Pet Punter

Archive for the ‘Vertebrates & Invertebrates’ Category

Scorpions: These close relatives of the tarantula have a painful, if not deadly, sting on their tails, and they need to be handled with extreme care. In fact, these arachnids are best left in their quarters, with special forceps being recommended for moving them safely. Those that are kept as pets are generally larger members of the group, such as the imperial scorpion, which originates from West Africa. Their appearance is impressive because of their large pincers; large pincers are an indication that the string is less poten than that of scorpions with smaller pincers. Scorpions often originate from hot, dry areas of the world but the imperial is a rainforest species and must have a warm, humid environment if it is to thrive. The substrate in the imperial’s quarters must also be loose, to allow it to burrow. Retreats, provided by cork bark, are also important. A secure ventilated lid over the terrarium is vital for all species, although lighting is not important – scorpions are nocturnal and are most likely to emerge from their hiding places when the light level is low. Scorpions feed on invertebrates.

Praying Mantis: Another predatory invertebrate kept as a pet is the praying mantis. There are number of species, and it can often be difficult to distinguish between them. Their common name comes from the way in which they rest, with their front legs folded as if in prayer. The legs grab at passing prey at lightning speed, while the mantis remains immobile, relying on its camouflage for disguise. Crickets can be used as a food. Mantids must be housed on their own because of their predatory habits. The female has six segments on the underside of the abdomen, while the male has eight.

Chinchillas are now highly popular around the world as companion animals. They are still more expensive than other pet rodents but their exclusivity and clean image has helped them to become favorite pets. As chinchillas tend to be more active at dusk, they are a good choice of companion for people who are out at work all day, and they become very tame, especially if handled regularly from an early age.

Unlike the guinea pig, the chinchilla is very much a household pet and it will require special care and grooming. The soft, dense coat of the chinchilla proved so popular with furriers that is nearly brought about the extinction of the species.

There are number of tree frogs available, and it is important to determine where they originate from, as not all are of tropical origin. The grey tree frog is a species found in the United States, and this needs slightly color and less humid conditions than its tropical cousins.

The mottled grey coloration varies between individuals, with orange areas usually apparent on the thighs and a small cream-colored area below the eyes. A tall aquarium set-up, incorporating cork bark as well as stout plants for climbing purposes, will be needed for these frogs on the whole. It will require identical care.

Most of the popular invertebrates kept as pets require heated surroundings as they originate from tropical parts of the world. This can be accomplished in various ways, using equipment developed for use in other fields, such as an electric propagator or heat pads under thermostatic control, with the temperature in the vivarium monitored with a thermometer. The shape of the enclosure is a very important features and is influenced by the lifestyle of the invertebrate as well as by its size. The majority of invertebrates are not especially active by nature, often displaying a tendency to remain inert and avoid the attention of predators.

It is not always easy to determine when a reptile is sick, but perhaps the most significant indicator is a loss of appetite. This, in turn, could be a reflection of the creature being kept at a sub-optimal temperature, or it might be a sign of bullying by a companion, as often happens with male lizards. Weight loss and lack of interest in its surroundings are either signs that all is not well with a reptile. Dullness, depression and loss of appetite are common indicators of illness with these species. Diagnosis of the exact problem will usually require the assistance of an experienced herptile vet and some laboratory tests as well.

The vast majority of small mammals that is popular as pets belong to the rodent family. The term “rodent” comes from the Latin word rodere, meaning “to gnaw”, and describes the very sharp pair of chisel-shaped incisor teeth found in each jaw right at the front of the mouth. The sharp and strength of these teeth is crucial to the survival of rodents as they enable to crack seeds and nuts easily. Unlike our teeth, they continue growing throughout the rodent’s life. This is essential to stop them from wearing down, which would prevent the rodent from eating.

Rabbits are not actually rodents, but are grouped instead with hares and pikas in a separate family known as lagomorphs. However, the structure of their teeth is very similar to that of rodents; except that they have a further tiny set of incisors each side of the main teeth at the front of the mouth. Most rodents are relatively small in size, which makes them vulnerable to larger predators. As a result, they have keen senses to help them avoid detection. Their hearing is very accurate, and they often communicate with each other using ultrasonic calls, which we are unable to hear because the frequencies are too high for our ears.

In contrast, the plum-headed parakeet is another species that is ideal for a typical suburban aviary as its calls are unlikely to cause offence. Hens and cocks are easily distinguishable because only the cock bird has the distinctive plum-colored feathering on the head. The immature cock birds resemble adult hens, however so it is always better to obtain a proven pair rather than buying odd birds in the hope of obtaining a pair.

The nest box must be located in a sheltered part of the aviary because these parakeets do not brood their chicks closely, and there is a real risk that they could become fatally chilled in cold weather. This is especially disastrous because plum heads usually only lay one clutch of eggs in a year. Pairs are likely to breed in the early summer and require a stout nest box for this purpose, which they will use for roosting for the rest of the year.

It is best to feed them a complete diet although, if a parrot mix is used, then at least half of the food intake must consist of fruit and vegetables, ranging from pomegranates and peas to grapes and peeled carrots, sprinkled with a vitamin and mineral supplement.

Lots of animal lovers like squirrel which belongs to rodent family because it climbs very fast in trees. Everyone would have seen at least one squirrel in their lifetime as it is often found in most of the yards, property and attic. On the other hand, it will also carry diseases like ringworm so you should make sure that you and your pets are not coming in direct contact with the squirrel. Squirrels have the habit of living in attics but the problem is that it will spoil the attics by urinating so you will have to find a solution for removing squirrels. By the help of the leading Alpharetta Squirell Removal service, you can get rid of the squirrels and protect your property or yards.

Wherever human beings are living, pests like mosquitoes, insects, cockroaches and ants will be found in large number. When we take summer and spring season into consideration, mosquitoes and cockroaches will be creating annoyance to the people. Pests like cockroach will spoil the food that is kept in the kitchen or dining hall and the ant will bite at your skin which will make you to get irritated. To be frank, Pest Control will be the perfect solution for preventing the household pests from affecting us and the pests can also be killed utterly.

At times, wild animals can also be found in your property or home and you will be wandering to get rid of it because it will damage your land in a dangerous way. Do you wish to keep the wild animals away from your belongings? Animal debris and feces will affect the beauty of your property and will also cause bad smell. All the unwanted wild animals can be prevented from entering your property or home by means of Animal Control.

The same type of basic equipment used for reptiles can be useful for amphibians as well. If possible, however, it is better to use acrylic containers rather than those made of glass or other materials because these are easier to move and clean. In some cases, though, especially with tree frogs, you may have little choice because these enclosures may have to be specially constructed, using sheets of glass stuck together with an aquarium sealant. Most herptile shops can offer this type of service.

The sensitive nature of the skin of these creatures, coupled with the fact that they generally require much lower temperature than reptiles. Therefore, the spotlights in their quarters will not be required. Instead, heat pads are used to a much greater extent for frogs and toads, even in the case of aquatic species. It is not a good idea to use a standard aquarium heaterstat, which could burn the amphibian’s sensitive skin, while the relative low water level in the vivarium means that sitting in the unit would also create problems, as it has to be kept submerged.

 A heat pad is more versatile, serving to warm both the water and the air, operating under thermostatic control. Both frogs and toads are quite secretive creatures by nature and they should not be exposed to unnecessarily bright lightning. In fact, there have been suggestions that protracted exposure to ultraviolet light may be harmful to them, while tungsten bulbs will emit a relatively large amount of heat, and this too can be damaging.

Variably in appearance is a feature of the fire salamander, which is found over a wide area of mainland Europe in the wild. Some populations display yellow spots, set against a black background, whereas others have yellow stripes and some even have fiery orange, rather than yellow markings. There is also some variability in size and individuals can range from 20-30 cm in length when adult. Fire salamanders are easy to house in a spacious vivarium, with plenty of retreats. An example of the fire salamander is found in the Cantabrian region of Spain. This is one of the populations where the discontinuous spots have merged to create stripes running down the sides of the body.

Perhaps surprisingly, fire salamanders cannot swim at all well, and the water container in their quarters must be not only shallow, but must allow easy access both in and out of the water. A cool environment is another important consideration, particularly during the summer months when the temperature indoors can rise rapidly; fire salamanders should be kept a t a maximum of 20⁰ C. It may, therefore, be necessary to move the salamanders outdoors to a vivarium in a shaded corner of the garden, out of direct sunlight.