Best pet for college dorm?

I'm thinking about getting a pet for my dorm next year but I'm not entirely sure of what to get. Technically my school only allows fish but I think if I get something similar that lives in a tank like hermit crabs or a turtle or something it's pretty much the same thing so I could get away with it.

Anyways, just looking for suggestions. Preferably some kind of reptile or amphibian that does not require live food all the time. I could get some on occasion but there is no way that I could have crickets 24/7. Thought about getting a toad but I'd feel kind of bad depriving it of live bugs/worms to eat. By the way, I'm not a big fan of fish, so please don't suggest getting a betta. Or a guppie. Or a fish in general.

A small snake sounds like it could be the perfect choice for you. They are surprisingly low maintenance if you have their heat and humidity levels right. They don't make any noise, they are hypo-allergenic, they shed in one clean piece instead of all over your furniture, they are fine with being handled while you are reading or watching a movie but won't get upset if you don't take them out a certain day, they only need to be fed once a week, etc.

As far as individual species go; I'd highly recommend a Rosy boa. They are one of my personal favorites, and meet your requirements quite well. :)

They are incredibly docile, one of the easiest snake species I’ve ever cared for, small (under 5 feet) come in several different colors and localities, and all around are a wonderful (albeit often overlooked) snake. I've owned a few of them, so I’ll type out a short general care sheet; hopefully this will provide the information you’ll need should you consider one of these guys.

Temperament: They are very calm, slow-moving snakes. Generally quite docile, most are fine with handling, and they rarely, if ever, bite people. Mine have all been content to find a comfortable place on my hand, neck or lap and just hang out, unlike Colubrids (like King snakes and Corn snakes), which always seem to have somewhere to go. ;)

Life expectancy: When properly cared for, a Rosy boa can live 20+ years in captivity.

Size: Males average 1.5-2.5 feet, females are generally 2.5-3.5 feet, some a tad larger, but never more then 4 feet.

Feeding: start babies on mice pinks, and build up to one large mouse per week for adults. The general rule of thumb is to feed a rodent about the same in diameter as the widest part of your snake’s body. They are generally quite enthusiastic feeders; I have never had one that was a reluctant eater.

Humidity: This is a really low humidity desert species. A small water dish is fine on the cool side of the tank, but misting is completely unnecessary for these guys.

Temperature: Mine have done best with a basking temperature in the high eighties, around 87-89 degrees, with an ambient (background) temperature of 77-80. This can be achieved by use of under-tank heating pads, incandescent heat bulbs, or ceramic heat emitters.

Cage size: a 20 gallon tank is ideal for a single adult, but a 10 gallon is adequate. Just make SURE the lid of the cage is very secure, as these guys are amazing escape artists.

Substrate: Mine have done best on eco-earth by zoo-med, as long as it is COMPLETELY dry before putting it in my snake's cage. Paper towels, aspen bedding, or even reptile sand (as long as you feed your snake in a separate container to prevent sand ingestion) also works very well.

Other good species of snake would be Kenyan Sand boas, Corn snakes, Childrens Pythons.

I hope this helps, and if you’d like any more information snakes in general, on the care and maintenance of this species or any of the other species I named (or would like to see pictures of my own snakes); please feel free to message me and I’d be more than happy to assist you. :)

Good luck!






Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Tiger salamander hunting crickets

a salamander hunting for food

Duration : 0:1:19

[Read more...]

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Hermit Crab Help???

Does any one know if hermit crabs can eat other reptile/amphibian foods? Because a friend recently got me Newt/Salamander food, and I was wondering if hemit cabs can also eat this. Please only serious hermit crab owners. Thanks!

Hi :) (Am a land hermit crab owner with over 2 years experience)
If the food is preservative free (ethoxyquin, copper sulfates and the like) then it should be fine to feed to your hermit crabs.
For a more comprehensive list of what hermit crabs can eat, I highly recommend the 'Epicurean Hermit safe food list'
http://www.epicureanhermit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=9

powered by Yahoo answers

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Freeze Dried Mysis Shrimp, 3.3 oz Fish Food Dried Food, From San Francisco Bay Brand

Freeze Dried Mysis Shrimp, 3.3 oz Fish Food Dried Food, From San Francisco Bay Brand

Freeze Dried Mysis Shrimp, 3.3 oz Fish Food Dried Food, From San Francisco Bay Brand Freeze Dried Mysis Shrimp, 3.3 oz Fish Food Dried Food, From San Francisco Bay Brand Mysis Shrimp are one of the most nutritious and readily accepted foods for almost all fresh and saltwater aquarium fish, such as tetras, cichlids, livebearers, angels, barbs, butterflys, clownfish and gobies. San Francisco Bay Brand Freeze Dried Mysis are just as nutritious as live food without the risk of parasites. Mysis shrimp also make an excellent nutritious treat for turtles, frogs and other amphibians. Nutritious tropical fish food is packed with natural protein. Uses only 100% Mysis shrimp, which is frozen with liquid carbon dioxide to ensure freshness. Individually packaged to prevent freezer burn and lock in flavor. Nutritionally complete alternative to frozen foods. Great dietary supplement or treat for both salt and freshwater fish, such as tetras, cichlids, livebearers, angels, seahorses, clownfish, gobies, and more. San Francisco Bay Tropical Fish Food uses the best ingredients available with a liquid carbon dioxide freezing process that ensures freshness! All products are individually packaged to prevent freezer burn and to lock in flavor. Foods are nutritionally complete and allow fish to feed at their natural feeding levels. Great alternative to frozen foods. Protein-rich fish food is freeze-dried for freshness Nutritious alternative to live and frozen fish foods Adds variety to the diet of tropical fish Buy Cheap Freeze Dried Mysis Shrimp, 3.3 oz Fish Food Dried Food, From San Francisco Bay Brand at Discount Price!

[Read more...]

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Working with zoo animals, is it possible to bring home contagious virus or diseases?

My wife recently started volunteering at an acquarium and small zoo. She has bee in contact with reptiles, amphibians, fish, bearcats, rabbits, bats, birds, their enviorments and their foods. Yesterday I noticed our feline was not well. He has since recovered, but I thought it may have been something brought home from the zoo. I have heard that salmanilla is often found on iguanas and turtles, that true? What about foot and mouth or other type viruses? Its a samll zoo so there are no large animals like elephants which I have been told carry hepititus but I am interested in preventing the preventable. Please advise.

salmonella is commonly found in the waste material of most reptiles and amphibians. The best way to avoid it is to wash one's hands after working around them.

other pathogens are very rare but can be deadly if aquired. the best example is "parrot fever", a virus which is fatal to both birds and humans. This is not "bird flu", but a much more virulent species of virus.

mammals can host a number of contageous virus diseases. rabies is the best known and even herbivores like cattle can aquire it. cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants can also carry anthrax, a bacterial disease.

"pox" viruses are quite capable of being passed from animals to humans. cammel pox and monkey pox are good examples. cowpox was used as the first vaccine against a human pox virus known as smallpox. dairy maids aquired an immunity after contracting a case of much milder cowpox.

rodents carry hemmoragic fever viruses. these viruses are amoungst some of the most deadly of human virus diseases. the African ebola virus is a member of this family. another species seems to be spread by southwestern deermice. this is a lung infection which can kill its victims within 24 hours of contact.

Bacterial infections are frequently due to foriegn strains of E. coli, a bacterium which inhabits the large intestines of mammals. Some strains of this bacteria are harmful to humans. the 157 strain is responcible for food poisoning. other gut bacteria can cause cholera. hog cholera can be passed to humans, I believe.

besides diseases, there are also paracites. the worst of these appear to be flatworms. these creatures are specialized to reproduce in one host and mature in another entirely different species. molluscs are frequent hosts. the common planobarius aquarium snail is host to the bilhartsia paracite. there are many species of bilhartsia with varying degrees of severity. this organism reproduces in the human liver, causing swelling and bleeding. the adults then pass eggs and the larva infect pond snails. when humans drink infected water, the cycle starts again. fortunately for fish keepers, no aquarium snail is now infected and the chain has been broken. giant African land snails have not been domesticated long enough to break the cycle however, and most are infected with lung paracites which can infect humans. these enormous land snails are great zoo attractions, but now illegal to import because of the risk of disease transmission.

most zoos have highly trained vets to keep their equally highly valuable animals healthy. of course, costs factor much more in small operations, so take this into account.

powered by Yahoo answers

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS

Money Saving Idea #1

This is one money saving idea I have.
Flower Pot Saucers are very cheap and make great water bowls, food dishes and hides for reptiles and amphibians.

Duration : 0:1:41

[Read more...]

Share and Enjoy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS