Pet Punter

Archive for May 29th, 2011

Giant Millipedes: It belongs to the family Sphaerotheridae. These creatures can produce toxic secretions to protect themselves, which they squirt from pores on their bodies, and because of this they must be handled with care; it is always preferable to wear gloves when handling them. The tropical millipedes that are popular as pets can grow to over 25 cm long. These millipedes are inhabitants of tropical rainforests, and this climate must be reflected in their accommodations. Millipedes feed on vegetable matter.

Giant Land Snail: Another large species that is widely kept in Europe – but is illegal in the United States and Canada because of fears that it could become established in warmer areas there – is the giant land snail. This snail is a native of Africa. It can grow to a length of more than 20 cm and is easy to cater for, with a heated propagator often being used as accommodation. Assorted vegetable matter will form the basis of the diet for these snails, but they should also be offered cuttlefish bone as an additional source of calcium for their shells. Since they are hermaphrodite, keeping two snails together will invariably result in fertile eggs being laid. The eggs can be found stuck on the sides of the snail’s quarters.

Land Hermit Crabs: Various types of crab can be kept as pets, particularly land hermit crabs, which are found on the sea shoreline rather than in deep water. These crabs need a covered terrarium since they are able to climb well, in spite of the bulk of their shell. Their surrounding must be kept humid with a container of shallow salt water, using sea salt as used in marine aquaria. As they grow, these crabs abandon their shells in search of new ones, leaving them scattered around the floor. Other crabs may require a more aquatic home, with dilute salt water provided, to mimic the estimate habitat. The water level should be low to allow them access to dry areas in the tank. A temperature of 25⁰ C will be necessary.

These attractive and often colorful small birds are very popular occupants of garden aviaries, as they are neither destructive nor noisy by nature. Some members of the group, especially canaries, are also highly prized by pet-owners on account of their singing prowess, while others, such as zebra finches, will nest readily, even when housed in a cage indoors, although they are unlikely to become as tame as some members of the parrot family. All of these birds are easy to cater for in terms of food and housing needs. They feed primarily on seed, although other foodstuffs, such as greenstuff and small invertebrates, are also significant in the diets of many species, particularly during the breeding season. At this stage, finches, such as waxbills, become highly insectivorous and their young are unlikely to be reared satisfactorily without a supply of livefoods such as hatchlings crickets, which are available commercially, and aphids, which are found in parks and gardens.

The housing of canaries and finches is also straightforward, thanks in part to their small sizes. Most finches’ average between 10 and 15 cm in length and unlike most parrots, finches will not destroy their quarters. If they are housed in an outdoor aviary in temperate areas, they are likely to need additional heat and lighting to see them through the cooler and darker days of winter. This can add significantly to the expense of keeping them, and you can bring the birds indoors and house them in a flight over the winter period. They can then be released back into the aviary in the spring when the risk of frost has passed. Few finches, with the notable exception such as the singing finches, are talented songsters but many, such as the Gouldian finch are beautifully colored.

As finches are often social birds, it is not uncommon for pairs of several species to be housed together in the same aviary. You need to ensure that they will be compatible in these surroundings, however, and are not overcrowded as outbreaks of fighting may otherwise occur, particularly during the breeding period when the birds’ territorial instincts will be at their strongest. Most finches have a life expectancy of around seven years, although an occasion, individuals have been known to live much longer – for more than 29 years in the case of some green singing finches.