Ultimate-Exotics.com

Iguana Care – Do’s And Don’t

Many people seem to find baby iguanas cute and maybe even cuddly. They look easy to care for, but the problem is that these tiny creatures can grow quite large in a relatively short timespan. It will not be long before a baby iguana grows larger than its enclosure and the prospective buyer should be aware of this in order to be able to provide proper iguana care in the future.

Baby iguanas are usually bright green, possess sharp eyesight and move very quickly. So a person interested in buying an iguana as a pet, should pay careful attention to the baby iguana’s health before purchase. If the iguana is listless, has a dull color and is not very responsive, you are likely to deal with a sick iguana.

Proper iguana care starts with a a decent sized enclosure. A tank of about 50 gallons might be sufficient in the early stages but your iguana pet will soon outgrow that tank. Remember that a green iguana can grow up to 6 feet long so you should provide an enclosure large and high enough to comfortably accommodate the animal.

Iguanas naturally live in trees which is why you should set up some branches, artificial or not for your pet to climb on. One of their main activities in the wild is basking in the sun and that is another reason why a branch in the cage is essential. Not only will it give the cage a nicer overall look it will also contribute to the general health of your pet iguana.

Proper lighting and humidity levels also very important to your pet’s health. For most people this will mean purchasing a humidifier as well as special lights. Beware to carefully hide all electrical wiring so your iguana cannot reach them.

Green iguanas are vegetarians and this naturally means that you should not feed them meat. Feeding them animal protein might easily cause your pet to develop diseases.

David H. Jansen is an Amazon.Com Published Author. He has published a complete guide on how to look after your pet iguana.

Iguana Supplies – Giving Your Iguana The Best Habitat Possible

There are a few things that an iguana habitat must provide in order for you iguana to survive: controlled temperature and humidity, proper lights for heat and UV rays, and of course enough space for your iguana to be comfortable. But these are really just the basics for survival – to really thrive, your iguana will need a few other things for it’s comfort and health. If you want your iguana to have the healthiest possible life, you’ll need to accessorize it’s habitat with the following:

1) Substrates – are the material used to when covering the habitat floor and surface. When you choose a material for the substrate, your most important consideration should be your pet’s safety. You don’t want to use anything that the iguana might ingest and get sick from. Like snakes, iguana’s use their tongue to test their surroundings by flicking it around them. Small particles of sand, gravel or wood chips can stick to the tongue and can be accidentally ingested, causing illness or death.

In choosing a substrate, you might want to try newspapers with non-toxic ink. You could also try to use other types of paper, as long as they are not toxic to animals when ingested. Some people prefer to use pieces of indoor and outdoor carpeting as substrates for their iguana habitat.

2) Climbing and basking supplies – In the wild, arboreal iguanas spend the majority of their time in trees, and in order to feel comfortable, it’s best that this type of environment is duplicated for them. Provide branches for them to climb on, and shelves that are wide enough for them to lay comfortably.

If you include branches in your iguana habitat, you should provide some that are big enough for your iguana to lie on comfortably. You should also cover them with some sort of material that will help them in climbing. One option is to cover the branches with carpeting. The branches will also serve as basking places for your iguana. These spots are where your iguana will go to in order to relax.

3) Food and water bowls – Iguanas need to have dishes provided for their food and water. While iguanas don’t typically drink water often, it is still necessary for you to provide clean, fresh water for them every day.

Iguanas love to soak in a water dish, so you should provide one that’s just the right size for your pet. It should be big enough so that the iguana won’t tip it over when getting in and it should be shallow enough so that the iguana won’t drown. You should also realize that after soaking, an iguana usually likes to poop in the water. This means that you will have the responsibility to change the water in the dish and sanitize it regularly.

4) Hiding places – there are times when an iguana likes to be alone and unobserved. This means that you have to provide a suitable hiding place in your iguana habitat. You could place a log, a rock, or anything which your iguana could hide behind. Just like people, iguanas need privacy too.

When you add these accessories to your iguana habitat, you can be sure that your iguana will be living in a very ideal enclosure. This means that your iguana’s health and well-being will be secured.

If you’d like to know more about what iguana supplies you should have for your green iguana, come check us out at IguanaAsPet.com, and while you’re there, sign up for your FREE report on how to care for your iguana!

The Best Lizard

When effectively cared for, lizards make good companions. One famous sort of pet lizard will be the bearded dragon. This guide will supply facts the lifestyle and general care from the bearded dragon and also tell you how you can set up ideal bearded dragon habitats.

A medium sized lizard with ten year long lifespan, the bearded dragon is originally from Australia. Measured from snout to tail tip, these lizards can reach up to two feet in length. Omnivorous creatures, bearded dragons like to a great deal on crickets, pinky mice, leafy greens, and earthworms. Also make sure to always have fresh water obtainable and to mist your lizard. Social by nature, it is possible to keep bearded lizards together, without having too a lot difficulty.

Because bearded dragons are from central Australia, they like hot, dry, wooded environments. Within the wild, they are often uncovered in bushes and trees, but also like to bask on warm rocks. To retain your lizard content it can be crucial to try to mimic this atmosphere as closely as possible when constructing its habitat.

The 1st step to setting up a new bearded dragon cagefor the lizard is to choose the ideal tank. Hatchlings are small and might be kept in standard aquariums measuring 10-15 gallons, but adults require significantly far more space, approximately 55 gallons, such make confident you strategy ahead. Bearded dragons are renowned escape artists, so make sure your tank has a tight fitting lid.

Once you could have chosen a tank, you ought to pick the type of bedding or substrate you’ll use. This substrate needs to be absorbent, digestible, and uncomplicated to clean. Most major pet stores cell bedding particularly made for bearded dragons, but you can something simple, like newspaper, as nicely. On the other hand, for the safety of your respective lizard, you need to steer clear of gravel, cedar shavings, kitty litter, and crushed gravel.

When your substrate is in place, it is possible to decorate the tank. Be creative! The more hiding areas and issues to climb on your lizard has, the happier he will likely be. Oak sticks make excellent climbing posts, and flat rocks are perfect for basking. Reside plants can also be added, as lengthy as they are non toxic.

Now which you have the tank decorated, it truly is time to start thinking about heat and light sources. Though it comes last, this would be the most essential part of habitat layout. The tank have to be kept between 78-88 degrees F during the day and no less than 70 degrees F at night. Incandescent light bulbs affixed for the lid from the tank are the finest way to supply heat and light source. You ought to also invest in a particular basking light to position over the area the lizard will bask.

Select a perfect bearded dragon habitat for you new pet.

Black Rat Snake

Ray Bosmans introduces the Black Rat Snake, a breed very common to Maryland and the Eastern United States. Read our publication for more information on snakes: www.hgic.umd.edu Shot and edited by: Alix Watson and Emily Heimsoth

Enclosures For Green Iguanas – Building Custom Reptile Cages

If you’re interested in building a large reptile cage for your iguana, first look around your house for an appropriate spot. For an adult iguana, you’ll need a large space, so you may need to use part of a guest room or garage. For juvenile to mid size iguanas, an unused closet in your house can be a perfect solution.

It’s important that iguanas have lots of room to move about freely, and because they like to climb, they do best in a tall cage. Iguanas need a structure that is at minimum one and half times as long as the iguana, and the depth of the cage should be equal to the iguana’s length. Adult iguanas should have a cage that’s six feet high at minimum, to allow them that room to climb. It’s also important that the habitat be kept at the proper temperature and humidity, and of course, it should be secure against escape.

It’s relatively uncomplicated to enclose a closet for use as a habitat for smaller iguanas. All you have to do is take off the front door and make a screen frame to fit over the opening. It’s also acceptable to go with a Plexiglas front cover, but in this case you’ll want to be certain that you allow for ventilation to avoid any overheating. Because the area is enclosed, it’s easier to manage the temperature and humidity. The upper area can be closed off with a wire panel, and basking lights and UV lights can be affixed above.

If your iguana is more than four feet in length, you may be best off building him an outdoor enclosure. As long as you live in a warmer climate, iguanas can do quite well outside, but if they will need to be protected from low temperatures when the the weather gets colder. It may help to have an indoor area, like a garage to use in cooler months. An advantage of outdoor enclosures is that it allows your iguana the opportunity to bask in natural UV rays from the sun, which is so important for it’s health.

If you use your imagination, you can find many other solutions for providing a habitat for your adult iguana. These are just a couple of ideas to get you started, remember there are plenty of ways to make your pet comfortable with your own customizing ideas. Don’t forget that your pet will live a longer and much healthier life if it has a proper habitat.

These tips for providing a home for your pet iguana are just scratching the surface. If you’d like a home for a smaller iguana, you can check out our page with iguana cages for sale and to learn even more about proper care for iguanas, visit our website, Green Iguanas as Pets.

Caring For Turtles – Five Critical Factors!

Turtles make great pets. Learning how to care for a pet turtle the right way is certainly worth the time, effort, and money you may spend. Remember, there is no excuse for the premature death of your turtle based on neglect or lack of knowledge. The five tips I’m about to share with you can help you provide a long, healthy, and happy life for your little friend.

Tip One:

Educate yourself. Learn about the specific breed of your turtle. Is it a Box Turtle, a Slider, a tortoise, or something else? Know its special dietary needs, temperature requirements, and social temperment. The more you know about your turtle, the better off you will be.

Tip Two:

A little elbow grease is required. You must set up your turtle’s tank, acquire the very best type of food for your turtle’s specific breed, and establish go-to veterinary care by simply calling around and finding a vet who has experience with turtles.

Tip Three:

Never use chlorinated water. This goes for your turtle’s swimming water just as much as its drinking water. At minimum, pour your tap water into a large container and let sit for 24 hours before adding it to the tank. This will allow the chlorine to dissipate. Ideally, however, you will want to use spring water.

Tip Four:

For 12 hrs. each day, a UVB lamp (mercury vapor) should be on an available to your turtle for basking purposes. This is an all-important step, as your turtle will be far more prone to premature death via bone disease if this lamp light is not made available. Please do not overlook the importance of the vitamin D producing mercury vapor lamp. It is literally the difference between life and death.

Tip Five:

Be sure to keep the temperature of your turtle’s tank in its ideal zone. What is this zone? Well, it really all depends upon the particular breed of your pet, so again, please educate yourself. A general guideline to follow is 80* F in the daytime and 70* F by night, but I can’t stress this enough… learn about your turtle’s specific needs based on its breed! To heat your tank, you should use an underwater heater.

Turtles can (and should) live an extremely long time, occasionally even outliving their owner(s)! There is really no excuse for letting your animal die prematurely. Take the time to learn about your turtle. Buy a book or two. This can truly make a huge difference in the length of time that you and your turtle can enjoy together! You will find that it is well worth your small investment of time and money to do things the right way from the beginning.

A turtle is a wonderful pet. They have more personality than many people realize. You’ve made a fantastic decision to educate yourself on being a good turtle owner! And there is still much to be learned…

Too many turtles are killed by neglect and lack of owner knowledge. Do NOT let that happen in your family. Learn how to care for a pet turtle the right way.

Ready to learn pet turtle care the right way? For the sake of your animal, I sure hope so. Go to: Caring For Turtles You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.

How To Get Rid Of Centipedes Without Extermination Or Loads Of Cash – And Make Them STAY Gone!

Centipedes are some of the most disturbing insects a family or individual can have running loose in their living environment. This is especially the case for the easily creeped out, as house centipedes are not necessarily super dangerous, but certainly look wicked and move in odd, fast, and very creepy-looking ways. I actually had to personally get rid of centipedes last year. This report will explain how I did it.

Now that I think about it, I truly don’t understand how we were able to let those freaks of nature reside with us for such a long time. Probably six or seven months came and went from the time we saw our first centipede to the time when we would easily see half a dozen or so on a nightly basis. Enough was enough. It was high time for us to get rid of centipedes fast.

Here’s the challenge I was looking at. My baby was only 13 months old at the time, and both my wife and I agreed that using toxic chemicals throughout the house was simply not an option. As I’m sure you know, one-year-olds can cover a lot of ground, love to put things in their mouths, and are generally some of these least cautious creatures around! So we adults had to take all the precautions, and insecticides were definitely out.

Moreover, we we were told by some close friends (who had recently had an extermination done) that the results these methods provide are only temporary, and require ongoing effort and money in order to keep the centipedes away long-term… this could get expensive!

Still, something had to be done. Luckily, we learned a way to get rid of house centipedes that was not only non hazardous, inexpensive, and fast, but also 100% permanent in nature! It came down to understanding the primary cause of our centipede infestation, which is crazy basic, yet completely true. Here it is… the centipedes totally DUG our home! They loved it. They had plenty to eat and drink, and loads of comfortable hiding places to give them privacy and keep them safe.

What we had to do became obvious. We had to CUT THEM OFF!

So we took away all of their creature comforts. We transformed our home into the kind of place that centipedes find totally disagreeable. We dried up the water. We blocked off key entry points and hiding places. We took away their food supply. We learned all the specifics in a great e-book that our friends recommended to us. It was so powerful that my household has been centipede-free going on 11 months now, and they began to disappear immediately after I got my hands on that e-book.

In summary, I would just like to say that if you’re having house centipede issues of your own, please avoid the pest control company, the bug sprays, and the traps. By simply cutting them off from all food, water, and “cubby-holes,” you are GUARANTEED to get rid of centipedes virtually overnight, and the effects will be permanent.

So are you ready to start getting rid of your house centipedes right away? Learn the step-by-step system that can make it happen for you in literally minutes from right now. Go here: Get Rid of Centipedes Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.

Green Iguana Care

It is smart to look into how to properly take care of an animal before deciding to make a commitment to owning one. Dogs have different needs than birds, and for that matter different breeds of dogs will have different needs than other breeds, and the same is true for most animal types. A person, or at least a well informed person, wouldn’t expect a salt water fish to thrive in a fresh water guppy bowl. When it comes to considering an iguana as a pet, they are no exception. The most popular pet iguana in the United States appears to be the green iguana.

You should carefully consider the type of enclosure and housing in order to provide proper care for your pet iguana. Proper iguana care starts with a decent sized enclosure which should be three times the length of your iguana whereas the height should be four times its length. A cage of seven feet long should be sufficient to house a baby iguana.

Iguanas need sunshine and enough moisture to keep them healthy. These conditions are the natural climate in Southern Florida. We can trick the iguana in believing it lives in such a climate by mimicking this environment through the installation of special light bulbs and a humidifier in the enclosure. Remember that an iguana’s favorite habitat is tropical and therefore hot and humid.

Food is also a very essential to your iguana’s health. This should not pose much of a problem as their staple diet mainly consists of green vegetables including mustard greens, escarole, kale and spinach

Clipping the nails of your pet iguana is also very important. You can use special clippers designed for dogs or cats.

A few other things to keep in mind regarding iguana care, is that iguana’s do carry Salmonella bacteria, so it’s not a good idea to have young children clean their cages, and a person should always wash their hands after handling an iguana or cleaning their cage. Also, an iguana doesn’t do better in a team, it prefers to be the only iguana on the premises.

Looking to find the best information on Iguana Care, then visit http://raisingiguanas.com to find the best advice on raising a Pet Iguana.

Proper Iguana Cage Setup For Green Iguana Cages – Keep Your Pet Healthy

If you’re thinking of buying an iguana, you may have a lot of questions about its care. One of the first concerns is knowing what kind of cage you need for your iguana. Iguanas have some basic health needs that should be met by their cage. If you are trying to find the best iguana cage for your pet, here’s a guide for you:

1) Your first consideration when buying an iguana cage should be size. Iguanas grow to be quite large – they can be as long as 6 feet when full grown, so it’s important to understand the commitment that you must make for its housing. There are people who convert a full room of their house into the iguana’s habitat! And don’t believe the myth that an iguana will stay small if kept in a small cage; it’s simply not true. A large cage may not be needed – or even best – if you’re buying a small juvenile iguana, but they do grow fast. Any cage you use should be large enough for the iguana to lay out straight, turn around comfortably, and of course, they need space to climb.

2) Iguanas, as a member of the reptile family are cold-blooded and unable to maintain a steady body temperature. However, it’s important that they stay warm enough to prevent their digestive system from slowing down. To do this, they depend on their environment. Your iguanas cage will need to have a heating element, usually heating lamps, to help him stay warm – but don’t forget you’ll need to have a spot where he can move away from the warm lights and cool down when he needs to.

3) Iguanas come from tropical climates where the humidity is very high, and because of this they have a tendency not to drink frequently. Because of this, it’s important that you maintain about a 70% humidity level in their cage to prevent dehydration. Kidney failure from dehydration is a common cause of death in pet iguanas, and can also cause skin conditions and problems while shedding. Keep your pet moist with frequent mistings, and daily baths can be another good way to prevent dehydration. A room humidifier is another solution, and if you have the money or know-how, it’s also possible to rig up a cage misting system that runs automatically.

4) Finally, let’s not forget the importance of light to an iguana. For their health, it’s vital that iguanas receive both UVA and UVB light, and the best way to do that is let them sit out in the sun. You should be aware though, that many plastic and glass habitats filter the UV rays – and can become hot as an oven inside if left out in the sun. A screened outdoor enclosure is the best option, but make sure that it’s secure and escape-proof, and don’t forget to have a shaded area. It’s also necessary to have lights in your iguana’s cage that provide an artificial source of the needed UV rays. This way your pet won’t suffer during shorter winter days or when you can’t take it out for direct sunlight.

With such a wide variety of iguana cages available, from plastic or glass walls to metal bars, it can be hard to know what’s best. If you’re on the search for iguana cages for sale, come and see the different iguana cage setups available on Lizzie Blount’s iguana habitat page.

Plastic Snakes For All Occasions

Plastic snakes are pretty cool, if only because they can be made to look so life-like. But, to the majority of people, they’re creepy too, just like the real thing. A lot of people don’t like snakes at all. Some absolutely HATE snakes and would do just about anything to avoid them. Others, oddly enough, like them so much they keep them as pets. There are two extremes, as with most things.

Toy snakes have really become authentic looking these days. A good one can easily pass as the real thing and they’re sometimes used to play practical jokes on people. It may not be advisable to put one in Mom’s bathtub but you’re sure to get a reaction of some sort. Or maybe on the floor of the shower would be better. How funny would that be?

There’s a handy tip in the Farmer’s Almanac regarding the use of fake snakes. They recommend placing several around your garden to discourage uninvited guests visiting your vegetable patch. A realistic looking snake will scare away rats, rabbits and mice just like a real snake will. They don’t know the difference, but you’ll see a real difference in your plants’ well-being.

There are other places these pretend snakes can be used for rodent deterrence. These include the greenhouse, the swimming pool and the patio area. Rats eventually become immune to rat bait but will never lose their fear of being a snake’s next meal. Plus this method of rodent control is so much more environmentally friendly. It’s a great solution to a common problem.

In a totally unrelated area, plumbing, devices of the same name are becoming more and more popular too. Drain snakes are used to unclog drains and traps. They used to be made exclusively from metal which made them a pain to use although they did the job fairly well. Using a heavy, rusty and cumbersome snake was just a pain, but the best way known to unclog a clog. Things have changed.

The newer drain uncloggers are made from plastic instead of metal. The development of stronger and more durable plastics has made this possible. They’re lighter in weight, easier to use and won’t rust. But that’s not the best part. Some of these units come equipped with an attachment that turns a normal snake into a water jet blaster that thoroughly cleans drainpipes. It’s a big improvement from the older methods.

Water-powered drain cleaners work great and can save a lot of hassles. They can also save you money because, as you may know, plumbers aren’t cheap. You can easily keep your own drains clean and prevent them from clogging. That way, you won’t have to call in the expensive professional to ‘bail you out’.

So now you know a little bit about plastic snakes and some of their uses. They’re good for practical jokes (maybe), good for protecting your garden from unwanted guests and quite useful for fixing clogs in drains and/or preventing them in the first place. You can find applications for any and all of these uses online and probably find a few uses that weren’t mentioned. The Internet’s great, isn’t it?

plastic toy snakes That being said, it’s a good idea to get the enclosure, or vivarium, ready for the snake to move in before buying one. However, there are several different ways you can deter the birds from your house. Wild-caught ball pythons are known to have heavy parasite infestation and are picky eaters.