All About Snakes

By Joseph Devine

Snakes are very interesting creatures. They have permeated throughout our society for centuries. Their slippery and slithery bodies have fascinated some of us and haunted others of us. The fall of man, according to the Bible, was instigated by a snake. We also find snakes in many other forms of entertainment, ranging from books to movies, often portrayed as an evil entity. Along with spiders, they are probably one of the most fear-inspiring animals on the planet today.

But what is it that instills fear of snakes in most people? If you guessed "the bite," you're probably right. About 8,000 Americans are bitten by poisonous snake each year. Of those, about twelve die. It's not so much the statistics, however, that scare most people. It's the way in which you succumb to the bite. The snake slides quietly as you walk through the forest. You hear something and stop to listen, but you here nothing. As you begin to walk again, you feel a sharp pain on your leg. You look down only to find two teeth marks. You then suddenly grow tired and weak as you realize that the venom is slowly spreading throughout your body.

The most common poisonous snakebites in America come from Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Cottonmouth Water Moccasins, and the Coral Snake. They populate our grasslands, wetlands, and even desert country, striking fear in those unfamiliar with the terrain.

If you ever find yourself bitten by a snake, be sure the wash the bite with soap and water. Then get to a medical health professional immediately. Try to immobilize the area where you were bitten and keep it below the heart, this ensures that you maintain blood flow and that the venom isn't easily spread to other parts of the body, like your head. Keeping a clean, moist towel and using it to compress the wound helps to minimize the spread of venom. Monitor your vital signs every moment of the way to the hospital. If there is a change in skin color, loss of breath, or the person beings to faint, time is running out.

Despite the looming threat of dangerous snakebites, many people would like to keep a snake as a pet. Before purchasing a snake, consult a professional about the maintenance requirements of the snake and the best way to prevent dangerous occurrences. Make sure that the snake is well fed so that it does not become hungry while someone is holding it. No matter what choices you make about owning a snake, always remember that safety comes first.

For more information on the treatment of snakes and how to avoid getting a snake bite, consult this website: http://www.sanantonioveterinarianclinics.com

Joseph Devine

Choosing The Perfect Pet Snake

By CS Swarens

Are you thinking about keeping a pet snake in your home? While pet snakes can be a great addition to your home, there are several things that you need to keep in mind in order to guarantee the best possible experience for both you and your slithery friend.

Think About Size

Before purchasing a pet snake, you need to consider the size of your reptilian friend. Don't be fooled by the size of the snake that you see at the pet store. Often, pet stores sell snakes that are not fully grown. So, while the snake may seem like a manageable five feet of slithering scales, it may grow to be much larger and much thicker than it currently is.

Before you purchase a pet snake, be sure to do your research about that particular breed. That way, you will know how large you can expect the snake to grow and you can choose one that will be manageable for years to come. Not only will this help you have a much more pleasant snake-raising experience, it will also ensure your snake's habitat is the proper size and that your snake remains happy and healthy.

Consider Breeding

Ideally, the pet snake that you bring home should have been captive bred. If you snag a snake from the wild, it has two distinct drawbacks. First, the snake will be decidedly unhappy because it is used to running free and wild. Second, the snake is more likely to be aggressive because it is not used to human handling. Obviously, this will result in a poor experience for both you and your snake.

In order to create the best possible solution for you and your snake, you should purchase one that was bred by a reputable breeder. This way, you can be certain the proper methods were used for the breeding process. You can also be more certain the snake will not be diseased or contain parasites.

Choose a Good "Starter" Snake

When purchasing your first pet snake, you should start out with one that is generally considered good for beginning snake owners. These include king snakes, corn snakes, and ball pythons. Each of these breeds tend to be gentle, which means you should have a good experience when handling them. These snakes are also relatively easy to care for when it comes to meeting habitat requirements and feeding.

Just as there are some snakes that are good for beginners, there are others that are decidedly bad for beginners. These include red-tailed boas, Burmese pythons, water snakes, tree boas or pythons, and any snake that has been caught in the wild.

Regardless of the breed of snake, it is best to avoid any snake that is overly large or that has a poor temperament. Be certain to handle the snake before making a purchase and observe how well the snake takes to being handled. If the snake makes a sudden movement at you or bites you, move on to another one that will be easier for you to handle

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com

Research over 430 pet breed profiles http://www.findapetonline.com/breeds.html

Reptile Breeders - How to Find a Good One

By Scot Johnson

Three things to look for when buying a bearded dragon from a breeder. The first is the quality of the pics. Are they in focus? Do they show the entire lizard? Are they big enough to see? You want to be able to be sure you are getting a healthy animal. If there is anything wrong with it like missing toes or tips of tail is it distinguishable in the pic. If not can you e-mail the breeder to get better ones?

Which leads me into availability. I'm not just talking about whether or not there are any lizards available. I'm also talking about how easy it is to get a hold of the breeder. If the breeder is close to you can you visit the facility to pick up your new pet? That is the best way to tell if you are going to be getting a healthy animal. If they are going to have to ship, how are they going to do it? If they are Fed Ex Certified that is a good sign that your pet will arrive safely.

The third is, how long have they been breeding dragons. These are one of the most popular pet reptiles on the market today because of there temperament, size and ease of breeding. Many people breed them without really trying and can incubate them to hatch fairly simply. For quality babies the mother will need to be fed a lot of supplements and extra food. An inexperienced breeder might not know how to do this. This could result in babies that are small and unhealthy.

For further information please check out my blog.

http://beardeddragonbreeders.blogspot.com
http://beardeddragonbreedersresources.blogspot.com

Easy and Fun Ways to Make Your Ferrets Happy

By Ellen Tayana

More and more Americans are opting to have pets than children. Perhaps this is because keeping pets also gives you the benefits of companionship without the many hassles that raising children bring. Many people are too caught up with their career and social life to fully commit in a serious relationship, much less embark on child-rearing. Pets are a great alternative to honing your parenting skills and improve your sense of responsibility, as pets require dutiful attention and time.

One of the more fun pets available in pet shops, eager and ready to have a new home, are ferrets. If you don't have one yet, it is suggested that you find out more about them before you take one home.

Ferrets are one of the most active pets around. They are playful by nature and can become anxious enough to actually hurt themselves when they have no one around to play with for most of the day. If you're thinking of getting one, make sure that you will have enough time to shower them with attention and play time for most part of every day, or that you can have someone around to do this for you. (Also, ferrets are banned from some cities, so find out first if your city allows you to keep one.)

Once you can assure that you will have the time to take care of your ferret, you need not worry about how to make them happy. There are many ways with which you can make your ferrets happy, and information on the subject abound on the internet.

The first thing you have to do after you buy a ferret is to get him a huge cage. Ferrets really like to move around a lot; a large space that doubles as a play area can help curb his boredom. Consequently, you'll need to provide with a lot of toys that he can play with. Most toys for ferrets include all sorts of knick-knacks, such as balls, stuffed animals, socks, towels, hammocks, and even squeaky objects. Ferrets also like to go through tunnels and run in mazes. You can readily find these in online pet shops and on eBay.

Browsing through different websites that are information on ferrets can also lead you to articles written by real ferret owners that give away more detailed instructions on how to make your ferrets happy. For example, one ferret owner listed steps that you have to perform in order to do a certain dance which, he claims, never fails to get a dook - the laughing sound that ferrets make - out of his ferret. Another gave advice on the many things you can do with the toys, like dropping the socks on your ferret or making tunnels out of the towels.

It is important that your ferret gets time out of the cage. You can take your pet on walks (you can use a leash) to help him develop his bones properly and to expose him to fresh air and natural light. Some ferrets like water; if yours does, you can take him swimming for additional exercise.

If you own a cat or a dog, they can serve as playmates for your ferret. Ferrets usually get along with these other domestic creatures. You also have the option to buy another ferret (and another one and another one) and they can keep each other company.

For more information on ferrets - and how you can make and keep them happy, visit http://ferrets-guide.info

Exotic Animals For Sale

By Robert Grazian

Exotic pets are the ones which is rare and unique. Exotic pets for sale are found in various places and even in online. Buying exotic pets is not like buying a common domestic animal they need extra care for rearing.

Exotic pets are not commonly owned by any individual except some who loves pets and care them very dearly. It is task for an exotic pet and the subject can be a challenge but with lots of fun and enjoyment. It is a task because exotic pets are not traditional pets like cats and dogs. They are generally tamed belong either to rodents, or reptiles or amphibians.

Exotic pets for sale are from rare species like some kinds of skunks and foxes. Some other animals like ferret and frogs are also included in this list. Not every kind of frog can be considered fit in this regard. Green tree frogs are however included. Some turtles and rabbits like the European species are included in this list. These animals are for sale as exotic animals. The reason of their popularity is that these animals are not very often available for sale. These are pretty and nice animals.

While buying an exotic pet one needs to know what the size of the pet will be, when it grows up and several other points. Exotic pets for sale are not that much easy to purchase.

The price of each exotic pet will differ depending on the species and the gender. The cost of healthy nurturing exotic pet is also quite high and owner must know about these matters before buying an exotic pet.

Exotic pets for sale are very little ones; some pets will grow up soon and loots of lot of space, some pets' remains in smaller size. Some pets will become animals and they are difficult to handle. The food of the exotic pet is very imperative as health of the animal is depending on it. The supply of such nutritious food is a necessity for every owner.

Every exotic pet are very finicky about their sleeping places, make sure that your place is correct for pet. Moving about a lot does not suit for the exotic pets, they will suffer, the owner should consider about this also. The relationship between these exotic pet, children and other existing pets in the house must be healthier to avoid the adventures. Exotic pets for sale need special care as they newer to domestic rules of pet rearing. These special pet needs all to be special such as food, shelter and childish care.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.
To learn more about exotic animals for sale visit Pet Knowledge for current articles and discussions.

Why Wild Animals Do Not Make Good Pets

By Joseph Devine

Have you ever caught an animal in the wild? Save it from utter destruction only to find out that it's a baby? Many people, especially animal lovers, get drawn in by the inherent cuteness of an animal and decide that it would be a good idea to take it home, care for it, and turn it into a pet. No. It is often forgotten that these animals are born wild. Wild animals have certain predispositions for specific behaviors, special needs that may not be accessible through conventional means, and an inherent fear of human beings. Over time, these attributes can become quite dangerous.

Bringing wild animals into the home is against the law in many different states. Various different species are protected by both state and federal law. Statutes have been passed primarily to protect the animals from inadequate care and unnecessary death. There are several things that cause these deaths, and they are also very compelling reasons why wild animals do not make good pets. Here are just a few:

1. Ignorance of Proper Care

Believe it or not, many wild animals held in captivity die, due to the fact that their caregivers do not know how to give proper car. Many of the wild animals held in captivity have special needs that are not the same as domesticated animals. Eventually, these animals develop a deficiency in their diet, causing them to become ill.

2. Lack of Proper Socialization

Wild animals require an ability to associate with their own kind. Through this process the animal is able to develop the skill sets necessary to survive on his or her own out in the wild. If the animal has not learned these skills, it must either stay in captivity or die. This is especially unfortunate for animal that are much larger than usual or more aggressive that what humans are used to.

3. Lack of Fear of Human Beings

Wild animals are generally scared of human beings, especially if they have never encountered them before. This fear generally keeps them safe from hostile humans, and other unintentional harms.

No matter how cute the animal might be, keeping a wild animal is not a good idea, not only for your health, but also for the health of the animal. The best thing to do when you encounter a wild animal is the report the sighting to the proper authorities, who have the experience and knowledge to deal with the situation appropriately.

For more information, visit http://www.miamiveterinarianclinics.com

Joseph Devine

Owning a Tiger

By Joseph Devine

There are probably a great number of people who would like to own a tiger. However, owning a tiger can present you with a number of issues that could complicate your lifestyle greatly. For this very reason, it is important to do research and contemplate all the relative issues before deciding to own a big cat.

Here are some of the potential issues that one might face when raising a tiger:

Denial

Just like many other pet owners, owners of tigers become incredibly attached to their pets. As they begin to grow rapidly the attachment can become detrimental to the relationship. One tiger owner recounts that her Siberian tiger begin "trying to kill the recliner" several times a day before she realize that the cat was maybe too big for the house. When you have a pet that you are incredibly close to, you must separate your feelings from the practical aspects of owning the pet.

Size

The utter size of the animal can become a problem as well. Owning an adult tiger can become an expensive endeavor. Containing the cat requires a very large cage. Making sure that the animal is well fed is also a big task. These big cats need lots more food than a regular cat. Also with size, comes strength. Taking the cat for a walk will suddenly turn into the cat taking you for a walk. If you can no longer take control over the animal, the cat poses a threat to your safety.

Increased Aggression

As the cat grows, his natural instinct to be aggressive toward new situations or "threats" will grow. This means that the animal will be dangerous around newcomers. As a response, owner may resort to keep the cat solely in the cage, which will have negative affects on its health. One must know how to deal with a cat aggression as well as know what to do in order not to provoke the animal.

Social Aspect

Depending upon the neighborhood in which you live. The animal's presence might strike fear in those who live in close proximity to you. Be sure to let your neighbors know, although this might affect your popularity in the area.

These are just some of the issues involved with owning a tiger. For more information of how you can raise a tiger or any other animal properly visit: http://www.miamiveterinarianclinics.com

Joseph Devine

Nursing A Sick Rat

By Catherine Smith

We all hope it doesn't happen, but no matter how much of a good rat owner you are, there will be a time when you find yourself nursing a sick rat.

Quarantine?

The first decision to make is whether you are going to move your sick rat into another cage. If he is not too sick and the disease is not contagious, it is best to leave them in with their companions. It will be less stressful and your rat will feel better being around his friends.

If your rat is very ill, or has a contagious disease, you should move him into a separate cage. This way he will not spread the illness and he will also have peace and quiet, in a space where he can recuperate.

Bedding

Make sure the cage is extra comfy for your rat. Use old jumpers, or towels for bedding, so that your rat can snuggle up.

If your rat has a respiratory disease he may get rather cold, so make sure you take steps to keep him warm. Put a heating pad under the cage, covered by a towel. Do not put it inside the cage, or your rat will chew the wires. You can also get a microwaveable heat pad. Keep the pad over one side of the cage, so that your rat can move away if he gets too hot.

Make sure you change the bedding in your rats' cage frequently. If it gets dirty your rat's illness could get worse. Clean the cage with a germicidal cleaner, such as Parvasol, a mild bleach solution.

Drape a towel over one half of the cage, so that your rat can retreat to a dark place to hide. Make sure that your rat doesn't get too hot and that he stays hydrated.

Remember your rat may not be able to clean himself when he is sick. Use a damp cloth to clean off any urine or waste. Whatever you do don't rinse him under the tap. It will be too stressful. Make sure to dry him thoroughly and gently with a towel.

Food

Your rat may not be eating much, or may not be able to eat the same foods when he is ill. Try soft foods such as avocado, thinly spread peanut butter, eggs, baby food and bananas.

Vanilla mixed with banana will be really tasty.

You may need to hand feed your rat. Use a syringe if he will not eat. 3cc, 6cc or 12cc are best.

Give your rat a pea sized blob of a vitamin supplement such as Nutrigel, along with his other food.

You may also need to give water by hand. Mix the water with a teaspoon of sugar and syringe feed it to your rat..

Use a damp tissue to gently clean any food off your rat after each meal.

You can also use a syringe to administer your rat's medication, or if he is eating you can add the meds to his favourite liquid food (yoghurt or Soya milk).

If your rat is very ill, you may need to administer injectable drugs. Gently pinch the skin on the scruff of your ratties neck and slide the needle under the skin. Massage the area before you do this. If possible, try not to get antibiotics in pill form, as they are hard to administer.

Check that your rat is not dehydrated by gently pulling up your rats skin and then releasing. It should ping back straight away. If it takes time, your rat is not getting enough water and you should give it water by syringe.

Keep a careful eye on your rat and if his condition worsens seek advice from your vet

http://www.RatsRatsRats.com
Catherine Smith 2007
Check out my website for everything you've ever wanted to know about pet rats. From training to toys, housing to health. You can even go shopping for your ratty friend.

The Different Types of Turtles

By Steven Magill

There are hundreds of different types of turtles. This article aims to give you a brief overview of the different types of turtles. Here is a short list of some of the types of turtle:

The Pig Nosed Turtle: This type has been called the Australasian Pig-nose turtle, the pitted shelled turtle, the plateless turtle and even the fly river turtle. This kind is soft shelled and is usually found in freshwater rivers, lagoons and streams in Australia's Northern Territory and in New Guinea.

The Green Sea Turtle: This family of turtle is rather large and can be found in most subtropical and tropical areas in the world. It has two very distinct populations in the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. This is an endangered species and it is illegal to harm, kill or collect them.

The Alligator Snapping Turtle: This is the biggest freshwater turtle on the continent of North America. It is larger than but not quite as aggressive as the common snapping turtle. These turtles are often found in the Missouri River and in South Carolina and the northern areas of Florida. This kind of turtle can stay under water for almost an hour.

The Mesoamerican River Turtle: sometimes this type of turtle is called the hickatee or the tortuga-blaca. This turtle is nocturnal and lives in the lakes and rivers of Central America. Like many other species of turtles, this species is endangered. These turtles can get as big as twenty five inches and can weigh up to forty four pounds.

The Leatherback Turtle: Of all of the types of turtle, this turtle is the largest of them all. The leatherback is a sea turtle and is the only species of turtle that does not have a hard shell. Instead it only has flesh and skin. This kind can be found all over the world.

The Red Eared Slider Turtle: This is known as a semi-aquatic turtle and is usually found in the southern area of the United States, particularly in the Mississippi River. Of course, because it makes a very popular pet, it can be found in pet stores all over the world.

The Common Musk Turtle: This type has also been called The Stinkpot. It got its name because it is able to release a musky and foul odor to dissuade any predators that might think of hunting it. These turtles are found in the Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada.

The Big Headed Turtle: This is one of the types of turtles that is usually found in Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and China. It's head is extremely large and it has been known to climb the trees that are near the rivers and streams where it lives It has also been known to arc its tail (like a scorpion) and is one of the different types of turtles that is unable to pull its head into its shell.

Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magill

Children And Snakes

By Brook Durant

If you've ever been to your local pet store then no doubt you've seen a snake or two for sale. Usually they are unhealthy, overly expensive, and not well cared for. Which would make most of us walk away without a second glance, but kids are different. They see a snake and they want the snake. I speak from experience having at one time been "that" kid. Since then I've learned a great deal about snakes in general, especially relating to keeping them as pets.

One common denominator of children and snakes is that they rarely do well together. At least not if you leave the snake in the care of the child. Snakes (and most other reptiles) are entirely unlike any other animal. Their care requirements are exacting, and there's very little margin of error when dealing with them. This isn't to say that children can't have snakes as pets. In fact I highly encourage it, but there are some realities you should consider.

1) You as the parent or guardian will likely become the primary caretaker of the snake. Which isn't at all bad, but let's face it. Kids are impulsive and the snake they just have to have or "I'll die!!!" probably will be yesterdays news before today is done. Not literally, but you get the idea. Just be aware that when most kids promise to always take care of it... well consider that just like when they promise to eat their vegetables, or do their homework. Their intentions are great but then the reality sets in.

2) Snakes are expensive. The initial purchase for something like a Ball Python will be relatively cheap (around $40-$100) but then you have everything else.

a) Tank - These can easily run over $150.00 but if you're willing to spend some time learning you can build your own from a plastic Tub for about $8.00

b) Essentials - These are the things you must have for the snake to prosper:

- Heating Pads: Under the tank heater will cost about $20-$35.00 depending on size and where you get it. There is also FlexWatt heat tape which is a little less expensive, but more labor intensive.

- Hides: Just a place for the snake to "hide" from everything. You can buy them at the pet store for a few dollars each or take an old butter tub, cut a hole in the side the snake can fit through and use that. Not a huge expense but the little things add up.

- Thermometer/Hygrometer combo: You want a digital one of these with probes. Those will run you around $12 to $15 for an Accu-rite from Wal-Mart. The cheap stick on the side of the tank types do NOT work. Remember I said before their husbandry requirements are exact? This is an example. To low heat can lead to respiratory infection, poor eating, and stress. To low humidty can lead to poor and incomplete sheds. So you will need to invest in a good thermometer/hygrometer setup.

- Water bowl: Needs to be large enough the snake won't tip it over. If you buy at the pet store it'll cost you more than it is worth. Around $15.00 (give or take)

- Substrate: A bag of cypress mulch will cost about $10 to $20. A better option is to use old newspapers for the substrate. I never pay for it because I get old newspapers from restaurants. Avoid glossy and colored prints as these can be toxic to the snake.

- Thermostat: Here we come back to the reality of how exacting conditions must be for snakes. The temperatures need to be maintained at very precise levels. That is where a thermostat comes in. To be clear these aren't the $20.00 wall mount units you get from Wal-Mart. These are specially made for reptiles and they allow you to control your under the tank heaters. Expect to pay upwards of $100.00 for one of these.

- Electricity: Obviously keeping a heating pad running 24/7 which you will have to do will increase your electric bill to some extent.

- Food: They need to eat. Expect to spend about $8 to $25 per month on food per snake. A lot will depend on how large the snake is as to what it should be eating. Don't forget to calculate travel into the food expense.

So now that snake that cost $40.00 is costing signficantly more. Before you even get out the door you're looking at another $200.00 in supplies alone. Not to mention the ongoing cost of upkeep on a daily basis. We didn't even consider what would happen if trip to the vet became necessary. Vets that specialize in reptiles have one thing in common with doctors who specialize in heart issues. They both charge significantly more than "regular" vets because of their specialization.

3) Kids are rough. You can't leave a child and a snake alone. Some people will tell you it is to protect the kid, but in 99.999999% of all cases the reason is to protect the snake from the kid.

4) Kids are quick. Snakes don't like quick. They feel threatened by it. They'll try to get away and barring that lash out at things they feel threatened by. Having experienced my share of snake bites over the years I can tell you that getting bit by a snake is something most adults will never forget. Imagine a kid getting bit because the snake felt like it had to defend itself.

All of this is not to discourage you from getting a snake for your kid. In fact I highly encourage you doing just that as they make wonderful pets. You as the parent/guardian just need to be aware that snakes are unlike any common pet most people have and they take dedication and responsibility that MOST children simply do not have.