extension For Iguanas at Mitch's Iguana Care Website, www.healthyiguana.com !

Written by Mitch Tarala using tags: animals, exotic, exotic pets, family, Home, iguana, iguana cages, iguana care, lizards, Pets, reptiles, wild animals

The bearded dragon is a member of the Pogona family. Within this family there are seven species of bearded lizards. These lizards have become quite popular as pets, among many people, due to their docile nature and ease of care. They can Reach up to about two feet in length, so a large enclosure is needed if you plan on keeping one as a pet.

Australia, is where these guys come from. The weather is dry and hot here. Because of this, these lizards have evolved into animals that can eat meat, plant life or a mixture of both. Youngsters tend to favor meat, while adults seem to prefer vegetation, but young and old alike can and do eat both.

They love green leafy vegetables, dandelion greens, and carrot tops are some of their favorites, but just like people each individual dragon may have differing tastes. There are all kinds of fruits and vegetables these guys love and thrive on. However, citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits are said to be harmful to them. Bananas can be given as on occasional treat, but it's best not to feed bananas regularly because they interfere with calcium absorption.

If you know anything about lizards, you know that they enjoy eating insects. Some may prefer produce, but a cricket or tasty worm can also be a nice treat for some. Getting these bugs from the store can help to make sure they are pesticide free and won't make your pet sick. Bugs that light up, should not ever be offered to your beardie. These insects can kill them if eaten.

Lizards are cold blooded animals, which means they need an outside heat source in order to keep them warm. An ultraviolet light will need to be provided in order to keep your pet happy and healthy. Heat rocks and pads should be avoided because these things have direct contact with the animals skin and can lead to burns.

It's best to start handling your beardie from a very young age. The more he or she is handled, the easier it will be to interact with them. Eventually, you may find your dragon acting more like a dog than a reptile. Always make sure all four feet are supported, and never pick your beardie up by the tail.

These guys are pretty tolerant to most illnesses and tend to be pretty healthy. However, sickness can be caused from the foods they eat, so make sure you know what you're putting into their little bodies. If you like lizards, the bearded dragon can make a great pet for the beginner or the advanced reptile lover.

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Written by Sharron Cummings using tags: animals, family, Home, Pets, reptiles

It is in the nature of people to be caring to others. This is to other beings and even animals. Men and women will always have the propensity when it comes to caring for animals. This is regardless of the size of the animal. Because of the continuous advocacy of animal caring groups, there are instances that the animals taken care of by people are those abandoned by their owners and left at animal shelters. The most commonly pet animals found in human household are the dogs, cats, birds, fishes, hamsters, and many more. But some adults get fascinated of taking care of reptiles. Some take care of snakes and bearded dragon among others.

Some people also get fascinated with taking care of reptiles. Though it is not advisable to take care of snakes, crocodiles, and/or bearded dragons in your backyard, there are still some gentle reptiles that people can take care of. And one of those is the leopard gecko. A leopard gecko is a lizard with skin imprints bear a resemblance to the skin of the leopard cat. Like its siblings in the reptile world, this gecko is also found and/or naturally found in places with abundant heat and with minimal cool temp at nighttime. Geckos and/or lizards have natural ability to survive in places with heat hitting 90 degrees Fahrenheit but it is important to remember that they need to regulate the heat so they also prefer cool temp sometimes.

Now if you decided to get this type of reptile as your pet, you need to consider the housing it will live in. They're not like dogs where they can live comfortably at a specific house. They need to be in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitat. In order to do this, one of the materials you will need is a big aquarium. This will serve as the cage of your leopard gecko. Now when it comes to the floor covering, it is vital to get not-so-fine-sands. The rationale about this is that since it prefers devouring a live prey, they catch the insect out in the sand. And while in the process of chewing the insect, there's some sand particles mistakenly devoured also when they strike the prey with their sticky elongated tongues.

Another one on the list of things that should be included in the housing is the sand. It is the substrate or the floor covering that the reptile usually walks in. It is important to note that it should not be too fine. Especially for the young leopard geckos that catch their prey, there's some sand particles also swallowed and it will block the passageway for the food.

In order to achieve the natural look of its habitat, you can do some improvisations. You can place sands to serve as the floor covering. Just be careful to not choose the finest ones because it is really dangerous for the gecko especially the young ones when they get to swallow the sand particles. You can also place in some old branches and/or woods to improve the landscaping of the aquarium. It also has a double purpose because it can also be the hiding place of your gecko. It is important for them to have hiding spots because it gives them the security that they're safe in that particular make-shift habitat.

Looking to find the best information on leopard gecko, then visit www.leopardgeckoguru.com to find the best advice on the artificial habitat, feeds, and many more when taking care of your leopard gecko.

categories: leopard gecko. gecko, animals, pets, reptiles, house pets, gentle reptiles, reptile habitat

Written by Roma Gates using tags: animals, gentle reptiles, house pets, leopard gecko. gecko, Pets, reptile habitat, reptiles

A lot of people nowadays are getting turtles as pets. One of the kinds of turtles that people love to have is the soft shell turtles. Agressiveness is innate among soft shell turtles yet, they can also be great pets. Soft shell turtles look like pancake because of their soft shells and flat bodies. In this article, you will know the basic things about these species.

Soft shell turtles belong to family Trionychidae. Soft shell turtles have more or less than thirty species. The most common species of these turtles are Apalone mutica, Trionyx axenaria, Apalone spinifera emoryi, Apalone spinefera and the Florida soft shell turtle or Apalone ferox.

Almost all soft shell turtles live in fresh waters such as lakes, ponds, streams and rivers. This type of turtles loves to live in rivers which waters move so slow and has sandy or muddy bottoms. Like ants, soft turtles also live in colonies and they love relaxing on sand bars and rocks that are located at the edge of the water. They also like staying under the sand or mud. May is the breeding month of these animals and they lay their eggs some time in month of June and July. Like other turtles, female soft shell turtles also make nest on the sand.

The most prominent characteristic of these turtles are their soft shells. Apart from these, they have oval-shaped bodies that are flat and flexible. Usually, the color of the turtles' shells is almost the same with the sand's color or mud. This allows them to hide and difficult to find. When they hide under the sand, they allow their snouts or long necks to pop out so that they can breathe. The shells of full grown soft shelled male turtles come in gray or brown color with dashes and dots. Shells of females on the other hand, are in dull color and have dark markings.

Soft shelled turtles are meat eaters of carnivores. Depending on the kind of species, they are capable of devouring larger fish that they can hold using their powerful long necks. Part of these turtles' diet is fishes, insects, worms, caterpillars, crustaceans and some amphibians. They also eat some carrion and selected plant material.

Soft shell turtles are great display animals. However, they are delicate and they need extra care when planning to have them as pets. They have soft covering that can be damaged easily by bites and scrapes. Their tank should be filled with sand enough to bury them and they should be kept in an area that is low in house traffic and noise. The water should be kept clean using proper water filtration since they are susceptible to diseases.

These are the basic information about soft shell turtles. If you want to know more about their health, diet and reproduction, you can make little search over the internet. Remember that these turtles make great pets if fed and cared for properly.

Read more of this writer's writing about subjects such as the dog bandana and dog sweaters.

Written by Jeannie Tai using tags: animals, children, entertainment, family, Home, Pet Care, Pets, recreation, reptiles, soft shell turtles, turtles

Florida snakes, together with the many turtles, lizards, alligators and other reptiles are part of a complex wildlife structure that plays a marvelous role in Florida's ecosystem maintenance. Florida snakes species are numerous: there are actually forty-four species living in incredibly varied habitats, from salt marshes to fresh water marshes and dry uplands or coastal mangrove swamps to residential areas.

Only six Florida snakes are venomous, and they happily coexist with their non-poisonous cousins, even venturing into towns and cities too. The best way to stay out of trouble with snakes is to care enough to learn about their morphology and therefore become able to distinguish between these Florida snakes. Avoidance is the best approach a human being can adopt in relation to snakes.

The Coral snake and pit vipers are by far the most dangerous of Florida snakes. They can be identified by quite a wide range of characteristics. Pit vipers include the Rattlesnake, the Cottonmouth and the Copperhead. They all have in common: vertical eye pupils, a v-shaped head and facial pit sensors: one between the eyes and nostrils and the others along each side of the head.

The poison of these Florida snakes is haemotoxic, which means that their venom attacks the red blood cells, destroying the wall of the blood vessel and causing uncontrolled hemorrhage. Coral snakes on the other hand use neurotoxic venom, with the toxins in the venom acting on the body nerves and inducing paralysis.

Most of the snake bites reported every year in the United States are caused by Florida snakes or by rattlesnakes to be more precise. As their venom spreads very quickly throughout the body, the victim will die within less than thirty minutes without immediate anti-venom.

A major exception in this class of Florida snakes is the copperhead, because its venom very rarely, if ever, requires an antidote. Their toxin is the least powerful and therefore they are regarded as the least dangerous of all the poisonous Florida snakes.

It is because of the danger they present that poisonous snakes are the first kind to attract attention, however the most common of Florida snakes is the Black Racer, which is a non-toxic species that relies on very sharp fangs to capture its prey.

Although the usual tendency of home owners is to remove snakes from their properties, specialists stress the fact that, without them, rodents would breed out of control giving us even more cause for alarm.

Therefore, unless you have special causes for being worried, like snakes breeding in great numbers in your garden or shed for instance, there is no valid reason to upset the lives of these usually shy, helpful animals.

Interested in the Florida snakes? To learn more about snakes visit Caring for Snakes our new web site.

Written by Owen Jones using tags: advice, animals, exotic, florida, outdoors, Pets, poison, reptiles, snakes, toxins, tropical, USA, venom

There is a broad range of reptile housing options for you to choose from. There are cages that are designed to be more open. There are terrariums that are made for small reptiles. There are also reptile tanks that can be used and adapted to almost any reptile species that you might have. To ensure the health of your reptile, it is vital that you choose the proper tank. There are a few things to consider that can help you narrow down the choices.

The first thing that you should consider is the material for the tank. Tanks are available that are made from acrylic or glass. Glass tanks are also commonly used as aquariums. They are the best choice for reptiles that will need swimming or wading water in addition to a dry area. Tanks that are made from acrylic are best for reptiles that require a consistent temperature.

The size of your reptile is a consideration. If your new pet isn't fully grown, you will need to consider its adult size and choose a tank that's large enough. For adult reptiles, the tank should provide enough space to move around comfortably. Allow three feet of space vertically and on the floor for each foot length of your reptile, or the approximate length it will be as an adult.

You will also need to consider what type of habitat that your reptile needs. Each species will have its own environment that will need to be reproduced as accurately as you can. Tree frog will need tree limbs to climb on. Lizards, like chameleons, need a lot of foliage to hide in. Other reptiles need separate swimming and resting areas.

A reptile's specific temperature needs must also be taken into consideration. Certain reptiles will need to stay warm and cannot rely on a heat rock or partial floor heater. Hot spots aren't sufficient. The tank that you choose, if you have this type of reptile, must allow you to add heat lamps and monitor temperatures. You may also need to be able to add equipment to raise or lower humidity levels.

Choosing a tank over another form of housing is the best for most reptile species. A tank allows you to recreate the environment, maintain temperatures, create hot spots, or make a dual habitat that you may not be able to accomplish as easily with a cage or other house. If you need to regulate temperatures, choose an acrylic tank because it holds in heat better than glass. If you intend on making a hot spot, choose a glass tank.

Many reptiles possess uncanny abilities to climb or jump. Having a very tall tank may not prevent your reptile from sneaking out and getting lost or injured. Always make sure that the tank you choose will accommodate a screen lid. The lid will often be made of a plastic or wood frame with screening. For some reptile species, the lid will need some sort of locks to keep the reptile from pushing the lid up and escaping.

Buying reptile tanks can be confusing. It is important to consider the type of reptile you have and what its needs are. If you want your reptile to remain healthy and happy, the proper tank and habitat accessories should be used.

Get all the information you need to maintain for reptile tanks today! When you are searching for specific reptile supplies, you can find them easy and fast!

categories: reptile tank,reptile tanks,reptile supplies,reptile cage,reptile cave,reptile habitat,reptiles,reptile,pets

Written by Simon Herring using tags: Pets, reptile, reptile cage, reptile cave, reptile habitat, reptile supplies, reptile tank, reptile tanks, reptiles

The species of snake called the spitting cobra is very unusual as it not only has a poisonous bite but it also spits venom into the eyes of its prey and aggressors. Contact of this venom with your eyes is very painful and can even blind you temporarily, therefore, if you get cobra venom in your eyes, irrigate them with water at once in order to prevent permanent tissue damage.

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is also remarkable in this large family of snakes (elapidae) because it feeds almost entirely on other snakes with mice and small birds also falling prey to its poison.

The King Cobra is also a record-holder because of its size - it can reach almost twenty feet (585 cms) in length, which makes it the largest poisonous snake in the world. The most recent discovery of a new species of cobra was made in 2003 as part of an illegal shipment of exotic pets at London Zoo.

DNA studies revealed that this new species of snake is similar to the red spitting cobra but has different genes. It seems to originate from an area between Sudan and Egypt and it has been called the 'Nubian Spitting Cobra'.

Though highly dangerous when it senses a threat, a cobra will not attack if you leave it in peace, although the venomous spit can travel very accurately for two meters. If compared to the strike of a rattlesnake, the cobra is pretty slow in attack, and many bites prove blank, that is without envenomation.

According to a study conducted on Malaysian cobra snake victims only 55% of the bites involved venom release and the same statistics indicate a mortality rate of 10% for people bitten, since the toxins injected into the blood of the prey destroy the nerves (neurotoxin) , which induces respiratory failure half an hour after being bitten, giving you 30 minutes to get help.

The colouration of this snake is variable from light green-grey to black, whereas juveniles have alternate yellow and black bands.This snake is to be found all over south-eastern Asia.

Are you interested in the Cobras? To learn more about snakes visit Caring for Snakes our brand-new online resource.. This article, Spitting Cobras is available for free reprint.

categories: snakes,reptiles,unusual,pets,exotic,animals,florida,california,tropical,fauna,Thailand,Asia,outdoors,other

Written by Owen Jones using tags: animals, Asia, body-structure-of-spitting-cobra, california, exotic, fauna, florida, outdoors, Pets, reptiles, snakes, spitting-cobras-as-pets, Thailand, tropical, unusual