http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ergUwqFg-xY
A video compilation of various cats that seem determined to kill their owners and the veterinary technicians that only have their best interests in mind. Prepare for total meowarchy!
Nature Mikey
Monday, March 7, 2011
Species of the Day: Brown Anole, Green Anole and Knight Anole
Today's Species of the Day is actually three species of Anoles commonly found in captivity. Since all three require similar care and can be kept in groups of the same species, I've decided to just profile all three. First, the brown anole:
Brown Anole:
Scientific Name: Anolis Sagrei
Family: Iguanidae
Adult Size: 5 to 8 inches
Range: Bahamas. Introduced to peninsular Florida and scattered through urban areas in the Southern United States.
Habitat: Fields and open woodlands, canal banks and open urban areas
The brown anole is mainly terrestrial, but it frequently climbs trees and vegetation. The terrarium should feature at least one higher promontory point from which the anole can survey the terrarium floor and also bask close to the heat lamp. Brown anoles are active by day and spend nights clinging to the underside of a leaf or stem.
Small, moving insects are essential as the brown anole's main prey. They are good eaters and will pounce on any small insect they see moving. Insects should be offered a few at a time until the anole no longer shows interest in eating. Loose feeder insects in the terrarium can be a source of stress as they can nibble toes and tail tips. A small water bowl tucked into one corner is fine, but a daily spritz of fresh water from a mister bottle will send the anoles licking droplets wherever they cling.
Green Anole:
Scientific Name: Anolis carolinensis
Family: Iguanidae
Adult Size: 6 to 11 inches
Range: South-Eastern US
Habitat: Prefers lush foliage, especially near water
This is the common "American chameleon", although its actually not related to chameleons at all. It can change color, but not with nearly the speed and range of colors of true chameleons. In biology, green anoles are much more like miniature green iguanas except that they primarily prey on insects.
Virtually all green anoles available in the pet trade are collected from the wild, despite their ease of breeding in captivity. This means that many green anoles come into captivity with already established daily routines, and may or may not adapt readily to cage life. Care must be used to make them happy to the best of one's ability to compensate and aid them in adapting. The green anole's nervous nature makes it advisable not to handle them very often.
If keeping many in the same terrarium, a cage of 20 gallons or larger, with numerous plants lining the back and sides of the terrarium is best. Leave an open space in the front as a place that feeder insects can be dropped in clear view of the hungry anoles. Green anoles like to leap down on potential prey from a high vantage point.
Provide a heat lamp over the highest plants so the anoles can bask directly below it. Water is best administered through a mister bottle. Wet the leaves so the drops of water can be lapped up by the anoles. A small water bowl is also a good to have present.
Knight Anole:
Scientific Name: Anolis equestris
Family: Iguanidae
Adult Size: 12 to 18 inches
Range: Cuba. Introduced populations in peninsular Florida
Habitat: Very arboreal, preferring large shady trees and craggy rocks
Temperament-wise, knight anoles are not the happiest campers in captivity. Most knight anoles are captured in Florida and don't adapt well to captive conditions readily. When choosing knight anoles, select the smallest available as their chances of acclimating are better than with older adults that are set in their routines. Make sure all anoles in the cage are the same size as they will happily much on a smaller lizards. Anoles pretty much have a one-tract mind; if it's smaller than you, it's edible.
A terrarium for knight anoles should emphasize the vertical and be at least three feet tall. Install at least a couple of stout tree limbs from the floor to the top of the cage, plus some horizontal branches for climbing. Position one limb so it allows the anole to bask under a heat lamp to optimize its temperature in a spot it can easily reach and climb down from throughout each day.
Insects are the favored food, but also leave soft , sweet fruits in shallow bowls where they can nibble them to add variety to their diets. Large adult knight anoles will also take pinky mice. Keep handling to a minimum with this species for it to thrive. The knight anole's shy nature and penchant for biting generally will assure this.
In short, with their bright displays and social behaviors, anoles make great pets to people who just want an animal to observe that doesn't require much handling and attention.
Brown Anole:
Scientific Name: Anolis Sagrei
Family: Iguanidae
Adult Size: 5 to 8 inches
Range: Bahamas. Introduced to peninsular Florida and scattered through urban areas in the Southern United States.
Habitat: Fields and open woodlands, canal banks and open urban areas
The brown anole is mainly terrestrial, but it frequently climbs trees and vegetation. The terrarium should feature at least one higher promontory point from which the anole can survey the terrarium floor and also bask close to the heat lamp. Brown anoles are active by day and spend nights clinging to the underside of a leaf or stem.
Small, moving insects are essential as the brown anole's main prey. They are good eaters and will pounce on any small insect they see moving. Insects should be offered a few at a time until the anole no longer shows interest in eating. Loose feeder insects in the terrarium can be a source of stress as they can nibble toes and tail tips. A small water bowl tucked into one corner is fine, but a daily spritz of fresh water from a mister bottle will send the anoles licking droplets wherever they cling.
Green Anole:
Scientific Name: Anolis carolinensis
Family: Iguanidae
Adult Size: 6 to 11 inches
Range: South-Eastern US
Habitat: Prefers lush foliage, especially near water
This is the common "American chameleon", although its actually not related to chameleons at all. It can change color, but not with nearly the speed and range of colors of true chameleons. In biology, green anoles are much more like miniature green iguanas except that they primarily prey on insects.
Virtually all green anoles available in the pet trade are collected from the wild, despite their ease of breeding in captivity. This means that many green anoles come into captivity with already established daily routines, and may or may not adapt readily to cage life. Care must be used to make them happy to the best of one's ability to compensate and aid them in adapting. The green anole's nervous nature makes it advisable not to handle them very often.
If keeping many in the same terrarium, a cage of 20 gallons or larger, with numerous plants lining the back and sides of the terrarium is best. Leave an open space in the front as a place that feeder insects can be dropped in clear view of the hungry anoles. Green anoles like to leap down on potential prey from a high vantage point.
Provide a heat lamp over the highest plants so the anoles can bask directly below it. Water is best administered through a mister bottle. Wet the leaves so the drops of water can be lapped up by the anoles. A small water bowl is also a good to have present.
Knight Anole:
Scientific Name: Anolis equestris
Family: Iguanidae
Adult Size: 12 to 18 inches
Range: Cuba. Introduced populations in peninsular Florida
Habitat: Very arboreal, preferring large shady trees and craggy rocks
Temperament-wise, knight anoles are not the happiest campers in captivity. Most knight anoles are captured in Florida and don't adapt well to captive conditions readily. When choosing knight anoles, select the smallest available as their chances of acclimating are better than with older adults that are set in their routines. Make sure all anoles in the cage are the same size as they will happily much on a smaller lizards. Anoles pretty much have a one-tract mind; if it's smaller than you, it's edible.
A terrarium for knight anoles should emphasize the vertical and be at least three feet tall. Install at least a couple of stout tree limbs from the floor to the top of the cage, plus some horizontal branches for climbing. Position one limb so it allows the anole to bask under a heat lamp to optimize its temperature in a spot it can easily reach and climb down from throughout each day.
Insects are the favored food, but also leave soft , sweet fruits in shallow bowls where they can nibble them to add variety to their diets. Large adult knight anoles will also take pinky mice. Keep handling to a minimum with this species for it to thrive. The knight anole's shy nature and penchant for biting generally will assure this.
In short, with their bright displays and social behaviors, anoles make great pets to people who just want an animal to observe that doesn't require much handling and attention.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Video of the Day: What Goes Up...
Must come down
Who doesn't like videos of people jumping up only to fall down and go boom set to music?
Who doesn't like videos of people jumping up only to fall down and go boom set to music?
Species of the Day: Campbell's Hamster
Size: Four to four and a half inches
Origin: Central Asia including Mongolia, China and Northern Russia
Life Expectancy: One to two years; occasionally longer
General Appearance: More commonly found in pet stores than other dwarf species of hamsters, the Campbell's has a plump, round body with short, soft and thick fur. Males are larger than females. This species in often confused with the dwarf Winter White Russian Hamster.
Temperament: Like some other dwarf species of hamsters, the Campbell's is willing to live in same-sex pairs if the two are brought up together from birth. It's nocturnal, but may be active for brief periods throughout the day. It's small size makes it a common escapee and difficult to handle, especially for young children, but otherwise it tends to be a good-natured pet. However, it may bite if handled improperly.
Varieties: Comes in a range of colors, from it's brownish gray to gray, sandy, white, black, black with a white band and more.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Video of the Day: Scare Tactics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOreRFo63wY
I figured after the cute animal video links, it's time to watch people getting the crap scared out of them by their most trusted friends and family. Enjoy!
I figured after the cute animal video links, it's time to watch people getting the crap scared out of them by their most trusted friends and family. Enjoy!
Breed of the Day: Alaskan Rabbit
The initial plan for the new breed was to end up with a silvery-black rabbit- a black animal with long, white guard-hairs. For reasons unknown, the breeders were satisfied in the end with the Alaskan rabbit as it is known today- an intensely black rabbit with long, glossy black guard hairs without any silvering.
The British Rabbit Council (BRC) classifies the Alaskan as a fur rabbit. Its jet black fur is dense, silky and lustrous. Black is the only color variety the Alaskan come in and it is a "self" rabbit, meaning that the whole body is one solid color. It has a thickset body-type, being well-rounded, blocky and solid. They are a medium sized rabbit weighing in at 7 to 9 pounds.
The breed was first shown in 1907 in Europe, finally making their way to America from Holland and Canada. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognized the breed in the mid 70s. Their time as a recognized breed was short lived however when ARBA recognized Havana Black rabbits, a death-knell to the Alaskan in the US. Apparently interest and popularity in the Alaskan rabbit dropped sharply in 1981, and it was dropped from the ARBA list of recognized breeds. It is unknown whether or not it is still being bred in the US. Nevertheless, these are beautiful, vibrantly-colored rabbits, and makes for a very unique and flashy pet.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Video of the Day: Dance of the Sugar Plum Kitties
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1O5MW8XIYg
Let us relax to the musical genius that is Tchaikovsky while a bunch of cats run around and do cat things.
Let us relax to the musical genius that is Tchaikovsky while a bunch of cats run around and do cat things.
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