Jenn's Pet Tips & Facts

Tip of 8/20

2011-08-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

Reptiles

Desert reptiles, such as tortoises, should have longer and wider habitats so that they have enough floor space to move around. Tropical reptiles, such as tree frogs, should have taller habitats so that they have enough vertical space to climb on branches and other habitat decor.

(Tropical Terrarium- Photo Credit: reptile-products.co.uk)

Tip of 8/18

2011-08-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Fish:

You can ensure your aquarium remains clean and pretty by taking steps, such as using a scrubbing pad or magnetic aquarium cleaner (so that you do not have to put your hands in the water) to clean the inside walls, adding a water clarifier, or using a gravel vacuum, which is also known as a Siphon or Python. It is also recommonded to do about a 20% water change on your tank once a month (though more may need to be done depending on how dirty it gets, however also keep in mind that too many water changes can hurt your aquarium as well).

(Photo: siphoning a fish tank- Photo Credit: bythefishguy.com)

Tip of 8/16

2011-08-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

Birds

Egg binding, or when an egg gets stuck inside of a bird and it is not able to release it, is a serious problem that can occur with female birds and can even be fatal (It can occur even when the bird is not mating). One of the most common causes of this is a lack of calcium in the bird's diet. To help prevent this, make sure that your bird is eating a complete diet that is providing it the essential vitamins and minerals it needs (never go with a seed-only diet, as it lacks calcium and many other essential nutrients). You can also give your bird a Cuttlebone, which your bird will peck at and is another great source of calcium.

(Cockateil with Cuttlebone- photo credit: petazon.com)

Tip of 8/15

2011-08-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Chinchillas

These funny and cute little guys can overheat very easily, so you should keep the temperature of their enviroment ideally between around 68-72 degrees F. To help ensure that they are kept cool, you can place something cold in their habitat, such as a frozen small animal water bottle (all you need to do is fill the bottle with water and place it in the freezer till the water in the bottle is frozen).

(Photo Credit: pocanticohills.org)

Tip of 8/14

2011-08-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

Fish

Before placing a new fish into your aquarium, allow the bag your fish came in when you purchased it (with fish in it, of course) to float in the water of your tank for at least 15 minutes so that it can adjust to the temperature.

(Photo Credit: Brian- howtodothings.com)

About Me & This Blog

2011-08-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

I have owned pets my entire life and work at a pet store, so I have learned quite a lot about caring for animals. As someone with a passion for animals, I would like to become a pet sitter and/or zoologist.

I plan on posting short tidbits of info and facts on caring for pets everyday.. or at least every few days. They will not only be limited to cats and dogs, but also to birds, reptiles, fish, and other small animals, such as hamsters and chinchillas.