Sugar Gliders - A Popular New Pet

Sugar gliders are a type of marsupial which resemble small flying squirrels. Although they are native to Oceania, they have become wildly popular in recent years in the United States, where they have become one of the most commonly owned exotic pets. They are known for their affectionate loyalty and the bond they form with their owners, whom they view as their surrogate parents.

Sugar gliders are small and gray, usually ranging in color from silver to charcoal, although many have black markings on them. They grow to around 6 to 7 inches in length and weigh between 3 to 5.3 ounces. Because they are nocturnal, they are notable for their large bulging black eyes.

Their most notable physical feature, though, is the membrane that runs from their runs from their hands to their feet. While it is hardly noticeable as anything more than a slight flap in the skin when they are walking, the arms and legs can be extended to unveil glider-like wings. These wings allow them to glide from tree to tree across surprisingly long distances. Though they appear a bit clumsy and ungainly in flight, they are actually quite graceful and have total control over their gliding.

Sugar gliders are social animals, and develop very strong attachments to their new families. When kept as pets, they require at least an hour a day of social interaction with their owners. While this makes them less than desirable for hands-off owners, for some people who enjoy the interaction, they can be ideal pets. For these owners, they are animals with boundless curiosity, quick affection, and lasting emotional bonds. 

While they are legal in 47 states, some individual cities have laws against them, California being the only exception in the contiguous 48 states. Before attempting to purchase one, you should check the laws in your state and locality to make sure that you are not in violation of any laws. Additionally, different areas have different laws regarding the breeding and sale of sugar gliders. While sugar gliders are quite easy to breed, you should make sure that you are getting yours from a good breeder. Ask vets in your area about any known local breeders, and make sure to have your sugar glider examined regularly for its health.

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Why Your Pet Needs Regular Exercise

We are always getting warned by medical experts that our health will deteriorate if we sit around the house all day eating potato chips and watching TV. The same is true for our pets, getting enough exercise is crucial to their health, both physical and mental. You may find that making sure your pet gets enough exercise improves your own health.

Pet owners do not always understand that their pet's bodies are not made to lie around and not move. In order for a pets blood to circulate properly they have to get up and move around. Pets that lay in one position for two long are at risk for pneumonia, blood clots, and bedsores that can become infected.

Exercise Lowers Your Pets Weight

Exercise is almost as important as nutrition when you are trying to manage your pet's weight. When your pet exercises it is burning calories. You will find that when your pet's weight is lower, your pet is more willing to exercise. The best thing that happens when your pet looses weight is that there is less strain being placed on your pet's heart, a heart that strengthens with exercise. A balanced diet and plenty of exercise can add years to your pet's life that you can enjoy together.

Save Your Pets Mental State

Did you know that your pet can become depressed? Pet's that don't get out and get exercise a few times a day are more prone to becoming depressed then a pet that is active and playing. Older pets seem to be more prone to depression then younger pets. Experts agree that the best way to restore your pet's mental health is to spend some time with your pet. We recommend that your carve a half and hour a day to spend with your pet and get it up and exercising to get it interested in life.

Exercise and the Older Pet

We know that it can be difficult to know how much your older pet should get. Older pets are just like older people. There bodies aren't what they use to be and they no longer want to run around and play. Just because your pet is older doesn't mean that you shouldn't make sure it gets plenty of exercise. You just need to make sure that the exercise program you create is modified to compensate for your elderly pets aches and pains.

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Hamster Breeding Made Easy

How many children do you have in your family? How big is your house? The more children you have, the more space is required. If there are too many people in a small house, everyone will feel uncomfortable. This is also true with hamsters. Once you decide to breed hamsters, you have to ensure that you can easily find new homes for the babies, or you will need to get enough cages to house the litter. Before you start breeding, you can talk to local pet shops or to friends, relatives, and co-workers to determine if they are willing to take some of the baby hamsters.

Cross breeding you should not be attempted. For instance, if you like Syrian hamsters, you will need to breed two Syrian hamsters. What if you only have a female or a male? This is not a problem. You can find another owner of a hamster of the same breed. Ask around your neighborhood or you can also ask for references from friends and acquaintances. Talk to the owner of the hamster and you can breed them with the agreement of sharing the load when it comes to finding homes for the babies!

The Syrian hamsters are more of the 'isolated' type and will want to live alone or in pairs. The dwarf hamsters are different. In fact, you can keep several dwarf hamsters (of the same sex) in a cage, and they will tend to live harmoniously as they grow up together. Remember that once you've determined the gender of the hamsters, you will need to keep them in separate cages - one for the male and one for the female. You see, when the hamsters reach the 'mating' age, you can see how things unfold naturally.

To prevent cannibalism, you need to breed the females when they are already 4 to 6 months. It's not ideal to breed hamsters over six months old because birth complications can occur. In the case of the male, the ideal age for breeding is 2 to 3 months old. Here's another fact, the female becomes sterile when she reaches 14 months! So if you want to breed again using the same female, you can do so but try to space the births 3 to 4 months apart.

Some females get pregnant within several days of giving birth, but this is not ideal because it will only shorten their lives. This is because the female's body is not able to recuperate. In most cases, the female can produce two litters at certain time intervals, although there is a chance when she can produce more than that.

When breeding the Syrian, the female is really aggressive and so you will need to introduce the male when they are in season. Watch out for the scent that is usually given off at night by the female. This is the sign that she is ready to mate. Otherwise, the male can get killed. You need to learn about the oestrus period of the female which can last for 4-18 hours beginning at night. Learn the scent and know how it smells.

Feed the female with foods that are high in protein during her pregnancy. After giving birth, your task is to avoid upsetting the mother, and refrain from disturbing their cage. In other breeds, like the dwarf hamsters, you won't encounter many problems because these creatures are more sociable.

Good luck and happy hamster breeding!

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Sugar Glider Food and Diet: The FACTS from Vets - Part One

www.asgv.org. Top Vets explain the TRUTH about proper Sugar Glider diet & nutrition.

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Sugar Gliders and Other Pets: The TRUTH from Vets

www.asgv.org. Will Sugar Gliders get along with cats, dogs and other household pets?.. Top Vets explain the REAL facts.

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Sugar glider also know how to play dead

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Sugar Gliders As Pets: Vet Approved Cage and Housing Facts

www.asgv.org. Top Vets teach the FACTS about proper Sugar Glider cages and cage supplies.

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Curing Herb Crabs From Mites

Cats and dogs get fleas, dogs get ticks and your hermit crab can get mites. These tiny mites can be seen best with the use of a microscope, and just as ticks and fleas can make your other pests very sick, mites can be deadly to your pet causing it to die prematurely if left untreated.

Mites are the size of a grain of sand or smaller and they are black or brown in color. If you are lucky you'll be able to see them but it's difficult especially if you don't know what your looking for. If your hermit crab scratches because they bites are itchy.

If you have mites on your hermit crabs there are simple steps:

1: Do not buy over the counter mite treatments.

2. Remove everything from the tank and place into boiling hot water This includes rocks, gravel, food bowls and anything else. Leave there for at least 15 minutes. Then remove scrub under normal temperature water and let dry. You should also clean your the tank. Never use any chemicals that can harm him. Once dry replace into the tank.

3. Use Baden immediately upon discovering your crab's mites. Dip them in and out of the water that has been treated. Do it a half dozen times or so to make sure any mites tucked under the shell are removed.

Having mites on your hermit crabs is a regular occurrence. It's just what it is and if it's going to be too big of a problem for you, perhaps hermit crabs aren't the right pet for you. One way to reduce the number of mite breakouts is to clean your hermit crabs home at least a couple of times a month.

These crab's are actually great pet and they are very easy to care for. Like dogs and cats or other pets there are things that go with their ownership and with these little creatures it happens to be mites. There really not a lot of trouble at all once you know how to treat them.

Your hermit crab relies on you for a clean, parasite free home, along with a healthy diet designed for these little guys. In return you'll get a neat little pet that's more rewarding than you might imagine unless you've already owned these little guys.

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Chinchilla Facts

Chinchillas usually live about 15 years, but can live as much as 20 years with the proper care. Their bodies are about 10-14 inches long, and the tail adds another 5 or 6 inches.

If chinchillas are handled gently from a very young age, they will usually be tame and have a close bond with their owners. They do have times when they don't want to be held however. They are active and extremely playful, and can be kept alone, and usually do well with same sex pairs if they are litter mates, or introduced to each other when they are very young.

Usually, chinchillas are only active at night, since they are nocturnal. They are even referred to as crepuscular, which means that they are active most at dusk and down. During the day, they should be put in an area that is quiet, so they can rest. Due to the fact that they can become stressed when changes occur, they should be fed at the same time every day. They also need to have a cage that is large enough for them to move and play in since they become extremely active. Chinchillas also do not need to be in an area that is over 75 degrees, since they can overheat fast. This should be avoided, since they can die if they get too hot.

Chinchillas need a great amount of roughage in their diet, and needs to be comprised of a high quality grass and pellets that are made for chinchillas. They don't need too many treats, only a teaspoon per day is fine. Chinchillas have very sensitive digestive systems, so any diet changes will need to be made gradually. This can be accomplished by mixing a little of the new food with more of the older food, and gradually increasing the amount of new food until only new food is there. A pelleted diet is best for chinchillas, to be sure they get all of the nutrients they need.

A chinchilla cage is best if it is large and tall, and one with ladders and shelves is great, since chinchillas love to explore and play. The best material for a cage is wire, and don't get plastic since chinchillas love to chew and destroy any plastic items. You can line the tray with wood shavings, but not cedar, since it can cause problems for their respiratory systems. Newspaper or aspen shavings are preferred. Wire floors are hard on the feet of chinchillas, so should be avoided. If you have wire floors, it is a good idea to cover the floor with wood. They also need a nest box that is comprised of wood as well.

You should put the cage in a place where it is cool, and not prone to excessive noise during the day. They should never be placed in direct sunlight, or in areas where they temperature gets over 75 degrees. Putting the cage on a stand or table will allow the animal to feel more secure.

They need a water bottle that is made of glass, so they cannot chew it up, and a food hopper that attaches to the cage is best, since it will not be tipped over or get dirty.

When you know that proper tips to caring for chinchillas, you can have a very happy pet that lives for many happy years.

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