Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Giving Credit Where it is Due

Giving Credit Where it is Due.

About PETA, stopping animal cruelty and reptile racism.

Giving Credit Where it is Due

Wordless Wednesday - October 31, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - October 31, 2012

Hermit Crabs- the Social Animal

Hermit crabs are a race of decapod (ten-footed) crustaceans consisting of over 1100 species.  A Hermit Crab stores its abdomen in a series of ever changing shells, following a cycle of molting which allows its body to grow.  Only its ten clawed feet are exposed.

Hermit crabs enjoy being sprayed with a water bottle or gentle mister. A sponge constantly wet with clean water will keep a hermit crab hydrated. Hermit crabs require a clean substrate (such as sand) that they can bury themselves in completely. They needed to be provided new shells as they grow in size. Some hermit crabs will change shells if presented with them even if it has not grown out of the previous shell. This can be delightful to hermit crab owners as a variety of shells with keep both pet and keeper entertained.

Hermit Crab Tower

Here you can see several hermit crabs taking part in a social activity.  Together this group scales the vegetation-covered tower to form a stronghold.  In this group they protect one another (and this new found food supply) from outsiders.  One might not guess this from the moniker “hermit crab” but this name may be a misnomer.  Several species of hermit crab are known to congregate in groups and stand a greater chance of survival if they do.

Hermit crabs may be found in the wild in shallow waters or as deep as the sea bed. As scavengers, they feed upon algae as well as plant an animal matter left over from other parts of the food chain.  Despite their name, hermit crabs can be found in groups of up to 100 individuals.  Anyone thinking about getting a hermit crab for a pet, or already has a lone hermit, should consider getting a mate or a pal for this Social creature.

Hermit Crabs- the Social Animal

Chinchilla Mustache

Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2012

Do you like my mustache?  This was my costume this Halloween.  What did you dress up as?

Happy Halloween

Unusual Cuddly Pets

Hello all. My first contribution to this blog might seem to be an unusual one. Most people do not consider of reptiles when they think of cute and cuddly pets. Rest assured, however, that reptiles do have representatives that can appeal to the affections of the human heart and a very select few might be fall into the category of cuddly.

Blue-tongued Skink

Skinks are the first reptiles I will be discussing here. They are a family of lizards (Scincidae) that include the eastern blue tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides), the prehensile tailed skink (Corucia zebrata) and the shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa). All three are pretty well known among reptile lovers for behaviors that defy reptilian stereotypes of being loners.

The shingleback skink, aka the pinecone lizard, aka the bobtail, aka the two headed skink is well known for two reasons; the first being that it is one of those animals with well over a dozen common names and the second being that it has a very complex social life that includes monogamy and parental care. There is one well known, oft repeated story involving a female shingleback that got caught under a barbed wire fence and expired and the male loyally was found by her side even after her death. Whether or not this story is true does not change the fact that pair bonding has been well recorded in this species. Unfortunately there are very few in captivity as Australia has understandably put tight restrictions on wildlife that can be exported, even for scientific study. Any individuals that are found are almost certainly captive bred.

The eastern blue tongue skink is another Australian species but unlike its close relative, it is at least somewhat available as a pet in Europe and the United States. Blue tongue skinks are known for their big personality and intelligence. It has been stated that they have the ability to recognize their keepers and will actually seek affection from them.

The prehensile tailed skink, a large bodied lizard from the Solomon Islands, is actually known to enjoy handling to an extent and will gladly climb the arm of its keeper. It should be noted, however, that while it has an even temperament it also has a strong grip as well as a very powerful bite if provoked so it is advisable to wear gloves when holding it, at least until it you become familiar with the individual.

Well, that concludes the first part of my unusually cuddly pets series. Part two will be arriving shortly!

Unusual Cuddly Pets