July 5, 2010

Central America Wildlife – Spectacled Caiman

It is a crocodilian reptile. The species' common name comes from a bony ridge between the eyes. It gives the appearance of a pair of spectacles. Al though they are one of the smallest crocodilian species these guys are fierce predators. In Guatemala it can be found in the northern department of Petn. It can be found in much of Central and South America. It lives in a range of lowland wetland and riverside habitat and can tolerate salt water as well as fresh.

Males of the species are generally between 2 and 2.5 meters, while females are usually around 1.4 meters. They live an average of 25 – 30 years. They have a dull olive color. Observations show that as conditions become drier, caimans stop feeding. Cannibalism has been reported under such conditions. As adults they are capable of taking large, mammalian prey such as wild pigs.

When they need to cool off, they simply sink to colder water. They can also heat up their bodies by floating in the warm, upper surface of the water. Some live where the weather is especially cold at times during the year, but none of them actually become inactive and enter a state of deep sleep. Instead, these species either lie still in shallow water or they retreat into winter burrows to wait for spring. A favorite daytime activity for caimans is sunbathing or basking on shore.

Caimans lay 14 – 40 eggs in mounds of soil and vegetation at the water's edge or on rafts of floating vegetation. The young caiman hatch after approximately 90 days and they stay in groups close to the female. Sometimes nests are shared by females who guard it against predators. Mating takes place near the end of the dry season May – August. Spectacled

The ecological importance of this species has been demonstrated by recycling nitrogenous that re-enters the ecosystem to the benefit of other plants and animals. Also due to the reduction in number of larger crocodilian species the Caiman expanded its range into areas formerly occupied by them.

Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, has been living in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for over 10 years. She has traveled here extensively. Now loves organizing vacations to this amazing part of the world, having first hand experience of all the places with her family. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

Filed under Reptiles by Marina K. Villatoro

July 2, 2010

Finding Out More About Your Tropical Fish

One thing that we human beings are good at is continuous learning, and no matter how experienced you might be in raring fishes, there is still a lot left to learn. This is especially true when you do own a pet, as it is your responsibility to understand your fish and to provide them with the utmost care you can in terms of their habitat and their diet.

More and more newer technologies have emerged to help out with our fish care, as such you might find some of these newer technologies such as changes in water filters, aquarium, and also fish food to be very helpful in terms of helping you to take care of these fishes, always try to keep up with the latest so that you are always in sync with the market.

There are a lot more to learn than just knowing what sort of food you need to feed your fish, and in this article we will talk about some of the things you need to know when raising your fish.

For starter, if you've only just picked up the hobby, it might be good idea to start with a goldfish as they're usually more resistant and not so delicate as compared to an angelfish where constant care must be given in order for them to thrive.

If your end goal is to produce more of the same fishes, than one of the first thing you want to find out is how to tell the males from the females. Since the signs are not so obvious, especially if you are just beginning in this, you will find it quite difficult and confusing. Males will generally be larger than female, however this is not strictly true for every fish, thus you would need to do some research prior to finding out just exactly what gender they are.

Another thing to keep in mind is your male female ratio, it is generally better to have more females than males because you are essentially giving reproduction a higher chance. The general rule of thumb is to have 2 females to one male. Also be minded that females can only breed after four months, and thus you want to learn how to segregate those that are ready to breed away from those that are not.

Finally, the environment you are providing to your fish will play a very important role! Make sure you get it right from the water temperature down to the decorations you have within the tank. Try to provide them with their little safe haven so that they can escape and unwind when they are feeling stress, also make sure that you keep your tank clean by cleaning it at least twice a month!

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Filed under Tropical Fish by Anthony Chen

The Best Lizard

More individuals own personal lizards nowadays, and when cared for properly, lizards are wonderful pets. Among one of the most famous types accessible, bearded lizards are excellent companions. Read this article for info on lizard lifestyles and to learn tips on how to make bearded dragon habitats.

A medium sized lizard with ten year long lifespan, the bearded dragon is originally from Australia. Measured from snout to tail tip, these lizards can reach up to two feet in length. Omnivorous creatures, bearded dragons like to a great deal on crickets, pinky mice, leafy greens, and earthworms. Also make sure to always have fresh water obtainable and to mist your lizard. Social by nature, it is possible to keep bearded lizards together, without having too a lot difficulty.

Native to central Australia, bearded dragons choose forested, dry, warm climates. During the day, they hang out in trees and bushes, but also is usually uncovered basking on warm stones. To preserve your lizard wholesome and content, try to recreate this natural surroundings as closely as possible in its new tank.

Primary, you must pick the correct bearded dragon habitat. Even though baby bearded dragons could be kept in 10-15 gallon aquariums, adults will need the space provided by an aquarium of at the least 55 gallons, so strategy accordingly. Also, make sure the aquarium has a tight fitting lid, so that your new pet cannot escape.

Next, you need to opt for what sort of substrate, or bedding that you want to use. This bedding should be quick to clean, absorbent, and quickly digestible in case it can be swallowed. A lot of pet shops sell substrate specially created for bearded lizards, but newspaper works as perfectly. Just make positive NOT to use wood shavings, kitty litter, gravel, or crushed corn cobs, as these will likely be harmful to your lizard if swallowed

Now that the bedding is in position, it truly is time to begin decorating! A content lizard is often a lizard with lots of factors to climb on and locations to hide. Use oak for climbing posts and make sure to add flat stones for basking. Non-toxic, reside plants also make a nice touch.

The final, and most critical step, in creating your lizard's habitat, is usually to install sources of heat and light. Remember, lizards are cold-blooded and rely on external sources of heat. In order to retain your lizard healthy, the tank should be kept at 78-88 degrees F at day, and no lower than 70 degrees F at night. Affixing Incandescent light bulbs for the tank lid is often a good way to supply warmth. Lizards also need a position to bask, so make sure that you just obtain a particular basking lamp.

Select a perfect bearded dragon habitat for you new pet.

Filed under Reptiles by Nathan Webster

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