The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Bearded Dragons The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Bearded Dragons
Showing posts with label Bearded Dragons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bearded Dragons. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

If You Could Own Any Exotic Animal - Which One Would It Be and Why?


I have always been fascinated by exotic animals, but never had the desire to have one as a pet. An exotic pet is a rare or unusual animal pet, or an animal kept as a pet which is not commonly thought of as a pet.

The reasons for owning exotic pets are as varied as the species of the pets themselves. One may buy a pet for the aesthetic qualities of its coat, the impression that owning such a rare or expensive animal makes on others, or even for the unique offspring that may result from its union with another rare breed.

If I could own an exotic animal, my choice would be the Hyacinth Macaw…if I could afford one! I love this bird because of its beautiful majestic look, its easy going demeanor and that it can be taught to talk!



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Bearded Dragons



The two most common pet bearded dragons are Pogona Vitticeps and Pogona Barbata. They are found in the rocky, semi-desert areas of Australia and Tasmania.  Bearded dragons are ground dwellers, but will climb rocks and low branches.

The name Bearded Dragon comes from the beard of adult males
  • Adults will reach a total length of 15-20 inches.
  • Always provide a water pan that is large enough for the whole dragon to soak its body.  Lizards often defecate in their water, so it must be replaced daily and the pan disinfected at least once a week.
  • Bearded dragons make excellent reptile pets.
  • They have the best temperaments of all lizards.
  • They are generally docile
  • Adults typically are 19-23 inches and weight at least 3/4 of a pound
  • They are active during daylight hours
  • Their color ranges from the sandy, tan, beige, red, orange, and gold.
  • They are omnivores, they need a balanced diet of meat and vegetables.
  • Some foods that you may feed your bearded dragons -crickets; pinhead crickets, mealworms, wax worms – (high in fat, so feed sparingly), king worms, earthworms and cockroaches.




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Chinchillas


For those of you who are not familiar with chinchillas, they are members of the rodent family, and originate from the rocky mountain range of the Andes in South America. They were discovered by Spanish explorers in the 1500's, they were named after the Chincha Indians

They are a type of rodent, but some find them to be much cuter than mice, rats or hamsters.  They are around 12 inches long and usually weigh between 18 and 20 ounces.


  • Most are shy
  • They are agile jumpers and can jump up to five feet above their head.
  • They must regularly bathe in dust or volcanic ash to remove oil and moisture that gathers in their thick fur.
  • They  have very sensitive digestive systems, and feeding a good quality diet appropriate for chinchillas is essential to their health.
  • There are three basic things that they need in their diet, pellets, hay and treats.  Pellets and hay do make up most of the diet, but treats are still important.
  • They like to chew on things to keep their teeth sharp.
  • Today, hunting the wild chinchilla is banned and they are protected by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Animals.




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Chimpanzee


Chimpanzees are great apes that are closely related to humans. Male chimpanzees are larger than the females. They have very long arms, and a short body. Much of their body is covered with long black hair, but the face, ears, fingers and toes are bare.

They are mainly found in rain forests and wet savannas, and they spend equal time on land and in trees.


  • They live to be 50 years old and grow almost as big as a human male
  •  Live in groups called troops, of some 30 to 80 individuals.
  • They are among the noisiest of all wild animals, and use a complicated system of sounds to communicate with each other.
  • They hold hands and groom each other
  • They are difficult pets
  • A full-grown chimp will climb your curtains, overturn your furniture
  • Veterinarians who can treat primates are both uncommon and costly
  • If you get one as a pet expect it to have a strong, sharp smell. It's a smell that would be hard to get rid of because chimps are afraid of water
  • Most will defecate whenever, and wherever they want once they learn to remove their diapers.
  • A cage that can hold a chimp is costly.
  • They look for food in the forests during the day, eating leaves, fruit, seeds, tree bark, plant bulbs, tender plant shoots, and flowers. They also eat termites, ants, and small animals.





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Bengal Cat


The Bengal is a large, sleek and very muscular cat with its hind-quarters slightly higher than its shoulders with a thick tail that is carried low. Its wild appearance is enhanced by it’s distinctive spotted or marbled coat. The different coat patterns are either leopard spotted or marbled, on a background color of brown, or sometimes white.

They prefer the company of other cats, however, they demand a good deal of attention and affection,and enjoys being an integral part of the family.


  • They are very demanding.
  • Bengals use their paws like hands and will cradle their toys, on their chests and hide them from other pets.
  • Very energetic
  • Bengals like water
  • Bengals should never be allowed to roam freely outdoors as they can be stolen, and later sold.
  • They should not be fed commercial cat food.
  • Their diet should be very high in protein.
  • They tend to climb inside the food bag before you can pour it out, and treats such as chicken pieces are carried off and guarded proudly.
  • Some bengals can suffer from lifelong Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
  • If you live in a large city try and find a specialty pet store that carries products to help minimize bowel distress.
  • Please consider speaking with Bengal breeders before purchasing one.




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Sugar glider



Sugar Gliders are marsupials, the same family as kangaroos and koala bears.They make wonderful pets. They are very social, should have a good deal of social interaction with their owners.
  • They can live to be 12-14 years in captivity.
  • Female sugar gliders have a pouch on their belly where they raise their babies for two and a half months after they are born.
  • They  are not great housetraining candidates.
  • Their nails are sharp and will scratch if they need to dig in while climbing or landing on you.
  • They also have sharp teeth, and will bite if they feel threatened or frightened.
  • It’s always best if you have more than one Glider.
  • Spend as much time with it as possible, playing and enjoying its naturally friendly nature
  • Male sugar gliders go bald. They have one bald spot on their head, which is really a scent gland.
  • Their diet consist of  fresh fruits and vegetables, veterinarian-approved protein-based pellet food and a veterinarian-approved multivitamin.



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Kinkajou


The Kinkajou, also known as the honey bear is a rainforest mammal.
Related to the olingos, coatis, raccoons, and the ringtail and cacomistle. Kinkajous may be mistaken for ferrets or monkeys, but are not closely related. A native to Central and South America, closely related to the raccoon and coati.


  • They will throw food
  • They are a common pet in El Salvador, and often called micoleon, which translates to “lion monkey”
  • They are nocturnal and that has become the most common complaint from kinkajou owners.
  • Most active in between the hours of 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.
  • They do not like being awake during the day.
  • They can be become stressed and possibly aggressive if their sleep is disrupted.
  • They need to sleep somewhere quite, away from everyone else.
  • This pet does not have a noticeable odor but can be messy.
  • They will eliminate when and where they see fit.



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Squirrel Monkey


You should never purchase a pet monkey on a whim. They require caretakers who are knowledgeable in their husbandry. Most primate species will live 25 years in captivity, with Capuchins  living up to 50 years in captive settings. Most people think they want a monkey until they see what is really involved in caring for one.

Squirrel Monkeys are commonly seen in the Central American rainfores. even though. They average about 1 foot in length, with the their tails adding on another full foot. Squirrel monkeys weigh 1.5-2.5 lbs.
  • They are very shy and skiddish
  • Are active during the day and rest at night.
  • Their tails help them balance over trees and is not used for climbing.
  • The female monkey has a pseudo penis to show dominance over smaller monkeys.
  • They are free spirited animals meant for the wild, so keeping squirrel monkeys as pets is a big challenge.
  • They should be fed twice a day.
  • Vet care is expensive, about 3-5 times more than dog vet care because an exotic animal vet is required.
  • Make sure that fresh water is available at all times.
  • Make sure that your fresh vegetables and fresh fruits are washed before feeding.
  • A varied diet is very important to avoid boredom and loss of appetite.
  • Commercial primate diet should be included in their meal because it is very balanced and therefore healthy food for your monkey.
  • Depending on the size of your monkey you may have to the food in bigger or smaller pieces.
  • Their diet consists of fresh fruit like mango, apple, papaya, grapes, banana, fresh vegetables like carrots, cucumber, fennel, onions, cauliflower and tomatoes.
  • They like cooked vegetables like peas, cauliflower, green beans, baby cereal, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cooked meats like chicken and turkey, cooked fish, rice, seeds, grains, nuts, insects like mealworms and grasshoppers




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Reticulated Python


Snakes are fascinating, and with regular handling can be quite tame. However, snakes are not the right pets for everyone. Often regarded as a more challenging snake to maintain, the reticulated python can be a rewarding animal to keep as long as you understand their needs.

A native of  tropical Southeast Asia, the Reticulated Python is full grown at approximately 14 to 18 feet in length
  • Requires a very secure enclosure
  • Always keep its head pointed away from you and others at all times, especially with easily spooked animals
  •  Needs  two people be present to handle it.
  • It has an extremely low metabolic rate, and can go without food for long periods of time.
  • They extremely food oriented animals, and they love to eat
  • Their natural diet includes warm-blooded prey; mostly mammals and occasionally birds. Small pythons (up to 10-12 feet long) eat mainly small rodents like rats. Larger pythons eat prey such as other primates and pigs
  • Grow very large and have a reputation for nasty temperaments
  • There have been a number of cases where large pythons have caused serious injury and even death to humans



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Ball Python


Ball pythons are so named because when threatened they roll themselves into a tight ball, tucking their head inside their coils. Young ball pythons grow about a foot a year for three years. Adults generally do not grow to more than 90–120 cm (35.4–47.2 ) in length, although some specimens have reached 152 cm and even 182 cm (5–6 feet), but this is very rare.

The natural range of the Ball Python is western Africa to central Africa. They can be found in open forests, as well as drier Savannahs. They can live for a long time with proper care - up to about 50 years, although 20-30 appears to be more typical.


  • The Ball Python is generally well-mannered, and will seldom bite
  • .They prefer dark places for sleeping and, as they are nocturnal, they like the dark place during our daylight hours; they also like to sleep in something that is close around them.
  • Routine veterinary care for newly acquired snakes is essential.
  • Many of the parasites infesting ball pythons and other reptiles can be transmitted to humans and other reptiles.
  • Females tend to be slightly bigger than males maturing at an average of 4-4.5 feet. Males usually average around 3-3.5 feet.
  • In the wild, the diet consists mostly of small mammals, such as African soft-furred rats, shrews and striped mice.



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Hyacinth Macaw


The Hyacinth Macaw is found primarily in riverside topical rain forest and palm swamps. It is the most majestic of all parrots. The price of a weaned, domestically bred hyacinth macaw, 8 months to 2 years of age, is approximately $8,500.00 U.S. dollars.


  • The most easy going of all macaws.
  • If you plan to get one as a pet, get a young one after weaning or one that has been socialized.
  • Very affectionate
  • They need attention and love.
  • The largest flying parrot species in the world
  • They have a very strong beak for eating their natural foods, which include the kernel of hard nuts and seeds.
  • They should have veterinary checkups annually or every 18 months
  • They are mature and begin breeding at seven years of age.
  • The Hyacinth Macaw is an endangered species due to over collection for the cage bird trade and habitat loss.
  • Hyacinths eat mainly raw nuts in shell such as macadamias, Brazil nuts, walnuts, filberts, almonds, and hazel nuts and fresh coconut.
  • Hand rearing of this species can be difficult and, tragically, many chicks die each year at the hands of inexperienced hand-feeders.




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Mona Monkey


The Mona Monkey has brown agouti fur with a white rump. Its tail and legs are black and the face is blue-grey with a dark stripe across the face. The mona monkey carries food in cheek pouches.

There is an introduced population of mona monkeys on the island of Grenada in the Caribbean. They can be found primarily in rain forests, toward the middle and top of the trees.


  • They are diurnal and active mostly during the early morning or late afternoon.
  • They are loud and noisy
  • Height is 13 to 21 inches. Males weigh about 10 pounds; females, about 6 pounds.
  • They live for up to 30 years
  • Mona monkeys respond to danger by freezing in place.
  • Mona monkeys live in groups of 8-35 (average 12), typically consisting of one male and numerous females. They are diurnal and arboreal, and move quadrupedally through the forest.
  • Their diets consist of fruits, small leaves and even insects




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White Lion


The White Lion is the most expensive pet in the world, however, it is a cat. It’s no house cat, though. The white lion cub can cost as much as $138,000 and hails from South Africa, where it was seen as a divine creature by some locals. Its rarity can be attributed to the fact that the white lion is not a subspecies of lion but, rather, the result of a recessive gene.
  • The white lion’s coat lends itself less to hunting and more to being hunted
  • They are not albino as they have pigmentation which shows particularly in eye, paw pad and lip color. It’s white lion's eye color is similar to the regular lion.
  • Due to its price, demand, upkeep and scarcity, the white lion remains one of the most difficult animals in the world to obtain.
  • The white lion is exactly the same as a normal lion, but with one key difference, their fur is a dazzling snow white.
  • Just like with normal lions, the white lion can reach an excess of 500 pounds when full grown.

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Saturday, March 7, 2015

Do You Know What The Best Pet Reptiles Are For Children?


Picture of a boy with iguana
Reptiles can make great pets for children, provided the right approach is taken.

Many people buying reptiles, especially kids, can get so caught up in the “coolness factor” of the animals that they surrender to impulse buying, which is when an animal is purchased without any real thought as to its suitability as a pet for that particular person — not just now but in the future, too.

Many reptiles can live a long time. Will your 12-year-old still want that tortoise when he or she (the kid, not the tortoise) is 20 years old? How about 50 years old? Tortoises are famous for being long-lived, but many herps can live longer than 10 years.

Cute baby reptiles can get big. Visit an animal rescue and ask how often they take in green iguanas, large constrictor snakes or African spurred tortoises. Additional reptiles, such as most monitors, tegus,red-eared sliders and others, may outgrow enclosures that were fine for them as babies but are no longer.

Will the animal get the proper care? Proper husbandry is a must for any animal whether it’s scaly, furry or feathery. Knowing how long animals will live and how big they get is important, but a herp’s specific care requirements should be researched, and determined realistic for a youngster to provide, before it is brought home.

The good news is not all reptiles are very demanding pets. This is one huge reason why some make great pets for children. Read on, and you’ll find there are seven other reasons why reptiles make great pets for young people.

1. Reptiles are “Low-Maintenance” Pets.
Pets such as dogs and cats, though beloved by millions, require a lot of attention. Reptiles don’t.

For one thing, pet reptiles don’t need to be fed every day. Every other day is fine, and some don’t even need to be fed that much. Although not recommended for children, huge pythons have been known to go a year without eating. I would never recommend that a pet snake be fed only once a year, but only feeding them a couple times a week is fine.

When discussing pets, the issues of hair and the maintenance that goes along with it often come up. Reptiles don't need to be groomed.

Another facet of a reptile’s low-maintenance reputation is in regard to the animal’s need for owner interaction. This is aside from what’s required for general health, such as feeding and cleaning. Reptiles need both, like any pet.

Reptiles don’t crave affection from their owners. Although many accept handling, most are simply tolerating it. Some may actually enjoy being handled, and many reptile owners say their pets love being held. The bottom line, though, is that reptiles are also content to be left alone.
   
2. Reptiles Don’t Require Much Space
You already know how large a reptile gets is an important nugget of knowledge to possess. Some can get very big. African spurred tortoise hatchlings, for instance, are the essence of cute when you see them marching around their enclosures like little tanks. But over the years those cute little tortoises turn into behemoths. Granted, the adults could still be considered cute, but I’m not sure how cute you will think they are if one has burrowed into your backyard and unearthed your entire sprinkler system.

The reptile species recommended for children remain a manageable size and will not require a room-sized enclosure. Most will do fine in a 20-gallon terrarium or enclosure of similar dimensions: approximately 3 feet long and 1½ feet wide. Some, such as a single crested or leopard gecko, or a kingsnake, could even be kept in a 10-gallon terrarium. Turtles and tortoises will need more space. The leopard tortoise, for instance, can grow to about 20 inches in length and weigh 30 pounds; it will eventually need a pen in which to roam.

Yet the space a reptile requires for exercise is meager compared to some pets. The space within their enclosures is all they require.

3. Reptiles are Easy to Feed
Insects and rodents are readily available. Plus, some reptiles from my list such as bearded dragons and tortoises eat fruits and veggies. There are commercial diets for reptiles, too.

If you keep one of the snakes on the list but don’t like the idea of feeding it live mice or rats, there is an alternative: frozen rodents. They are widely available. Just remember to thaw them before offering them to your snake, and don’t use the microwave, or things could get gross. You can use hot water to thaw them. You may have to jiggle them a bit using long forceps to get the snake to strike.

One argument for feeding frozen rodents rather than living ones is that live rodents can bite snakes or harbor parasites that may harm the pets. Such parasites die during the freezing process.

Many hobbyists prefer to feed live rodents to their snakes. Many find a snake’s feeding behavior interesting to watch. When feeding live rodents, though, never leave one in a snake enclosure unattended, especially overnight. A live mouse or rat could gnaw on your snake and cause it severe injury.

When it comes to lizards, turtles and tortoises, a variety of commercially prepared diets are available. These are manufactured with the animals’ nutrition requirements in mind. Although they could be considered complete diets, it’s a good idea to vary your pet’s menu. For example, owners of bearded dragons could offer crickets one day, a salad the next and then a commercial diet.

To make herp food healthier for your pets, you often want to add a calcium, vitamin and/or mineral supplement. Usually in powder form, these supplements can be applied to insects. Place bugs in a plastic bag with some of the supplement, inflate the bag with air, and shake it up and down until the insects are coated with the power. Then offer them to your lizard. Powder can also be sprinkled onto veggies and fruits.

4. Keeping Reptiles Provides a Lesson in Responsibility.
Being fairly “low-impact” animals, reptiles are better candidates to teach youngsters how to care for a pet than more high-maintenance animals. They are less likely to suffer the consequences of neglect as quickly as other pets.

No pet should suffer neglect, but children are known to occasionally forget to feed pets or clean their cages. Reptiles hold up to this sort of situation better than other pets. Of course, if the situation continues for too long, it’s not healthy for the reptile either. At that point the parent may have to step in, but the basic principle holds true: reptile care is not as much of a chore as caring for other types of pets.

If a feeding is missed or other care requirement temporarily neglected, parents can discuss with their children how important it is to care for the reptile properly and correct the behavior accordingly. In the meantime, the reptile likely is none the worse for wear (unless the neglect is allowed to go on for too long — and nobody should let that happen).

5. Reptiles Foster Interest in the Natural World.
Reptiles are more exotic than other pets, which is a large part of their appeal. This is also the reason many television nature shows on Animal Planet and Discovery Channel focus on reptiles. Nature shows are often children’s first exposure to reptiles and can provide the motivation for their wanting to own some.

6. Reptiles Don’t Pose Much Risk of Personal Injury.
Sure, a pet reptile can bite. However, a bite from any of the reptiles on my list would be pretty inconsequential.

Deep within the souls of some people there’s something that recoils at the thought of a snakebite. It’s true that some snakes can deliver an impressive bite. Reticulated pythons have large fangs, and the bite of a venomous snake, of course, should definitely be avoided. But these snakes are not for kids or beginners.

A bite from more kid-friendly snakes, such as corn snakes, ball pythons or California kingsnakes, are minor wounds. These snakebites typically consist of a lightning-quick jab followed by a pinprick-sized bead of blood (or two) at the bite site. No pain is typically involved. I’m sure some particularly enthusiastic biters could inflict pain, but kid-friendly snakes are not known to be in that league.

All animals can be unpredictable at times, but the chance of a Russian tortoise, leopard gecko or other animal on my recommended species list inflicting serious injury is pretty much zero.

7. Reptiles are Quiet.
Reptiles don’t make as much noise as other pets; they certainly don’t bark or yowl.

It’s true that some geckos may emit slight barking noises, and frogs can make a variety of sounds. But for the most part, reptiles are a quiet bunch. They aren’t likely to disturb housemates or neighbors.

Hamsters, rats and other rodents also can be quiet, but often they are nocturnal. If they’re kept in kids’ rooms, their nighttime activities and noises could distract children from falling to sleep.

8. Reptiles appeal to kids and many adults. It’s their exotic, some people consider it almost alien  demeanor and appearance. They never cease to fascinate.

There are plenty of reasons for youngsters to keep reptiles, and there are plenty of reptiles that make great pets. So the next time kids ask for a boa constrictor, instead of flat-out saying, “No,” maybe parents could say, “How about a corn snake instead?”

And to any young people thinking about hitting up their parents for a pet reptile, remember this: Do your research first, and ask only for a pet you know you can care for properly. If you don’t do that, you and the reptile could end up having bad experiences. If you see a reptile you like, read about it, learn all you can, and then approach your parents. Tell them why you think that reptile is perfect for you, and perhaps they’ll agree.

12 suitable pet reptiles for kids:


  • bearded dragon
  • leopard gecko
  • crested gecko
  • corn snake
  • ball python
  • California kingsnake
  • red-footed tortoise
  • Russian tortoise
  • leopard tortoise
  • red-eared slider
  • painted turtle
  • common musk turtle

Captive Bred Is Always Best
Young hobbyists starting out in reptiles should be given the best chance of success, and captive-bred animals provide just that. Many species described in this article are widely bred in captivity, so buying a captive-bred pet should not be difficult. Captive-bred animals are already acclimated to captivity. They won’t stress out as much as a wild reptile that’s been captured and shipped. Many of these can become fine pets, but others harbor illnesses that might not be apparent at first. Such health issues are less likely in captive-bred reptiles.

Resist the Impulse
If you see a really cool reptile at a pet store, resist buying it unless you already know you can take care of it long term. If you are unfamiliar with the animal, go home and do some research first. Get the pet later. It’s better to do it this way than to buy the reptile first, take it home, and then find out it will eventually weigh 100 pounds. Impulse buying leads to trouble. Learn before you buy!

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