Reptile Lighting (An Art)

Lighting is vital to reptile health for many reasons. From essential minerals to temperature regulation. Specific species of reptiles require specific lighting requirements. Everything from length of light to wattage will change from species to species. Desert reptiles will need different lighting than say a tropical reptile species. If the lighting requirements aren’t met this could cause a reptile to improperly grow and metabolize the nutrients it must have.

Reptiles are cold-blooded so they must use the environment to regulate their body temperature. Light is one way reptiles do this. Infrared light is used to heat up the ambient temperature in the terrarium. Another light source that some reptiles may need are basking bulbs. These emit light in a certain area in the terrarium to allow some reptiles to bask so raise their body temperature. Heat is a way for reptiles to produce energy for daily tasks.

Minerals are an important part of every animals life including our own. Reptiles aren’t an exception to that. Most reptiles need UVA and/or UVB light to break down certain vitamins. For instance UVB light will break down vitamin D3 do that calcium can be metabolized. Without the special lighting certain health conditions will not be met. A iguana may not get the amount of calcium it needs which in turn can cause mouth and other deformities.

A reptiles overall “look” is a good indicator of health. Lighting will improve the color and “look” of a reptile. Lights like UVB will also improve an animals vibrant colors and also stimulates natural behavior. The closer one can get to the suns actual lighting the more natural it is for the animal. Reptiles weren’t meant to be in terrariums, so the more natural we can make their life in them the happier they will be thus increasing their lifespan greatly.

Once I had taken in a Green Iguana who had leg deformities due to an inadequate amount of calcium. He was a cute little guy but I felt so bad for him. I knew I couldn’t fix what had happened to him but I did improve his overall health by improving his lighting like adding basking bulbs and UVB lights. His bright green color came back and his activity level increased. At that time I learned the importance of lighting requirements in reptiles.


References
Exo_Terra_Lighting_Guide_EN.pdf (application/pdf Object) A GUIDE TO LIGHTING BY EXO TERRA.
Reptile Lighting: A Current Perspective ARTICLE FROM MELISSA KAPLAN’S HERP CARE            COLLENTION.
The Influence of Light Intensity and Temperature on Microhabitat Selection in Two Anolis Lizards,. P. E. Hertz, L. J. Fleishman and C. Armsby, Functional Ecology
Vol. 8, No. 6 (Dec., 1994), pp. 720-729


Thanks for Reading!
James

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Birds of a Feather

As your searching for the right companion pet you a bird might come to mind. One question that might come up is which species is for me? Well if you find yourself asking that particular question then it is suffice to say that almost none of the larger parrots are in the mix. The larger parrots can be more alluring with their amazing colors and wonderful abilities. However, these birds ARE NOT for everyone.

Medium to large parrots require much more dedication than their smaller counterparts. Just because your friends Macaw will wave and dance doesn’t mean that yours will. Birds such as macaws, cockatoos, amazons, and greys are far more demanding than say Budgie’s, lovebirds, and cockatiels. It is far more beneficial to get some practice in way before taking on the more “impressive” birds.
Ultimately it is up to you but a caution must be given in advance. Most of the larger birds will go through a period of sexual maturity that lasts from months to years. During this time, the amazon that you once knew may try to take a crack at you. Hey you know what? He or she may even break the skin with one of his or her attacks. Most parrots that go through this end up being sold or given away because the owners could not “deal” with this part of a birds development.

Another aspect to getting a medium to large parrot species is the amount of time that is required from you day in and day out. All of these animals need AT LEAST 5 hours out of their cage per day. Most of that TIME should be spent with you. If for whatever reason you stop devoting that amount of TIME with your parrot then it just might begin more pulling its’ feathers out.
So honestly we have to ask ourselves a question. Is being owned by one of the astonishing creatures better for us with our lifestyle or is it beneficial for the parrot? If you can say yes to the later then you might can consider a larger parrot as a pet. Please take a self-less look into owning one of the larger parrots because most of what is involved are self-less acts.If your looking for a bird as a companion pet and the larger parrots don’t quite fit look into the Budgies (Parakeets), Lovebirds, or Cockatiels.

Thanks for Reading! James Ward

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Responsibilities of an Exotic Pet Owner

Exotic pets are intriguing, beautiful, and just different than a dog or cat. With that difference comes a huge amount of responsibility. Most of these animals have needs that are unique to them. With their “coolness” comes lots of work on the owners’ part. Although some exotics require more effort than others, I’ve found that the more you put into taking care of them the more you get in return. Whether it is a longer life or a happier animal.

Being a responsible exotic animal owner not only requires someone to care for that particular animal, it also demands for a person to be aware of the potential dangers that animal may pose to others. Keeping the animal in a secure environment is essential. Not only should the main goal be to keep an animal from doing harm to others, there are other issues that could arise if an animal were to escape and get into the nearby woods. This might prove to be devastating to the environment. This can be seen in several examples like the Monk Parakeets thriving in New York City (http://www.brooklynparrots.com/) or the python problem that persists in the Florida Everglades (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0603_040603_invasivespecies.html). There are several other cases where this has occurred. So with that being mentioned. An issue that comes from this is the uneducated pet owner.

Most who buy a pet do it on impulse. Many don’t go home and do the homework before taking an animal home.  A good example is those who purchase the baby pythons that eventually get much larger than they expected. Most think that the animals will only grow to the size of their environment; however, this is far from the truth. By not giving the animal a proper environment someone is actually neglecting that animal. It stunts the animals growth and causes the bones to form improperly leaving the animal deformed. It is the duty of an exotic pet owner to educate themselves and others. Many of the exotics sold in pet stores aren’t really pets that everyone should be purchasing. While some may get educated and decide to keep these animals, not everyone has that particular ability. For instance, American Alligators are cute when their little babies calling for their mommies with that distinct sound.

These little cuties grow to over 16 feet long and weigh over 400 lbs. They won’t just grow to their environment and it gets quite expensive to house them.  As a matter of fact, Sheila, my American Alligator is pushing 6 foot and I am in the process of ordering her a poly tank that will cost around $600 after shipment costs. That’s just for her pond setup.

It is the exotic pet owners duty to keep up with the newest laws for these animals. While most cities and states regulate its exotics in some way, there are a few that have little to no regulation.  These laws are always changing and getting more stricter because of the dangers that some of the exotics pose. Here is a good website that gives a few of the laws by state http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exotic_animals_summary.php.  Keeping track of the newest legislation is part of being a responsible pet owner whether its exotics or cats and dogs.

Responsibility is key to safety for the animal and for us. Education is essential to the exotic pet trade. Keep in mind that just because something is cute and easy to handle while its young may not always be the case when it gets older. Keep yourself informed and up to date.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi

If you have any questions or suggestions please email me at JamesDWard24@gmail.com

Thanks and Hope you Enjoyed the Post!

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