Jul 13th, 2008 | Unusual Pets | Comments Off
Most girls and moms have an adverse reaction to having a snake or any other dangerous animal as a pet, however with proper care and the correct selection even those with aversions can become quite fascinated by the snake as a pet. The key is to do a lot of research when buying a snake. Most pet shops will sell the harmless snakes and teach you how to feed them. If you always wanted a snake as a pet when you were a boy, you might choose something a little more exotic. Tips to finding the right snake for you or your child can come in handy when you are faced with the task.
First you will want to research snakes in general. You have your garden-variety snake that is very common and not dangerous. Then there are pythons, kings, and boa constrictor snakes. Keep in mind if this is for a child you probably want a harmless snake that will not grow to large. The larger snakes mentioned above take more care and larger aquariums and are not suited for smaller children.
The species of snake you chose will have a special diet. Most species have different diets. You may have seen a pet snake in the pet store eating mice while other snakes do not. It is important to choose a snake you can provide proper food for at all times. You also do not want to keep a wild snake, as they tend to carry diseases and stress with the change in environment. It is best to shop at a trustworthy pet shop or snake breeder.
Most king snakes and gopher snakes tend to eat mice and need to have plenty of water to drink. You may have a little pond in your aquarium with a tree branches, rocks, and dirt for your snake. Like food most snakes require a special environment. You will want to research that snake before choosing the environmental accessories. Snakes are often tropical in nature so they require heat as well as moderate temperatures in the evening. You have heard of the desert being cold at night. Snakes are proliferating in the desert areas and rainforests. Being able to provide the proper environment will ensure a long life for you new pet.
Touching on food again you also need to have a feeding schedule. Some snakes do not have to eat every day. In fact, gopher snakes will not eat every day. If you are getting a pet snake for you child you will want to make sure they understand the feeding schedule. Most young adults can handle having a pet snake while little children will need you to take care of the snake.
Handling the snake is also important. The more a snake is used to human contact the more contact the more domicile they tend to be. This means those that are dangerous can be held given proper training and handling. I recommend staying away from these snakes when you first have a pet snake. It is important to take small steps when you have a pet snake to get used to their special needs.
Snakes can make great pets if you take proper care of them. Many young boys and even girls are fascinated with snakes. They have pretty colors and just the lure of a little danger can add to the interest. Make sure you are prepared for the requirements needed from you to have a pet snake before giving in to a child’s demand.
Jun 12th, 2008 | Unusual Pets | Comments Off
by Lisa Steele
For those who prefer the kind of pets who are neither too noisy nor too high maintenance, then snakes are meant for you. Snakes can be too inconspicuous that you may sometimes forget they are there. These animals are considered despicable beings in books and movies but those perceptions are not at all true. If you get to know them better, you will realize that snakes are wonderful creatures that aren’t as bad as their onscreen persona.
However, be WARNED that venomous snakes must at all costs be kept far from human beings as possible. One bite from them can take away lives immediately.
For individuals who are adventurous, snakes are the perfect pets for them. Snakes are not typical pet choices. However, caring for them is just like caring for any other pet. Sometimes they are even more useful than other pets we keep. They can help you out in your battle with mice. They do not need much cleaning since they do not smell nor create too much mess in the house. Feeding them is never a problem especially if they are still small.
Choosing the kind of snake you would like to take in as a pet will require a lot of considerations. Price will obviously play a major role in choosing the kind of snake you want. Another thing to look into is the housing of the animal. The last and probably most important of all is the appearance of the animal you would take home. We have seen many kinds of snakes on screen and even in the books we read but it is another thing to actually see them live in front of you. You may be overwhelmed by the wide array of choices available to you. What you should do to overcome this is to familiarize yourself first with the snake you have an eye on. You can go to the pet shop twice or thrice a week to have a feel of how to take care of it. When you think you have enough familiarization and training, you can then purchase it.
For a beginner snake owner, Garter Snakes are most appropriate for you. They are tiny and not very pricey. But the good thing about them is their long lifespan. You can literally grow old together because they can live for more than a decade (about 12 years or more). These are kind of snakes children can cradle and pet due to their even-tempered nature. Tthey are naturally climbers so it is good to take note of this fact when you are building their cage or terrarium.
Another kind of snake that is relatively safe to own as a pet is the Snow Corn Snake. They are colorful and easy on the eyes. These snakes attract children with their extraordinary color. One good thing about the Snow Corn Snake is their ability to tolerate cradling and petting by individuals. It is a bit longer than the Garter Snake since it can grow to about five feet whereas the latter may only reach four feet. Same terrarium specifications as with Garter Snakes apply.
If there are snakes you can own as a pet, there are also those which should be left by themselves. One of these dangerous snakes is the Ball Python, also called Royal Python. This is the tiniest of the African kind but has double the life expectancy than that of the Garter and Snow Corn Snakes. It may also grow to about four to five feet just like the other two snakes mentioned. They also need the typical snake terrarium to allow them to climb and/or hide.
Prior to purchasing the snake you have your eye on, check with your local community first regarding rules on pet owning. There are animals which are considered endangered thereby personally owning them is prohibited. If you do so, you will have to face the consequences of your action.
May 2nd, 2008 | Exotic Pets, Unusual Pets | Comments Off
Choosing the Best Exotic Pet For You Pets are normal parts of people’s lives, it isn’t at all unusual for a person to have a dog, a cat, a bird, a fish, or even a frog at home. Some want to have more exciting companions at home, and thus, there are people who choose to have an exotic pet instead. While having an exotic pet can be quite rewarding, choosing the best exotic pet for you can be very confusing. You should know what your motivation is to choose and exotic pet, because it involves a continuous commitment. The best exotic pet for you is one that is legal. You should also consider an exotic pet’s adult size. Be sure that you have enough space for you exotic pet to live in by the time it reaches its full growth. You must also have in mind the expenses needed in maintaining the exotic pet. A good pet would not be your pet for long if you don’t have enough money to feed it and take care of it. This could even be truer with exotic pets that might need special care and attention. Read more in French: Résidence principale
Jun 25th, 2007 | Unusual Pets | Comments Off
Skunks are very special animals. They are extremely intelligent. They are extremely hardheaded. This makes for an incredible combination. It is a challenge to own a skunk and take care of it on a daily basis. It takes an amazing amount of patience to live with these animals. Most people do not realize how loveable, devoted and fun skunks are as pets.
Skunks are extremely strong for their size. They are also very curious. When you put these things together you will learn that skunks can move and get behind nearly any piece of furniture. They will dump out your purse, book bags, baskets, toy chests and potted plants just to name a few. These are the elements that make skunks fun and loveable, though. They want to play and love to play with their owner’s belongings. Skunks will steal anything soft to make their beds warm and snuggly. They will also pull the blankets off of your bed and use it to make their own bed. Your skunk will want to play in particular with you and your things. They also prefer to sleep with you at night. Skunks will come when they are called and are very eager to please their owner. They are extremely food and snack motivated as well. Skunks make wonderful pets, but before you buy one there are a few things you need to know first.
Skunks must have careful diets. They need a lot of vegetables, a little fruit, some fresh cooked meats, low-fat yogurt and cottage cheese and one vanilla wafer or sugar cookie daily. Just like with dogs, chocolate will kill a skunk as will cat food of any kind and sunflower seeds. They need a well-balance diet just like humans do and do not enjoy eating the same things everyday.
Skunks are very sensitive. They can be allergic to pollens, dust and hair spray. Pesticides can be deadly to skunks. Lysol and glade products contain a chemical that will make a skunk very sick.
Skunks are natural born diggers and climbers. These habits can be broken to a certain extent but they will always enjoy these things. They are not by nature destructive animals. They may steal your things but not to destroy them - just to cuddle with them.
Skunks do not chew or slobber, they do not shed and they cannot be de-clawed. A skunk uses his claws the same way people use their toes. Without claws the skunk cannot walk or hold their food properly.
They can be litter box trained and are very clean animals that are shy about their bathroom habits and prefer that their litter boxes be away from their living area in a corner. Given a situation where the skunk does not have an available litter box he will instinctively find a corner to use.
Skunks must have shots the same as your dog but the vaccines must be chicken based.
In order to be great household pets, the skunks have been de-scented. They are de-scented at the age of about 4 weeks before the leave the breeding farm. Because this is their main defense mechanism, they can never be let outside again. They will be easily killed.
Skunk ownership is a long-term commitment. With the proper diet and veterinary care, the average lifespan of a skunk in captivity is 17-22 years old.
Skunks are virtually silent animals. They do make soft bird-like whistles when they are happy and to show affection but if angry or scared they can screech loudly like a Macaw.
Skunks are not all black and white. They come in every color except green and blue. There is every shade of brown, black, gray and blonde. There are albino skunks that have pink eyes and there are white skunks that have dark eyes. There are even lavender skunks. They can have 2-6 stripes and can have spots and swirls mixed in with the stripes.
Skunks are just as different as any other species of animal. They make great pets for families and single people alike. As with any pet it takes dedication and commitment to take care of a skunk but the rewards are endless. Skunks are said to give back 100 times the love, affection and fun that you give to them.