All about Reptiles

Using "Reptiles" as a blanket term and asking weather they make good pets or not can be a hard question to answer because it depends on if, A: You are a reptile person or not and B: What kind of reptile you are interested in. They can range from a couple of inches, (like Anoles) to some snakes reaching 20-30 feet. Some are handleable and others you have to use extreme caution when handling. Depending on what you are looking for in a pet defines if it is a good animal or not. Some people are dog people or cat people and some people are reptile people.  Different reptiles give off different personalities. Bearded dragons and blue tongued skinks both are really intelligent and can learn their owners faces. They can actually get excited about being interacted with by their owner. Bearded Dragons really pay attention to their environment. Frogs and anols can be an ornamental pet. There are several types of snakes that with proper handling can have a calmer demeanor. The more time you spend with your pet, the more it will feel comfortable around you, as with most pets.

The cost to set up is usually higher than the cost of the reptile. You have to really invest your time in researching or talking to people who know the answers. Take into consideration the tank size, lighting, heat elements, humidity, food and decor. Cost can very dramatically depending on where you purchase the items. Craigslist and Ebay can be cheaper than a pet store. Ask yourself if you are looking for a decorative reptile or a personable one.

Finding out where the reptile came from is extremely important. Generally wild caught animals are cheaper. Usually the manner in which wild caught are kept is very stressful and most will harbor parasites which will shorten life span and potentially make your other reptiles sick.

I myself have several reptiles. I used to have more, but through a large tragedy I found one of the major "don'ts" when owning a reptile. Unsecure heat lamps can be knocked over by cats, dogs, kids etc.. and will cause house fires. However, with proper set up and care and secure lamps, my new ones have brought me much happiness. One being my Blue Tongued Skink, Hunter S. Thompson. He is a very intelligent reptile that makes a great starter reptile. Not too small to crush, but doesn't get large enough that it will eat you out of house and home. Not to mention they look cool.

So with all that being said, make sure you do lots of research in the particular reptile you are interested in and please email me  and I would be happy to share all my knowledge and stories with you.  If there is a particular reptile you are interested in I can help in deciding if that is the one that fits your lifestyle the best.

The top picture is obviously a Blue Tongued Skink and the other one is a Bearded Dragon. (Both are from the internet until I can get pictures of my reptiles on here. )

Thanks for reading,
Stephanie

New Post coming soon....

Steph and I will be posting a new subject soon. Anything you guys have questions about? Please let us know.

Rats as pets

I know when most people think about rats, they think about a nasty little creature that live in the sewers. Actually rats make one of the best pets. Above is a pic of me and my baby Sherlock. They are very smart, loving, loyal and playful animals. They come in all different colors, sizes and can be hairless as well.  They do require a lot of attention if you want them to be tame and they should have"play time" out of their habitat at least a couple times a day for about 30 min to an hour. They can be with other rats, however you will want to introduce them when they are very young if it's two (or more) males. In most cases (but not all) if you have two or more rats in one habitat they may bond more with each other rather than with you. So if you are looking for a pet that will be your and love you unconditionally you may want to just get one.  On average rats only live about 2 or 3 years. They are nocturnal animals so you may not want them in your bedroom while you are trying to sleep.  Rats are inquisitive creatures. They want to know what everything is and how it moves, tastes, smells etc. So you will want to keep them busy with toys and treats. That is why I named my little guy Sherlock, because he was always searching and sniffing around. He gave me so much joy and he entertained me everyday. Sherlock would run along the back of the couch and chase the cats. My cat loved to sleep with him and Sherlock would clean my dogs face. He passed away a couple years ago. He was probably about 2 years old, but I'm not sure. So if you have any questions about rats please let us know. You should give a little ratty a home and you will see for yourself just how great they can be.

Introductions.

Hi! We are Stephanie and Casey. Above are a few of our babies. This is our first attempt at blogging. We wanted to put information out there for people who are completely clueless or just need a few answers about animals, pets in general. We are not professionals, however we have a lot of experience in this field.  I (Casey) worked for a vet clinic for 5 years and have been a groomer for 3 years now. Stephanie has been a professional groomer for 6 years. We have had a variety of animals from small mammals and feathered friends to  slimy, slithering, creepy crawlers and even ranging up to the size of equine. We have both fostered a number of animals, mainly cats and dog. We are able to answer almost any question you have on almost any kind of animal. If we are unable to do so, we can point you in the right direction or someone who will have the answer.

Our ultimate goal is educating pet parents to eliminate the large population of unwanted animals because we live in a disposable society. All too many times animal are an impulse buy without realizing the cost  of care or life expectancy. They end up dumped at a shelter. While spaying and neutering is going to help unwanted dogs and cats, other types of animals are overlooked. For example: getting a bunny for Easter time and then realizing that rabbits don't usually like to be picked up and can kick so hard they can break their backs which will result in a vet visit and euthanasia. The child is not getting a new pet, the parent is getting a new pet. You are that pets god. You provide EVERYTHING for it. No matter if it's a fish or a horse. There are several prefect "starter" pets that are easy to care for, even for the youngest child. Which then can teach responsibility and can show  the parents what the child is capable of taking care of without getting into a cat or a dog, which will still probably be alive when the child goes to college. Cats can comfortably live up to 15-20 years. Dogs, depending on the breed can live up to 15,  maybe even longer. Long haired dogs require grooming, which includes frequent haircuts, to prevent painful matting. Small breed dogs can be nippy, bark a lot, hard to potty train, and can have more dental issues than larger dogs. Large breed dogs require a lot of food, training, and vet visits. The larger the dog, the more expensive the maintenance. Which can include: flea treatment, heartworm medication, annual shots and check ups. They are more likely to have hip dysplasia or other medical issues that can be costly.

We are here to help answer questions to the best of our knowledge from personal experience to help raise a happy healthy pet. Again we are not professional, but we have countless hours of hands on experience. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and any suggestions on products you have used that you have liked, etc.