Merker Reptiles

The Australian Silky Terrier is thought to have been bred from crossing the Yorkshire Terrier with the Australian Terrier. This mix of the two breeds was meant to produce a toy dog with the gentle qualities of a small house pet and the inquisitive character and hunting skill of a terrier. Families who have Silkies will attest to the effectiveness of the cross. It is obvious from the coloring of the Australian Silky that a Yorkshire Terrier had a part in its development, for it carries the gun metal blue coloring with rich tan points and silvery blue topknot quite similar to the Yorky. When the dog is born he is much darker and as he grows the tan markings fade to a lighter fawn shade[..]

Turtle mating-have you ever wondered how these slow-moving and serene animals procreate? Thanks to the substantial information that is now available regarding turtles and their anatomy, physiology, quirks and oddities, we now know quite a lot about how they mate. The languid turtles have limbs that are comparable to those of tortoises, but the turtles' feet have elongated claws. Their long claws serve them in mounting logs in order to bask in the sun, an activity that they seem to enjoy, and which is essential to their thermoregulation. Their long claws also come in handy when they move or clamber from one place to another on land. Did you know, however, that these long claws also serve[..]

If you're hunting for or to make bearded dragon cages, well there's a full array of differing types, colors, and sizes to choose between. There are some truly cool purpose built cages (tanks) specifically designed with the bearded dragon to mind, and they're not truly that costly when you suspect that they can doubtless be in your house for no less than 10 years. A good number of bearded dragon cages will also double as superb pieces of furniture, very similar to a fish aquarium, and will find leading position in so many places around your house. If decorated and set up in the best way, it is sure to become a debating point among your visitors and pals. Bearded dragons start out life[..]

When it comes to providing a home for your gecko, you will have to keep some basics in mind. It needs warmth, humidity, a place to hide, and a substrate for the flooring. Purchase and set up your equipment before you acquire your leopard gecko. While they are fairly hardy, it's not a good idea to leave them sitting and waiting in their carrying boxes while you scurry to get their homes in order. When it comes to the enclosure itself, your best choice is a glass aquarium, readily available at any pet store or, possibly, from garage sales or flea markets. Glass allows you to easily observe your pet, which is a must in order to catch any early signs of problems. A pair can live comfortably[..]

Iguanas reflect a character of simplicity, patience, peace and endurance. They represent nature, the endangered species and its preservation. They are owned mostly by people who are advocates of nature, native arts and music about nature. They are owned by people whose personality is close to their characters. However, Iguanas are cool pets; they can be owned by any pet lovers young and old. However, to own them requires proper knowledge on their characteristics and how to take care of them. The following are the important points that need attention 1) Feeding - During the early stage of their life, young Iguanas devour insects as their body need protein. Nevertheless, as they grow old,[..]

It's important that you provide your dragon with a proper enclosure. There are a few things you need to consider when buying one. This article will give you a few tips for choosing bearded dragon habitats. Size The most important consideration by is size. Your beardie will be unhappy and unhealthy if you keep him in an enclosure that's too small. Dragons up to seven inches long can be kept in a 10 gallon aquarium. 20 gallon tanks are suitable enough for those measuring up to 12 inches. Adults over 12 inches long should be kept in 20 gallon aquariums. Space Whatever size enclosure you choose, it's more important to have more ground space than vertical space. Unlike many other types[..]

Turtles require special care and attention just like any normal pet at home. The goal of the pet enthusiast is providing the best care to your turtle. It is important to know that your pet turtle is in good shape. Here are some things to consider checking if your turtle is in perfect health. The shell of the turtle This is the most commonly noticed part of the pet. It is important to make sure that the shell is intact with no scratches. Most of the top part of the shell consists of the pointed portion that serves as the natural protection from impact of objects. The bottom part is usually not as tough as the top part. It consists of linings and markings divided into squares which[..]

Baby Red Eared Sliders Are Equipped For Survival Baby red eared sliders are born with most of the tools necessary for their survival. Most turtles lay their eggs and then abandon the nest, leaving the newly hatched turtles to fend for themselves. As such, millions of years of evolution have equipped your baby turtle to survive. However, this is not an excuse not to put the effort into making sure your baby red eared slider is safe and healthy. Remember that in the wild most baby turtles don't make it, so it's up to you to give them the support and comfort they need. Feeding Your Baby Red Eared Slider What to feed your turtle is an important consideration. You'll find food specific to[..]

The iguana family is considered the largest among the lizard families. Though the most common are green iguanas, there are also those with different colors including the red iguanas. One of the most popular red iguanas is the red-side skink. These are found in the forest habitat of Southern and Eastern Africa. Caring for the Red Iguana A red Iguana can stay in a 30 gallon aquarium. They may vary in size and styles made of glass, metal or wood. The basic requirement for keeping their cage is cleanliness. Keep it free from dirt, soil and loose barks as they may be contaminated and the iguana may ingest them. They must be supplied with appropriate supply of food and water. The cage must be[..]

When it comes to feeding your red eared slider turtle you have to make sure that you are giving them the right amount of vegetation and animal protein. Make sure that you are feeding them a balance between the two so that they are getting the right amount of nutrients and vitamins. As babies they need to eat large amount of animal protein because they have a very large carnivorous side to them. However, it is still a good thing to feed them a few vegetable materials. Don't be surprised though if they don't eat much of the vegetation till they are older. When they become adults you can pull back on the animal materials and feed them mostly vegetation. You can offer red eared slider pellet[..]

The entire concept of a bearded dragon vivarium is to try as best as feasible to reproduce its natural environment. It must be a mini eco-system permitting your pet to live as naturally as he would in natural habitats, and this is the reason why the vivarium is a touch more specialised than simply employing a hamster or rabbit hutch as your pet's home. You'll need a massive vivarium for your pet, and ideally for a single adult your bearded dragon vivarium should actually be around five feet long, by two feet wide, and 2 feet high. This guarantees that your pet has lots of room to move round the enclosure and climb to the highest point he will be able to, without getting cramped up or[..]

African Spurred Tortoises, when young, are cute, outgoing, and very tame. Perhaps these are reasons any prospective turtle owner would seriously considering owning one. But this African Turtle may not be the best choice for a pet because it grows very big and becomes very powerful. In fact, African Spurred Tortoises are the largest tortoises in the African mainland and the third largest on the planet. They will surely require a big space and lots of food. More importantly, they will need a lot of your time and money. African Spurred Tortoises are so named because of the spurs on their hind legs. Found in the hot, dry scrubland areas of North Central Africa, the adult female African[..]

When you bring home a turtle to have as a pet, you need to have some knowledge of turtles and how to care for them properly. There are many different breeds of pet turtle and each one has its own specific needs and special care. Here are five tips that can, regardless of its type, help you provide your pet with the best care and help make sure that it lives a long and healthy life: Providing the right environment - it is extremely important that you provide a suitable environment for your turtle. Turtles have different environmental needs depending on their type; some will need a wet environment, some a dry environment and others may need both. You need to provide your pet with a proper[..]

Red eared sliders are a popular exotic pet. They may look small in the pet store, but they can grow up to 12 inches and live up to 30 years. These animals require a long-term care commitment, and there are three things that every slider needs to live a long life and to be healthy. Enough Space - Sliders like lots of room to swim, and need more of it as they grow larger. Whether you home your turtle in a pond or an aquarium, a good, general rule is 6 gallons minimum per inch of turtle. Sliders also spend time on dry land, so an accessible, fairly large, flat area out of the water is needed - this place is called a "basking" area. Proper Heat - Warmth helps stimulate a turtle's immune[..]

Many kids at a young age want a pet of some kind. They don't fully understand how difficult having a pet can be. All they know is that they want one. There are many choices out there, and pet frog for kids is a good choice for beginners. You should talk to your child and make this an experience you and your child can do together. They will feel special and have some bonding time with them as well. Stores have pet frogs for kids as well as other kinds of frogs. There a huge variety to choose from. How Can You Help Your Child With a Frog When you do decide to get your child a frog, you can help in many ways and at the same time let them have the chance to do the choosing. Kids like to feel[..]

Over the last few years, there has been an increasing popularity of keeping frogs as pets. The African Clawed Frog is no exception. Although a little less interactive than non-aquatic frogs, they are a joy to have if you truly want a frog for a pet. Unlike tree frogs or toads, African clawed frogs are aquatic. That means that stay in the water all the time, and come to the surfaced to breathe. Widely used for in scientific experiments, Xenopus have bread domestically for years. They were used for human pregnancy tests, before more modern methods came into play. The female Xenopus was exposed to the urine of a woman, and if the frog laid eggs the woman was pregnant. Today you can find[..]

For having pets there are no limitations of age groups. Everyone enjoys their own type of pets. People love to keep cats, dogs, fishes or even turtles as pet animals. Turtles are great pets and many people prefer keeping them. Feeding your pet turtle is mainly an essential aspect in regards to their health and you will really enjoy feeding activity with your turtle. However before enjoying the feeding activity, you have to learn about turtle diet that is full of nutrition. If you do not feed your turtle, it will keep on hungry. Contrasting with warm blooded pets, turtles are not dependant on their metabolism mechanism. Usually turtles do not eat easily or readily according to your[..]

Iguanas are probably the most popular lizard kept as a pet today. Many pet stores tell people that they are very easy to care for, but this isn't true. They actually have very strict care requirements. They also can grow to be extremely large! Many get baby iguanas not realizing how large they get. They aren't one of these animals that just grow as large as their tank. When they get bigger, they will need a very large cage, or their own room. When you select an iguana, try to get one that looks alert and healthy. Make sure there are no sores or abrasions on their body and also look for bright, clear eyes. You should also be sure that the place you get your iguana cleans the cages[..]

Turtles are one of the cutest pets that you can have that you can't cuddle with. They are small and when they are babies they are so cute and of course slow! Learning how to take care of a new baby turtle is not common knowledge because they are not popular pets. It's easy to know what to do with dogs and cats because almost everyone has one or the other and they pass the information down to other people. When taking care of new turtles the first thing you will need to know is how and what to feed them to keep them healthy. There is a variety of turtle foods that are available in different sizes and shapes and can be made with different ingredients. You can buy flakes and small pellet[..]

In today's society people are still afraid of snakes. I might ask you, why? OK, some snakes may be a bit aggressive, but that number is very minimal. I'm talking about maybe three or four species. Ball pythons are a snake to get started with, because of how docile they are. Another great fact about them is they do not get very large, in fact they are considered a small snake ranging from 4-5 feet. They are also cheaper to feed than dogs, cats, even birds. They only eat once every week, and can even go up to two weeks without eating. I have owned Ball Pythons, now for a little over seven years. My wife and I started out with one because she herself was afraid of them. That was until we[..]

A turtle terrarium is ideal if you want to show off your pet and decorate your house at the same time. You will be providing your turtle a habitat, and adding to the natural feel of your home. Step 1: Get a tank You will need to get a tank large enough to accommodate your turtle when it reaches its maturity. The minimum turtle terrarium dimensions should be 3-4 times the length of the turtle, twice the length of the turtle in width, and 1.5-2 times the length of the turtle in height. Add 8-12 inches above the highest level the turtle can reach inside the tank so it cannot escape. If you have more than one turtle, increase the tank dimensions by 40-60% per turtle. The tank for your turtle[..]

If you are thinking of getting a Hermann's tortoise to care for you must firstly understand what its natural habitat is and this will then give you an idea of how to care for it in captivity. This species is golden brown in color with two dark stripes on the plastron (underneath). The carapace (domed top shell) flares out over the back legs and the females are larger than the males. Often the female will be 10 inches long and the male on average will be only 5-6 inches. If you want to keep a tortoise in captivity it is important to note that for every 12" of tortoise (measure the plastron) the pet will require 3 square yards. This could mean you will have to provide 9ft x 9ft enclosure[..]

Bearded Dragons need a large enough habitat to allow for a variety of distances from the heat source. A glass aquarium is recommended for security, ease of maintenance, and pet viewing. To avoid the expense of multiple habitats as your pet grows to adulthood, consider using a partition that can be easily adjusted. This way, throughout the life of the pet, you can use a single large aquarium, 55-70 gallons. The white melamine is a material that keeps the cage very bright which is important for stimulating a dragon's appetite. The light (and the UVB) stays inside the cage rather than escaping through the glass sides of an aquarium. Glass fronts will allow the dragon to check out their[..]

The Horsfield tortoise or Russian tortoise is small, approximately 9 inches long. The shell is not high domed but gently rounded and the plastron (underneath) of the shell has darker markings and the skin is golden brown in color. These chelonians are friendly and outgoing and the Horsfield will come up to you to take food and will recognise you when you go into the enclosure. These little creatures have a very engaging personality and are originally from southeastern Russia through to Afghanistan and Pakistan. When you decide you want to care for a tortoise you have to understand what sort of habitat it would live in, in the wild. This will then give you clues as to what sort of habitat[..]

In order for your iguana to thrive, you must feed your pet the right diet. There are many great vegetables, fruits and breads to feed your iguana. But beware, as there are also a lot of foods that you should not, and you will not feed your iguana. All the foods described below in which you should feed your iguana, should be chopped into small enough pieces so your iguana will have an easy time swallowing. Iguanas rip and tear at their food, and thus swallow their food whole. So it is crucial you are not feeding your iguana big chunks of food. You should feed your iguana in the morning and you should get into an everyday pattern when feeding your iguana. You should feed your iguana as[..]

No one who breeds animals as a profession, and few people who breed animals as a hobby, does so randomly. The whole point is to carefully choose which adults to breed with a view to producing offspring with desirable traits. So to it is with breeding leopard geckos, where amateur and professional breeders alike strive to create striking 'morphs' - that is, visually distinct leos with unique combinations of patterns, background colors, and even eye colors. In the world of leopard gecko breeding, the Diablo Blanco morph is a relatively recent triumph, with the first being born in late 2006. It was done by the famous (in the leopard gecko world) Ron Tremper, the creator of the first albino[..]

Are anacondas eating people now? Well in Hollywood movies, yes. The most famous of the movie was the release of Anaconda in 1997 starring Jennifer Lopez, Jon Voight, Ice Cube, Eric Stoltz and Owen Wilson. That is where you can immediately appreciate a killer snake like the anaconda eating heads, foots and people! The movie is about a National Geographic film crew that picks up a crazy snake hunter looking to capture an anaconda. Sure, crazy snake hunter in the rain forest may be a bit of a stretch but not beyond the realm of possibility. It is a movie after all and some suspension of disbelief is acceptable. The movie then proceeds with the anaconda causing all sorts of trouble for the[..]

Just like the many varieties of turtles, there are also innumerable tortoise types, including Hermann's Tortoise, the Red Footed Tortoise, the African Spurred Tortoise, and the species picked most commonly as pets, the Russian Tortoise. They have many common traits, but pet owners should know and understand how they differ in terms of their needs. Read on for more tidbits of info, and details regarding the different types of tortoises: Russian Tortoise This is one of the tortoise types considered an excellent choice to become a well-loved pet because of its charming looks and petite build. The female may grow to an adult size of eight to ten inches in length, while the adult male[..]

The reason why someone may want Bufo Alvarius toads may surprise you. It is to milk them. Perhaps the idea of milking a toad may seem like a joke. You may even have already thought that the punch line to the "how do you milk a toad?" joke would be "First you get a very small stool." But you may be assured this is no joke. People actually do milk Bufo Alvarius toads. What is toad venom used for? The milky white venom of the Bufo Alvarius toad contains the alkaloid 5- methoxy- N,N- dimethyltryptamine (5-MEO-DMT) which has very powerful hallucinogenic properties. Although there have been rumors and urban legends about people licking toads to get high, those who use toad venom do not[..]

So far as King snakes go the Brown king snake is maybe the biggest of the species, from 76 to 135 centimeters in length. This snake is regarded secretive in nature, and will customarily be found curled up under a log, or in brush or under rocks. They have got a preferred habitat of open fields, nice bright areas like farmland and farmyards. They can also be found dotting hillsides and in woodland. The female brown king snake will nest between June and July annually. Around 5 to twenty eggs will be laid in an underground space, till hatching will start during August or September, after roughly 7-12 weeks. The young snakes will be generally between 20 and 30cm in length. This species is[..]

If you are interested in the anaconda, you may do some cursory research on the Internet to learn more about these fascinating creatures. In doing so you will find a plethora of information, some accurate, some not. Riddled among these items, though, you will likely also see some pictures of anacondas eating people. These images perpetuate the myth of anacondas being stalkers and killers, an image exploited by Hollywood in order to make horror films featuring these massive snakes. With today technology, some of the pictures are very life like and could lead you to believe that anacondas, if not regularly, then occasionally hunt and kill humans. But is it true? In a word, no! Humans are[..]

Most individuals are aware of turtles except for the fact that not the entire turtle population is exactly similar. There are tortoises or land turtles. In terms of physical characteristics, it is not easy to find out the difference between turtle and tortoise. Tortoises are turtles that thrive on land. Just like sea turtles, their marine connections, they're sheltered by a shell on their backs. They differ in sizes and are withdrawn animals. Biologists as well as ordinary people generally refer to chelonians as turtles, even to tortoises and this act ignores the difference between turtle and tortoise. Turtles generally inhabit places close to a body of water body. They have bodies[..]

A bearded dragon sheds its skin regularly. In order for this to happen, he requires the correct conditions. In captivity these conditions are aided by a basking lamp and warm environment. Together with exfoliation would be the sun lamp. As I mentioned, dragons love to bask in the sun. To create this environment, we give them a basking lamp under which they sit for hours. (Don't forget natural sun is very important for him - being a desert creature, he needs large amounts of Vitamin D). The skin comes off in large patches. Don't help them to pull it off--you can damage the new skin underneath. Letting them soak in shallow warm (98 deg) water or misting them helps shedding. Exfoliating[..]

If you are looking for a name for your pet turtle then select the name that suits it most. This means, the meaning of the name should be appropriate for the nature, behavior and character of your adored turtle. Pets are normally considered as children. As the naming of your child is important, it's equally important to name your pet turtle. When you give a name to your turtle it shows your concern and attachment towards it. A special name gives it a special identity and makes it a part of your family. Your pet turtle's unique feature reflects in its unique name. So, the name should distinguish it from other turtles. You must give it a unique, caring and lovely name. The names of the[..]

Many bearded dragons owner don't know how to keep adragon clean, so here are some words about bathinga bearded dragon. This should give you the basics about. Bathing is an important part in keeping a healthy dragon. Regularbathing helps improve the Beardie's overall hydration status andkeep the Beardie clean and happy. Most Bearded Dragons prefer to potty in the tub (making it veryeasy for you to clean up after them and disinfect the surfaces). Baths also help during shedding, keeping the loosening skin soft. Some Beardies are comfortable bathing in the sink or the bath tuband others may not like bath time at all. You can try placing asee-through Rubbermaid container on your countertop[..]

There is a lot to consider when you want to keep a turtle or terrapin as a pet. Some people assume, wrongly as it turns out, that having a pet turtle is an easy task and does not require a lot of time or work. While it is easier in most respects to keep a turtle as a pet versus, say, a dog that requires loads of time and hands-on care, you need to understand that pet turtles also deserve a lot of attention and love and can live for many decades. In fact, some turtles can live up to a hundred years or more so you should be prepared for a pet that will last you all your life, if not outlive you! One of the key things to remember when bringing home a turtle or terrapin is that most of them[..]