animal care : "Heating is essential for lizards.
Below a certain temperature the lizard's body simply does not work. Above a certain temperature their bodies will go out of control. Either extreme will kill a lizard, and each type has its own temperature requirements.
Lizards have a temperature sense controlled by a gland located under a special scale on the top of their head called a 'third eye'. The lizard will move from area to area to regulate itself, this is called 'behavior thermoregulation'.
Diet - Feeding Your Lizard:
Lizards are commonly insectivores with some of the larger species being partially or totally vegetarians. Their digestive systems are designed to eat whole animals for a complete diet.
Good food sources include crickets because they contain very little chitin (the shell or indigestible exoskeleton in insects). Mealworms can be offered occasionally, though they are not as good because they have more chitin than meat. This can eventually block the lizards gut if this is the only food they are offered. Soft larvae foods like waxworms and butterworms, pinkies for larger lizards, and occasionally a good quality, meaty dog or cat foodare also good choices.
Bright green and yellow vegetables and various fruits are good, even offered occasionally to the confirmed insectivore lizard. Iceberg lettuce is not recommended due to its lack of vitamins and food value, only providing mostly liquid and some fiber.
It is very difficult to duplicate a lizards natural diet, so in captivity we need to add vitamin and calcium supplements to prevent deficiencies.
Provide your pet lizard with a bowl of fresh water daily, or water that drips on plant leaves for those who need to lick up dew drops. "
Saturday, July 7, 2007
animal care |
animal care : "Housing:
Understanding your lizard's characteristics will help you determine what type of housing your pet will need to keep it happy and healthy. Your pet's housing is what provides its sense of security.
Keep in mind the lizards size, they need to stretch out to full length and be able to move around.
Keep the decor simple and suitable for the type of lizard you are housing.
The enclosure needs a secure, escape proof top or access opening.
There must to be fresh water for the lizard to drink and occasionally bathe in.
For most lizards that are not nocturnal, you will need full spectrum lighting 10 to 12 hours per day so they can absorb and utilize calcium and vitamin D.
Good ventilation and air circulation are important to prevent excessive humidity. Humidity can cause bacterial and fungal growth, and these can lead to infections.
The material on the floor, the substrate, should be absorbent (like bark or rabbit pellets) or else use a reptile carpet. It is not recommended to use gravel, stones, soil or dirt as they are hard to keep clean. Provide sand in a plastic box for burrowing lizards.
All lizards need a hiding place of some sort. A climbing limb with vining, a bark slab, a piece of splinter-free driftwood, a box or a ceramic log placed on the cool side of the cage, all these can work well as hiding places.
Plants are fine for some lizards, but not so good for large ground dwelling lizards like monitors. "
Understanding your lizard's characteristics will help you determine what type of housing your pet will need to keep it happy and healthy. Your pet's housing is what provides its sense of security.
Keep in mind the lizards size, they need to stretch out to full length and be able to move around.
Keep the decor simple and suitable for the type of lizard you are housing.
The enclosure needs a secure, escape proof top or access opening.
There must to be fresh water for the lizard to drink and occasionally bathe in.
For most lizards that are not nocturnal, you will need full spectrum lighting 10 to 12 hours per day so they can absorb and utilize calcium and vitamin D.
Good ventilation and air circulation are important to prevent excessive humidity. Humidity can cause bacterial and fungal growth, and these can lead to infections.
The material on the floor, the substrate, should be absorbent (like bark or rabbit pellets) or else use a reptile carpet. It is not recommended to use gravel, stones, soil or dirt as they are hard to keep clean. Provide sand in a plastic box for burrowing lizards.
All lizards need a hiding place of some sort. A climbing limb with vining, a bark slab, a piece of splinter-free driftwood, a box or a ceramic log placed on the cool side of the cage, all these can work well as hiding places.
Plants are fine for some lizards, but not so good for large ground dwelling lizards like monitors. "
animal care |
animal care : "Always wash your hands before and after handling!
Lizard Characteristics:
Lizards come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors, temperaments, and habits. They range in size from 1' (3cm), like the tiny gekkonids to 11 feet (3.5m) or more in the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard.
Generally speaking small lizards can live 3 to 5 years while large lizards can live upwards of 20 years.
All lizards have two lungs, unlike some snakes which have only one lung, and amphibians which breathe through their skins as well as through lungs. Their skin structure, a thick horny layer, provides them protection from heat, dryness and sunlight. They will molt or shed their skin generally in patches on an ongoing basis, though occasionally some will shed their whole skin at one time.
Lizards thermoregulate their body temperature by following the sun. As 'sunseekers', they seek out warmth for hunting and digesting and choose cool hiding places when they are too hot.
Lizard Movement:
Many lizards are great climbers, even able to walk across walls and ceilings. With muscular wiry legs, they are great jumpers and they use their long tails to orient their direction. The lizards trunk and tail often work together in a lateral body and limb movement for a forward and jumping motion.
Some lizards will use their tail as a means of defense or will practice automony where they simply shed it. The tail will regrow, though usually it will be shorter and not as elegant at the original tail.
There are some lizards are so terrestrial that their bodies are snake-like. They use a wriggling or swimming motion for forward movement. They have very little development in the legs, and there are even some lizards with no legs at all. Ground lizards are often heavy with short legs and short stumpy tails. "
Lizard Characteristics:
Lizards come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors, temperaments, and habits. They range in size from 1' (3cm), like the tiny gekkonids to 11 feet (3.5m) or more in the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard.
Generally speaking small lizards can live 3 to 5 years while large lizards can live upwards of 20 years.
All lizards have two lungs, unlike some snakes which have only one lung, and amphibians which breathe through their skins as well as through lungs. Their skin structure, a thick horny layer, provides them protection from heat, dryness and sunlight. They will molt or shed their skin generally in patches on an ongoing basis, though occasionally some will shed their whole skin at one time.
Lizards thermoregulate their body temperature by following the sun. As 'sunseekers', they seek out warmth for hunting and digesting and choose cool hiding places when they are too hot.
Lizard Movement:
Many lizards are great climbers, even able to walk across walls and ceilings. With muscular wiry legs, they are great jumpers and they use their long tails to orient their direction. The lizards trunk and tail often work together in a lateral body and limb movement for a forward and jumping motion.
Some lizards will use their tail as a means of defense or will practice automony where they simply shed it. The tail will regrow, though usually it will be shorter and not as elegant at the original tail.
There are some lizards are so terrestrial that their bodies are snake-like. They use a wriggling or swimming motion for forward movement. They have very little development in the legs, and there are even some lizards with no legs at all. Ground lizards are often heavy with short legs and short stumpy tails. "
animal care |
animal care : "How to Choose Your Lizard:
When deciding which lizard is for you, keep the following basic considerations in mind:
How much do you want to spend?
How much space do you have for it?
What type of disposition do you want in your pet?
How hardy is it and how easy is it to feed?
What color, shape and size do you want and is that lizard readily available?
Many reptiles are protected so check with authorities in your area on laws governing your selection.
Handling Your Lizard:
Handle your lizard only when necessary, generally this is only to move it to a place where it will get some exercise. Be gentle so as not to bruise or hurt it. Never pick it up by the head or tail. The majority of pet lizards are small and incapable of any real harm if they bite. However if you have a lizard that is prone to biting or is large, you can use gloves. Some lizards such as iguanas have sharp claws and can cause deep scratches.
Safe handling is knowing how to grab a lizard:
Small lizards up to about 7 3/4' (20cm). Grasp by placing your hand over the body and restraining the neck area with your thumb and forefinger.
Medium lizards up to about 19 1/2' (50cm). Grasp with one hand on the section of the lizard where you can straddle across its back at the front legs. Use your other hand to take hold of the hips.
Large lizards over 19 1/2' (50cm). Grab firmly around the neck with one hand and around the waist with the other and pull it into your body under your elbow to restrain the legs and tail. Two people may be necessary for large lizards. They can inflict deep bites and deep scratches with their claws! "
When deciding which lizard is for you, keep the following basic considerations in mind:
How much do you want to spend?
How much space do you have for it?
What type of disposition do you want in your pet?
How hardy is it and how easy is it to feed?
What color, shape and size do you want and is that lizard readily available?
Many reptiles are protected so check with authorities in your area on laws governing your selection.
Handling Your Lizard:
Handle your lizard only when necessary, generally this is only to move it to a place where it will get some exercise. Be gentle so as not to bruise or hurt it. Never pick it up by the head or tail. The majority of pet lizards are small and incapable of any real harm if they bite. However if you have a lizard that is prone to biting or is large, you can use gloves. Some lizards such as iguanas have sharp claws and can cause deep scratches.
Safe handling is knowing how to grab a lizard:
Small lizards up to about 7 3/4' (20cm). Grasp by placing your hand over the body and restraining the neck area with your thumb and forefinger.
Medium lizards up to about 19 1/2' (50cm). Grasp with one hand on the section of the lizard where you can straddle across its back at the front legs. Use your other hand to take hold of the hips.
Large lizards over 19 1/2' (50cm). Grab firmly around the neck with one hand and around the waist with the other and pull it into your body under your elbow to restrain the legs and tail. Two people may be necessary for large lizards. They can inflict deep bites and deep scratches with their claws! "
Thursday, July 5, 2007
animal care |
animal care : "The Happy Purr of a Cat
All domestic cats are born with the purring ability. A queen will purr while giving birth. It is unknown whether this is because of happy anticipation, or whether it is a relaxing 'mantra.' Kittens instinctively purr when nursing, and the momcat purrs right back at them. Your adult cat will purr at the drop of a hat whenever you're near, and especially when you are holding or petting him.
Cat purrs will range from a deep rumble to a raspy, broken sound, to a high-pitched trill, depending on the physiology and/or the mood of a cat. A cat will often 'wind-down' when going to sleep, with a long purring sigh that drops melodically from a high to a low pitch. Does your cat's purr sometimes sound like an idling diesel engine? That's because at the lower range of 26 Hertz, the velocities are nearly the same.
The Healing Power of the Purr
Cats are often used as 'therapy animals' in convalescent hospitals, or in retirement residences. It is an accepted fact that cat owners have lower blood pressure, especially in older people. The human-feline bond is never quite so close as when a person is holding and petting a purring, vibrating bundle of fur on her lap, and all is well with the world. You may even find yourself purring in response."
All domestic cats are born with the purring ability. A queen will purr while giving birth. It is unknown whether this is because of happy anticipation, or whether it is a relaxing 'mantra.' Kittens instinctively purr when nursing, and the momcat purrs right back at them. Your adult cat will purr at the drop of a hat whenever you're near, and especially when you are holding or petting him.
Cat purrs will range from a deep rumble to a raspy, broken sound, to a high-pitched trill, depending on the physiology and/or the mood of a cat. A cat will often 'wind-down' when going to sleep, with a long purring sigh that drops melodically from a high to a low pitch. Does your cat's purr sometimes sound like an idling diesel engine? That's because at the lower range of 26 Hertz, the velocities are nearly the same.
The Healing Power of the Purr
Cats are often used as 'therapy animals' in convalescent hospitals, or in retirement residences. It is an accepted fact that cat owners have lower blood pressure, especially in older people. The human-feline bond is never quite so close as when a person is holding and petting a purring, vibrating bundle of fur on her lap, and all is well with the world. You may even find yourself purring in response."
animal care |
animal care : "The Physiology of Purring
There seems to be two schools of thought here.
The most popular one is quoted here:
One study determined that purring involves activation of nerves within the voice box. These nerve signals cause vibration of the vocal cords while the diaphragm serves as a piston pump, pushing air in and out of the vibrating cords, thus creating a musical hum. Veterinarian Neils C. Pederson, author of Feline Husbandry, believes that purring is initiated from within the central nervous system and is a voluntary act. In other words, cats purr only when they want to.²
The other theory is that the sound comes more from vibrating blood vessels than in the voicebox itself. "
There seems to be two schools of thought here.
The most popular one is quoted here:
One study determined that purring involves activation of nerves within the voice box. These nerve signals cause vibration of the vocal cords while the diaphragm serves as a piston pump, pushing air in and out of the vibrating cords, thus creating a musical hum. Veterinarian Neils C. Pederson, author of Feline Husbandry, believes that purring is initiated from within the central nervous system and is a voluntary act. In other words, cats purr only when they want to.²
The other theory is that the sound comes more from vibrating blood vessels than in the voicebox itself. "
animal care |
animal care : "Feed me!
Remember the Dr. Seuss book about the fish who was overfed? Although you probably won't wake up with a gigantic fish on your staircase, overfeeding can lead to health problems. Feed your fish only as much as they can eat in about three minutes, and then feed them that amount one to two times per day. Although they look like they are still hungry, much of the food will fall to the bottom of the tank. When this food is left to decompose it leads to problems with water cleanliness.
Variety is the spice of life, and your fish wants a piece of the action. Think of fish flakes as you would rice: okay as a staple, but awfully boring day in and day out. Just as you would add veggies or meat to your rice dish, add live worms as well as frozen and freeze-dried foods to your fish's diet. But be careful! Fish can get fat, and if you feed Wanda an excess of protein-rich foods such as bloodworms, you'll have a happy but fat fish on your hands. Beware of flake food that is old or has been left open and become damp-it will have less nutritional value. "
Remember the Dr. Seuss book about the fish who was overfed? Although you probably won't wake up with a gigantic fish on your staircase, overfeeding can lead to health problems. Feed your fish only as much as they can eat in about three minutes, and then feed them that amount one to two times per day. Although they look like they are still hungry, much of the food will fall to the bottom of the tank. When this food is left to decompose it leads to problems with water cleanliness.
Variety is the spice of life, and your fish wants a piece of the action. Think of fish flakes as you would rice: okay as a staple, but awfully boring day in and day out. Just as you would add veggies or meat to your rice dish, add live worms as well as frozen and freeze-dried foods to your fish's diet. But be careful! Fish can get fat, and if you feed Wanda an excess of protein-rich foods such as bloodworms, you'll have a happy but fat fish on your hands. Beware of flake food that is old or has been left open and become damp-it will have less nutritional value. "
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