Creating a Home for Your Tortoise in an Outside Enclosure
Even if you keep your pet in an inside enclosure most of the time it will appreciate some time spent outdoors (depending on the climate). If you live in a climate similar to the natural habitat of your tortoise you will be able to keep your it outside all year round providing you have a secure enclosure.
Outdoor Enclosure
As with an indoor home the size you need to provide will depend on the species of tortoise and how big it is, or will be. A 12 inch specimen will require a 3 square yard enclosure, approximately 9ft x 9ft.
Construction of an Outside Enclosure
If you choose a wooden structure firstly dig a trench at least 6 inches deep and 6 inches wide. The height of the walls should be at least twice the length of the tortoise. There should be a base of chicken wire fixed to the bottom of the structure and then buried. If you do not fix some form of base your pet will eventually burrow and may dig under the wooden walls and escape! Some keepers use concrete for the walls but you will still need to fix an escape proof bottom.
Don't build your enclosure using only chicken wire or your tortoise will be constantly trying to escape. Always provide a cover for the enclosure as protection from predators such as your dog or cat.
A Tortoise House
Your tortoise will need a house to live in inside the enclosure. This could be a wooden box elevated from the ground slightly. A good choice is to use a plastic doghouse as they don't leak or rot and they do hold the heat relatively well. Make sure the doorway does not have too pronounced a 'lip' or this may hamper him from entering and exiting. It may take some time for your tortoise to get used to being put into this new house. Keep placing him back inside and at night place inside and block the exit as there is more chance of predators at night. Your pet will soon learn to go into his new house voluntarily. Remember to unblock the door in the morning or he may overheat.
Substrate
Again you have a choice of materials to choose from for this job but remember you will have to clean it out regularly so choose one you feel happy buying or changing regularly. Bark is a very good substrate for outside enclosures as it is a natural product and is easy to clean and replace.
Heating
Supplemental heat for the outside enclosure is important if you live in a climate that is not similar to the tortoise's natural habitat. Place an incandescent light with a red bulb (for heat not light) over the top of the tortoise house.
Other Elements to Include
Water: All tortoises require water but make sure it is in a shallow dish that will not cause him to tip over.
Hiding places: You will need to provide places for your tortoise to hide away so that it does not become too stressed. Plant pots on their side (cleaned with no residue of fertilizer) Safe non-toxic plants and flowers will also provide some food as well as shade.
Rocks/Logs: Your tortoise will like to climb so place some rocks and logs inside the enclosure but make sure they are not too close to the enclosure walls as the tortoise may be able to gain escape if they are! Don't place anything made of plastic such as dogs chew toys or children's toys as the tortoise will bite on them and may become ill.
Burrowing: Provide something for your tortoise to dig and burrow into. He will be less likely to try to dig his way out under the walls if he has some material in which to dig. You will have to provide some soft sandy soil for your females to lay their eggs if you want to breed your tortoise?
Cleaning the Enclosure: You must keep your outside enclosure clean to prevent disease and parasites. Clean the waste food and excrement daily. Rake out the bark that may have been carried into the tortoise house. Provide clean water daily.
Above all if you are planning to care for an outdoor tortoise you should ensure the home you provide will be the best possible and safe environment for your pet. If you live in an area of the world conducive to your particular species living outside then this is all to the good. You still need to think very carefully about what sort of enclosure to build but if you do it properly you will have a very happy tortoise!
Is a tortoise enthusiast and has been keeping tortoises for many years. If you are interested to find out more about these amazing creatures go to TortoiseTips
If you want the best environment for your pet then you have to read the in-depth guide to keeping a tortoise outside http://tortoisetips.com/tortoise-housing/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellie_Bear
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The 5 Golden Rules of Caring For a Green Iguana
Golden rules is a name we give to special rules that you should always remember and never forget. When it comes to caring for a green iguana, these rules are extremely important and useful guideposts to help you keep on course and going in the right direction. Your ultimate goal, of course, is to have a happy and healthy pet iguana.
Here are the 5 Golden Rules to properly take care of a green iguana.
Golden Rule # 1, Maintain the proper cage temperature. The reason for this is iguanas can't stay healthy if their habitat temperature isn't correct. If they get too cool, they can't digest their food, and can slowly starve to death. Remember, always maintain the proper temperature as part of your iguana's habitat.
Golden Rule # 2, Keep up the proper humidity. This can is also very important, because iguanas come from hot, humid climates and need a high humidity to avoid dehydration. Be sure and remember that while iguanas don't always drink a lot of water, they do like having a tub or pool of water they can soak in.
Golden Rule # 3, Feed your iguana the appropriate diet.. There's good reasons you'll want to do this. Among them is that even though your iguana may be eating lots of food, if it's not the best food, they could still die of malnutrition - the #1 source of death in pet iguanas.
Golden Rule # 4, Give your iguana lots of space. They must have room to maneuver, stretch out and climb, so make certain that the habitat you have is large enough for your iguana.. You can accomplish this by building an outdoor habitat if you reside in a warmer climate, or giving it a spare room or garage in your house. Also, let your iguana out of its cage to roam around your house. They love to stretch their legs, too.
Golden Rule # 5, Make sure your iguana receives enough Ultra violet rays. Ways to achieve this step include allowing it to sit outside on a sunny days and by attaching UV lights to the cage.. You'll want to do this carefully. It is a matter of life and death for your iguana. Without the proper Ultra violet rays, they can't process calcium and can end up with bone disease.
Rely on these Golden Rules to properly take care of your pet green iguana. Follow them and you'll ultimately find that you have much more success raising a happy and healthy green iguana.
Discover even more ways to keep your iguana healthy and happy by going to our iguana as pet web site at iguanaaspet.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lizzie_Blount
Here are the 5 Golden Rules to properly take care of a green iguana.
Golden Rule # 1, Maintain the proper cage temperature. The reason for this is iguanas can't stay healthy if their habitat temperature isn't correct. If they get too cool, they can't digest their food, and can slowly starve to death. Remember, always maintain the proper temperature as part of your iguana's habitat.
Golden Rule # 2, Keep up the proper humidity. This can is also very important, because iguanas come from hot, humid climates and need a high humidity to avoid dehydration. Be sure and remember that while iguanas don't always drink a lot of water, they do like having a tub or pool of water they can soak in.
Golden Rule # 3, Feed your iguana the appropriate diet.. There's good reasons you'll want to do this. Among them is that even though your iguana may be eating lots of food, if it's not the best food, they could still die of malnutrition - the #1 source of death in pet iguanas.
Golden Rule # 4, Give your iguana lots of space. They must have room to maneuver, stretch out and climb, so make certain that the habitat you have is large enough for your iguana.. You can accomplish this by building an outdoor habitat if you reside in a warmer climate, or giving it a spare room or garage in your house. Also, let your iguana out of its cage to roam around your house. They love to stretch their legs, too.
Golden Rule # 5, Make sure your iguana receives enough Ultra violet rays. Ways to achieve this step include allowing it to sit outside on a sunny days and by attaching UV lights to the cage.. You'll want to do this carefully. It is a matter of life and death for your iguana. Without the proper Ultra violet rays, they can't process calcium and can end up with bone disease.
Rely on these Golden Rules to properly take care of your pet green iguana. Follow them and you'll ultimately find that you have much more success raising a happy and healthy green iguana.
Discover even more ways to keep your iguana healthy and happy by going to our iguana as pet web site at iguanaaspet.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lizzie_Blount
How to Deal With a Snake Bite
Snake bites are not something anybody wants to think about, the fact is that you may have to if you ever get bitten. Most snake bites take place in India. It has been estimated that over 2 million people get bitten by a snake every year.
Of all the people that get bitten by a snake there are as much as 100,000 people that die from a snake bite. The main causes of most snake bites are the lack of medicine available. Deaths from snake bites are higher in the less developed countries because they do not usually have anti-venom on hand when people in these countries are bitten.
Here are some things that you don't do when bitten by a snake -
If you are ever bitten by a snake never mind what you have seen in films, under no circumstances should you ever try to suck out the poison. The only time this may be acceptable if you are sucking out your own poison. You should never allow someone else to attempt to suck out your poison. Another person sucking on your would is likely to cause infection.
Although sucking out venom is a possibility it is known to be not very effect. Usually the amount of poison that you can suck out is not worth the effort. You may also try to suck out venom with a suction device as-well, but just like manual sucking this is not very useful also
If you do attempt to suck out your own venom, you can do it but not immediately. before you do any kind of sucking you should also take into consideration keeping calm and lying still. To keep your self calm you will need to take deep breaths you should also try to keep the bit above your heart. Keeping calm will ensure that the venom does not spread very quickly and not moving around will ensure that the venom does not spread also. This are things you should consider before you attempt to suck out any venom.
The author invites you to check out his other material, he has been writing for a number of years on various topics you can check out his sites rear fog lamps and replacement fog lamps feel free to publish this article on your site with all links in tact
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Jefferies
Of all the people that get bitten by a snake there are as much as 100,000 people that die from a snake bite. The main causes of most snake bites are the lack of medicine available. Deaths from snake bites are higher in the less developed countries because they do not usually have anti-venom on hand when people in these countries are bitten.
Here are some things that you don't do when bitten by a snake -
If you are ever bitten by a snake never mind what you have seen in films, under no circumstances should you ever try to suck out the poison. The only time this may be acceptable if you are sucking out your own poison. You should never allow someone else to attempt to suck out your poison. Another person sucking on your would is likely to cause infection.
Although sucking out venom is a possibility it is known to be not very effect. Usually the amount of poison that you can suck out is not worth the effort. You may also try to suck out venom with a suction device as-well, but just like manual sucking this is not very useful also
If you do attempt to suck out your own venom, you can do it but not immediately. before you do any kind of sucking you should also take into consideration keeping calm and lying still. To keep your self calm you will need to take deep breaths you should also try to keep the bit above your heart. Keeping calm will ensure that the venom does not spread very quickly and not moving around will ensure that the venom does not spread also. This are things you should consider before you attempt to suck out any venom.
The author invites you to check out his other material, he has been writing for a number of years on various topics you can check out his sites rear fog lamps and replacement fog lamps feel free to publish this article on your site with all links in tact
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Jefferies
Does Your Leopard Gecko Have Any of These Health Problems?
The great news about leopard geckos is they can live long lives - up to and beyond 20 years! The bad news is they can develop health problems that shorten their lives significantly. If you know what to look for, have a vet who understands leopard geckos, and you pay attention to changes in their bodies or behavior you can circumvent any major problems.
5 Common Leopard Gecko Problems:
#1 - Injuries
This is very common, especially if you have two male geckos in the same vivarium. Male geckos always have a tendency to fight and thus, hurt each other. Don't keep male geckos together - male and female or two females.
Injuries can also occur if your geckos do not have their own space and the container is too crowded. Keep in mind that a 10 gallon aquarium is the right size for one gecko; two geckos will need a 20 gallon tank. Each of your lizards will want their own hiding place. The key to minimizing injuries is to pay attention - watching to see if behavior changes.
#2 - Infections in the mouth
If your leopard gecko has a mouth infection, the area around the mouth will appear swollen. Infections in the mouth can occur because of an accident, a cage that is dirty or possibly because of a fight with another gecko. Again, paying attention to any change in your gecko is critical. To treat an infection, you want to clean the area of the infection, check with your vet about getting an antibiotic.
#3 - Obstruction in digestive tract
Digestive tract infections occur when your gecko has eaten foreign substances - gravel, substrate, or sand. This substances can get stuck in the digestive system and lead to death. Be sure whatever substances are in the tank, that the particles are small enough to pass through the geckos system if ingested.
#4 - Infections of the respiratory system
Generally respiratory infections happen if the temperatures inside their vivarium are too cold over an extended period of time. You can tell if your gecko has an infection because you will see mucus bubbles around the nostrils and the breathing will be challenged. The key here is to keep the tank at the right temperature all the time.
#5 - Lack of needed calcium
Calcium is a necessary nutrient for leopard geckos - be sure that the diet includes enough calcium to keep this problem from occurring. Too much is not healthy nor is not enough.
It's a lot more fun to have healthy and happy geckos than to have unhealthy geckos - or even risk losing your gecko. Just by paying attention and knowing your gecko, these problems will not occur.
Jon learned the hard way (death of his first leopard gecko within 3 weeks) about the proper care, handling, and breeding of these lizards. Leopard geckos have a lifespan of 20 years if cared for properly. Start your mini-course today to learn how more about how to raise healthy, happy, beautiful geckos. Leopard Geckos, visit http://www.leopardgeckocaresite.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Owens
5 Common Leopard Gecko Problems:
#1 - Injuries
This is very common, especially if you have two male geckos in the same vivarium. Male geckos always have a tendency to fight and thus, hurt each other. Don't keep male geckos together - male and female or two females.
Injuries can also occur if your geckos do not have their own space and the container is too crowded. Keep in mind that a 10 gallon aquarium is the right size for one gecko; two geckos will need a 20 gallon tank. Each of your lizards will want their own hiding place. The key to minimizing injuries is to pay attention - watching to see if behavior changes.
#2 - Infections in the mouth
If your leopard gecko has a mouth infection, the area around the mouth will appear swollen. Infections in the mouth can occur because of an accident, a cage that is dirty or possibly because of a fight with another gecko. Again, paying attention to any change in your gecko is critical. To treat an infection, you want to clean the area of the infection, check with your vet about getting an antibiotic.
#3 - Obstruction in digestive tract
Digestive tract infections occur when your gecko has eaten foreign substances - gravel, substrate, or sand. This substances can get stuck in the digestive system and lead to death. Be sure whatever substances are in the tank, that the particles are small enough to pass through the geckos system if ingested.
#4 - Infections of the respiratory system
Generally respiratory infections happen if the temperatures inside their vivarium are too cold over an extended period of time. You can tell if your gecko has an infection because you will see mucus bubbles around the nostrils and the breathing will be challenged. The key here is to keep the tank at the right temperature all the time.
#5 - Lack of needed calcium
Calcium is a necessary nutrient for leopard geckos - be sure that the diet includes enough calcium to keep this problem from occurring. Too much is not healthy nor is not enough.
It's a lot more fun to have healthy and happy geckos than to have unhealthy geckos - or even risk losing your gecko. Just by paying attention and knowing your gecko, these problems will not occur.
Jon learned the hard way (death of his first leopard gecko within 3 weeks) about the proper care, handling, and breeding of these lizards. Leopard geckos have a lifespan of 20 years if cared for properly. Start your mini-course today to learn how more about how to raise healthy, happy, beautiful geckos. Leopard Geckos, visit http://www.leopardgeckocaresite.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Owens
Bearded Dragon Lizard - A Good Choice of Lizard
There are different Lizards that you can buy. A popular lizard to buy is the the Bearded dragon. They are not supper big usually grow to a medium size. The characteristics of a bearded dragon are timid they are also very social reptiles.
They are great because you will have no problem taming them too. Once tamed they love to be handled and that just ads to the experience of having one. The only problem that you may have with a bearded dragon is meeting its dietary needs as they are native to Australia
Taking care of your bearded dragon
If you have equipped your self properly, a little time and effort can over come any problems that you may have with your Lizard. Bearded dragons have a fully ranged diet they are omnivorous, that means they will eat vegetables, small animals and insects as well.
For the most part a Lizards diet is made up mostly of insects and the vegetables, but you can also feed them lizard mice, crickets, wax worms, earthworms and even cockroaches. The different types of plants they may east are, parsley, broccoli, apples, grapes and others. You can find out the others yourself.
If you have kids they will be happy to have a lizard providing that they like them. Although its should be noted that not every Lizard can make a good pet for the children. You will need to do all the research so that you choose the right type of one for the children. Most Lizards also like to swim and this is something that usually fascinates the kids.
The author invites you to check out his other material, he has been writing for a number of years on various topics you can check out his sites car fog lamps and hella fog lamps feel free to publish this article on your site with all links in tact
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Jefferies
They are great because you will have no problem taming them too. Once tamed they love to be handled and that just ads to the experience of having one. The only problem that you may have with a bearded dragon is meeting its dietary needs as they are native to Australia
Taking care of your bearded dragon
If you have equipped your self properly, a little time and effort can over come any problems that you may have with your Lizard. Bearded dragons have a fully ranged diet they are omnivorous, that means they will eat vegetables, small animals and insects as well.
For the most part a Lizards diet is made up mostly of insects and the vegetables, but you can also feed them lizard mice, crickets, wax worms, earthworms and even cockroaches. The different types of plants they may east are, parsley, broccoli, apples, grapes and others. You can find out the others yourself.
If you have kids they will be happy to have a lizard providing that they like them. Although its should be noted that not every Lizard can make a good pet for the children. You will need to do all the research so that you choose the right type of one for the children. Most Lizards also like to swim and this is something that usually fascinates the kids.
The author invites you to check out his other material, he has been writing for a number of years on various topics you can check out his sites car fog lamps and hella fog lamps feel free to publish this article on your site with all links in tact
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Jefferies
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