Guide to African Grey Parrots

Highly sensitive and clever African grey parrots compare in intelligence to a five-year-old child, a dolphin, or a chimpanzee. They mimic speech but are also capable of using language to communicate. They can precisely copy sounds. I don’t know how many times I have answered the ring of the phone only to find it had never rung, with the African Grey in the background laughing at me. This exotic pet has copied the sound of the ding of the microwave, the neighbor’s chainsaw, and a wide variety of other noises. Since cell ringtones, hands up, I give up. This Grey parrot also mimic behaviors and mannerisms.

There are two varieties of African Greys available to the pet owners, the Congo African Grey (CAG) and the Timneh African Grey (TAG). Many people have considered the Timneh African Grey parrot as inferior to the Congo African Grey. Both birds have the same capabilities for speech and both are equally as intelligent. The Congo African Grey is larger than the Timneh African Grey. The Congo Grey has light gray feathers and the Timneh Grey has darker gray feathers. The most striking difference is the tail. The Congo Grey has a bright red tail while the Timneh Grey has a brick red, maroon, or brown tail.

Congo African Grey Parrot

Photographs courtesy of Cedar Hills Birds.

So as you can see there is very little difference in the Congo Grey and Timneh Grey. They are both exceptional birds and both make delightful companion pets! African Greys normally have a gentle nature and are delightful little clowns. In fact, purchasing the Timneh Grey has one advantage; price! Because of the Congo Grey’s popularity over the Timneh Grey, it makes them much more expensive. The African Grey is a medium-sized parrot.

Purchasing Your African Grey

Always purchase any African Grey from a reputable bird breeder, pet dealer, or pet store. Always purchase a bird that is banded. A bird without a band could be an illegal, smuggled bird. The African Grey is endangered because of illegal trade and habitat loss.

I prefer to buy birds that are hand fed babies. If raised properly they usually make exceptional friends. Unless you are experienced with hand feeding babies it is better to buy one that is already weaned to solid food. It is so easy to damage and injure a bird while hand feeding.

When you purchase/acquire your African Grey Parrot make sure the bird has smooth healthy feathers and bright shiny eyes. Check his or her vent area to make sure it is not soiled. Check the bottom of the cage for droppings, making sure they are well-formed. It is a good idea to have an avian veterinarian to check the bird and run laboratory tests to ensure the bird is healthy. These tests should include a complete blood count, (CBC) Chlamydia Screen and a culture of the throat and vent. Make sure a signed veterinarian certificate accompanies the bird.

Be certain to quarantine any parrot you bring home, for a time period of at least eight weeks, keeping them separate from other birds in your home. This is true of any exotic pet or exotic pets.

Before you purchase an African Grey be sure to ask yourself why you are purchasing one. Are you purchasing him simply because of their excellent capabilities to talk? Some Grey Parrots will never talk. This doesn’t happen often but please don’t purchase just for this reason. Purchase because they are wonderful companion pets that are intelligent. You will want to spend large amounts of quality time with them. They are highly social and sensitive. Most African Grey parrots don’t learn to talk until they’re around twelve to eighteen months old, and may even take as long as two years.

You must learn to love parrots unconditionally. You can never punish a parrot. You must let a bird be a bird. Your relationship with your African Grey will be built on love and trust. You can establish boundaries but be sure to remain consistent with these boundaries. Establishment of these rules is effective, and a way to prevent potential problems.

Cages and Accessories

Some bird cages are a danger to your parrot one example, the bars may be improperly spaced. You will find screws and other tiny parts the African Grey will work loose, the parrot may attempt to ingest the small part and choke. Parrots will chew constantly. They will chew at the bars. The paint must be non-toxic. Parrots are notorious for opening birdcage latches. The latch must be of good design and secure.

Keeping the birdcage clean and sanitized is a very important issue. Many disinfectants are horrific to birds and that is why I highly suggest using a Chlorhexidine Solution. This solution is especially effective against the resistant germs that are running rampant today. It is even effective against the swine flu. Some cages are impossible to keep clean and even harder, to sanitize. Keep this in mind when purchasing a cage. Are there out of the way areas that get crammed with gunk impossible to clean?

The cage must be the proper size for the African Grey. Rectangular and square cages are much better than a round cage. Bird cages need to be secure and big, the bigger the cage the better. When I am around to supervise my African Grey I keep him out of his cage and on a playpen. Parrots enjoy their freedom.

Because of the African Grey’s advanced intelligence, the need for play, exercise, and mental stimulation is even greater. Provide a good variety of toys and rotate them often. Your African Grey needs your love and attention. Spending a great deal of quality time with your parrot will prevent many behavioral problems. African Greys get bored!

Provide several perches with different diameters for optimal foot health. I like hardwood perches; they withstand the abuse of a parrot’s beak!

Health and Nutrition

The African Grey needs a varied, healthy diet. He will need a balanced diet of seeds, sprouted seeds, nuts, vegetables, protein, and fruits. After the parrot eats his fresh foods, make sure to remove the leftover food from his cage, because they will spoil and make the parrot ill. Always provide the African Grey with plenty of fresh water. It is a good idea to buy a quality water filter and filter the water the parrot uses. The healthier the diet the stronger your parrot’s immune system. Don’t feed your parrot chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or avocado.

You should provide your parrot with a birdbath or spritz him with a spray bottle, and wet him or her entirely. This encourages him to preen; keeping his feathers healthy.

The toenails need to be clipped and the flight feathers may need trimming to prevent your parrot from getting injured or escaping. The beak should be trimmed when needed. Check with an avian veterinarian before attempting these procedures the first time. Watch and learn!

The African Grey should have a checkup from an avian veterinarian once a year. He should also see a vet if he is ill. Parrots are notorious for hiding illnesses. They must hide their illness in the wild otherwise they will appear weak and become prey for other animals. Be prepared for the cost of taking your bird to an avian veterinarian!

There are many dangers in your home from which you will need to protect your exotic pet. To name a few of these hazards: fumes, chemical sprays, boiling pots of water, the coating on your pots and pans, poisonous plants, and open toilets. Parrots are the same as growing children; they are curious, excited to learn, and must investigate.

Always supervise your African Grey around other animals and children. Your parrot may play just great with your dog but you just never know what could trigger them injuring each other.

Keeping your African Grey Busy and Happy

I can’t stress enough the need for this intelligent parrot’s need for attention, mental stimulation, and play. Always provide your African Grey with plenty of toys. Spend plenty of time every day interacting with your bird. You can play with your bird in so many different ways. Just like a toddler, they will drop their toys off the top of their playpen. This is saying I want you to play with me! Please interact with me. After all, parrots are highly social birds in the wild. In captivity, you are their flock or their family!

African Greys are highly vocal in the wild. This is the parrot’s nature. If you want a parrot in your home you must accept this. They screech, squawk, sing, whistle, and make noise! You must let a parrot be a parrot! They will greet each morning with a variety of noises. They will say goodbye to the light with ear piercing noise. They will get excited periodically throughout the day and go into a song and dance routine.

But, if they continually screech and squawk something is amiss! They are bored and need more attention and more varying activities. You will find that they enjoy soft music. Remember that parrots hear a whole lot better than we do please keep the bass and volume down. Parrots need to chew; this too is part of their nature. Provide safe branches for your parrot to chew on. Provide toys that are made out of safe, non-toxic wood and lava rocks to chew on.

If you treat your African Grey with plenty of love and attention you will have a wonderful companion and friend for decades to come! Above all else, enjoy your African Grey!

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Guide to Sugar Gliders

How to care for an exotic pet Sugar Glider. Sugar Gliders are a social animal and should not be raised alone. You must have more than one.

They are a marsupial much like an opossum. They rear their young in pouches like a kangaroo. Sugar Gliders can be adopted from sugar glider rescues. In fact, many people are unprepared when they purchase a sugar glider, and many gliders do end up in rescues!

Dietary Requirements

They cannot consume fat. The majority of their diet is fruit and vegetables (75%). They should receive protein (25%. They do need calcium.

These are the foods that sugar gliders like: strawberries, cantaloupe fruit jams, raisins, carrots, peas, low-fat turkey, and boiled chicken, dried fruit, apricots, peaches, pineapple, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, fruit juices, papaya, grapes, peaches, honeydew melon, pears, blueberries, corn, oranges, yams, sweet potatoes, peanuts (crushed), pine nuts, squash, hard-boiled eggs (leave the shells, cut the egg in half), Paw Paws, high protein baby cereal, assorted baby foods, low-fat yogurt (they especially like peach and blueberry), mealworms, wax worms, silkworms, small amounts of honey, dehydrated fruits and vegetables.

Since their food is fresh, the food needs to be removed from the cage frequently to prevent spoiling. Do not feed lightening bugs these can be deadly to many animals.

The much of their fluid intake is from the fruit in the wild. The sugar glider must have fresh water available at all times.

Vitamin deficiency can be a problem with sugar gliders. You should offer a liquid supplement in their drinking water or on their food.

Deviating from this diet, 75%/25% can be fatal to the Sugar Glider. Avoid preservatives, artificial flavors, and artificial colors. The Sugar Glider's diet is very specialized and can be quite expensive to feed. Something to take into serious consideration before you decide to bring home a sugar glider.

Housing

It is not a good idea to let your little sugar gliders to be free in a house without strict supervision. They can be injured. The little darlings also like to chew things up like your drapes, furniture, and any other chewable stuff in your house.

Do not forget that the glider is nocturnal. Sugar Gliders cannot be outside in the direct sun. The sun will injure their eyes severely.

Cages need to be good sized. The sugar glider cage can be bought or homemade. Homemade cages are relatively easy to build. The cage should be welded wire because Sugar Gliders like to climb. The size of the mesh needs to be small. A cage should be no smaller than 24" inches in diameter and 38" tall for any more than 2 animals. Bigger is better.

Place live fruit trees branches in their cage, and replace them frequently. This is for two purposes. One of these reasons is for climbing. The other reason they need to chew to keep their teeth healthy. Do not use any branches that have been sprayed!

Provide a nesting box for them to sleep in the daytime, for their comfort and to keep them out of the daylight. Fleece makes a great pillow and blanket for the sugar glider. Never use tissue (like toilet paper), sugar gliders can ingest tissue. Ingested tissue can cause intestinal blockage.

Bedding is a bit tricky; from all the fruit, their little feet can be sticky. Corncob bedding works well. Cedar is harmful, as is pine.

Legality of Sugar Gliders in the USA

I say in the US because I do not know what agency to contact outside of the United States. To find out if it legal to own a sugar glider in the US, contact the US Dept of Agriculture (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service). Inquire if you must have a license.

This is a general overview to give you information about the Sugar Glider. Before you decide to bring one into your home, please research them entirely and find a vet that is knowledgeable.

Sugar Gliders Adoption

Please consider looking into pet adoption before purchasing a sugar glider. There are many sugar glider rescues and sugar gliders looking for a home.

Spend lots of time with your Sugar glider, and they will love to be with you. They will literally crave your attention. As you have seen, they can be costly and are time intensive. Sugar Gliders are sweet animals and make wonderful pets for the right person. Above all else enjoy your sugar glider.

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Bird First Aid - Emergency

Always keep a carrier ready and large enough to contain and transport your bird. Put a towel on the bottom of the carrier to keep him calm. If he is ill or injured, he or she needs to be kept warm and calm.

Birds will hide their injuries or illnesses so that they do not appear weak to predators. When a bird is injured or ill it is not a good idea to use a carrier with a fitted perch. They may fall, or panic and flap their wings and become seriously injured.

Also, it is invaluable to have this carrier nearby in case of fire, earthquakes, tornados, floods and other disasters.

If a bird is attacked by a cat wash out the wound with hydrogen peroxide and then Betadine (most of these products are much cheaper in a farm store or feed store) immediately, and get the bird to a vet for antibiotic shots. When a cat scratches or bites a bird, it will pass on Pasteurella a bacterium. That scratch or bite will be fatal in 24 hours.

If your bird should start convulsing place the bird in his carrier, keep the pet bird warm, call your vet.

If your bird is burned rinse the burn immediately with cool water apply Neosporin Ointment. Treat for shock. If the bird is burned badly get him to a veterinarian immediately.

Wounds that bleed apply direct pressure until bleeding has stopped, clean with Betadine and apply Neosporin Ointment. If the wound is serious get to a vet. If the wound is a puncture wound take the bird to a vet; antibiotics may be administered. Use blood clotting agent Clotisol.

Broken blood feather use pliers to pull out flood feather that has been damaged. The broken blood feather will act as a suctioned straw and the bird will bleed out. Grip the feather firmly and pull the feather straight out. Clean with Betadine and use the blood clotting agent Clotisol If there is still bleeding, apply pressure, and get the bird to a vet. Birds don’t have a lot of blood, don’t waste time.

Their nimble tongue can get them into trouble. Their tongues have a lot of blood vessels hightail it to a vet; they will bleed out quickly.

Birds go into shock easily; keep the bird warm and calm.

Night terror – I have had quite a few calls about birds panicking at night. Birds do not see well in the dark. They start jumping around and flapping their wings. This can cause serious injury. If your bird should have night terrors keep a nightlight near the cage. Pull the cage cover up on one end near the night light. Talk to your bird calmly. I have seen this happen rarely with my own birds. Which leads me to believe that birds dream much as humans do? Dreaming is the way the brain processes information and puts it in the proper place for storage (much like defragging our computers.)

It sure wouldn’t hurt to consult an Avian Veterinarian and hopefully get to the root cause of the night terrors.

If you tape a bird with a Hook and Loop, Velcro tape, gauze tape or any tape make sure it is not too tight to prevent the bird from breathing. Bird’s breathe very differently than we do; the same thing with holding a bird – not too tight.

If you have an emergency with your bird use common sense. If he is bleeding profusely grab something (sheet, shirt, men’s tie- anything to control the bleeding FAST), get the bird, apply direct pressure, and then call the vet while holding the animal. Hopefully, someone is around to assist. With a bit of luck, your medical kit as described below is handy, so that you can grab a clean dishcloth.

You can cite any “expert” sometimes emergencies come down to simple common sense. If I told you to call a vet, then apply direct pressure would you do it? Or, would you apply direct pressure and then call the vet?

Emergency First Aid Supplies

If your bird has been injured or poisoned your veterinarian may recommend emergency first aid before you even transport to the clinic. Have these items on hand, so they are ready when he or she instructs an emergency procedure.

Veterinarians phone number

Night, holiday, or relief veterinarian phone number

Supplies

Gauze pads to apply direct pressure

Cotton swabs

Alcohol swabs

1" gauze tape

Hook And Loop or Velcro medical tape (or) Vet wrap

Penlight

Metal nail file

Tweezers or hemostats

Small scissors

Clean dish towels

1cc tuberculin syringes

Flexible tubing

12cc curved tip syringes

A net

Sterile saline solution

Hydrogen peroxide

Pedialyte – hydration and restoring electrolytes

Betadine – this is my personal favorite it is a broad-spectrum antiseptic. I buy it in farm supplies a gallon at a time we use it on our pets, wildlife rescues and ourselves.

Clotisol - blood clotting agent

Neosporin Ointment

Pepto-Bismol – to treat vomiting 2 drops by dropper

Benadryl*** (pink kapseals)

Pliers

Magnifying glass

Good bottle of wine - calming effect on YOU after emergency.

How to Avoid Emergencies

Toxic Houseplants

Poisons

Ceiling Fans

Unsuitable toys with small chain links, metal clips, lead weights, balsa wood, plastic, and small bells.

Sandpaper-covered perches

Toxic fumes from non-stick-coated cookware, insecticides, and air pollutants.

Open doors that lead outside or can be slammed on a bird

Sudden changes in temperatures

Toys or items with lead paint – we will see this more often with so much stuff made in China

Boiling pots of food or water on the stove

Open toilets

Glasses of water

Toys or other things that can cause strangulation

Air freshener

*** Benadryl - If you look in Walmart in the sleep aid department you will find a generic sleep aid - read the back of the bottle/box it will say the only ingredient is Benadryl. These are far cheaper than buying Benadryl.

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Budgie & Parakeet Guide

Health

Birds have a tendency to mask illnesses. To ensure your bird’s good health provide plenty of good nutrition. Keep his cage and accessories clean and sanitized. Keep the budgie bird out of drafts and sudden temperature changes.

Clean the cages daily sanitize the cage weekly. Food and water dishes should be sanitized daily. Most harsh disinfectants are dangerous to birds. Never use piney oily smelling stuff like Pinsol. The safest disinfectant is Chlorhexidine.

If you observe your bird displaying symptoms such as hunched over, droopy, wet droppings, or uninterested in his environment he is sick. Take your bird to an avian veterinarian.

Your house has many dangers to the bird. He may get hurt on a ceiling fan. He may drop into a pot of boiling water or an open toilet. He could ingest poisonous plants. The fumes from overheated non-stick cookware are poisonous to your birds. Aerosol can be harmful; an example air freshener. Use extreme caution when letting your bird fly in your home.

With proper care and safety measures the parakeet lifespan - lifespan (people spell it both ways) should be up to fifteen years.

Parakeets need 10-12 hours of sleep a day. He should have darkness and quiet. Cover his cage.

Birds can suffer from Coccidiosis. The symptoms of Coccidiosis are blood in the droppings, a soiled vent and the bird will look huddled up. This must be diagnosed with the use of a microscope. Take the bird to a veterinarian for diagnoses and treatment.

Parakeets should be kept in temperatures of no lower than 68-70F to no higher than 90F. During the day if they can’t get some direct sunlight (make sure part of the cage is shaded and watch that the bird doesn’t overheat) it wouldn’t hurt to expose the bird to a full spectrum light for a part of the day. Any animal with a skeleton structure needs vitamin D3.

Ornithosis: Psittacosis is a disease in birds that can be passed on to humans. The symptoms are runny eyes and blinking. Take the bird to a veterinarian for diagnoses and treatment.

Birds can suffer from mites and lice. Birds will act lethargic and become anemic.

Play and Training

The first thing you should train your parakeet is how to perch on a finger. Remain calm and speak in a calming voice. Gently press your finger into his chest until he learns to step up on your finger. Offer him praise and a treat. Parakeets can learn to mimic words. Repeat the word or phrase repeatedly. Male birds are much easier to train than female birds.

Birds enjoy sounds and music in the background. Keep the volume low. Birds suffer from boredom too! They love for you to talk to them. Even while doing your daily chores the budgies will enjoy the interaction. Parakeet or budgerigars can learn to talk.

Provide your pet with toys and treats. Pet stores have a great variety of toys available for parakeets. Put some of the toys away for a couple weeks and bring out new ones. Rotating his toys will provide him with new mental stimulation.

There are much healthy fun treats available for the parakeet. They will enjoy millet sprays, egg biscuits, seed sticks, fruit sticks, and seed bells.

You might consider purchasing a bird playpen. The playpen has perches, swings, and ladders. Your parakeet will have a great deal of fun with a bird playpen.

Parakeet actions can be a bit strange to a first-time parakeet owner. The ultimate of a show of affection toward you would be for the parakeet to regurgitate, and if you’re not quick you will end up with a mouth full of goo. Don’t pull back in revulsion while your bird is showing love you would be turning down that love. Just do your best to keep your mouth closed, and then shower your baby with affection. This goo is what the mother parakeet feeds their young. It is only partially digested food.

Parakeets make a noise when content much like a cat purrs. It is a cute noise like a warble. Parakeets are not loud like many parrots and you can easily keep them in an apartment or mobile home park.

Summary

The parakeet is a brilliantly colored small parrot that makes a delightful companion pet. Their antics are fun to watch. They can be trained to talk and mimic your words. Keep his cage and accessories clean and disinfected. Spend time playing and talking with your bird. Provide him with plenty of mental stimulation with toys. You will have a good friend for many years to come. Above all else enjoy your pet budgie.

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How to make Halloween Costumes for Pets

Making costumes for your pets can be simple, and inexpensive, if not free. Everyone has old clothing or clothing we don’t wear or need, taking up space, that could be used for other things. That size six wardrobe put away 15-years ago in all likelihood will never see the light of day again. We also have a whole lot of stuff in our junk drawers that could easily be used to decorate costumes. With a little imagination and improvising skills, this could result in some mighty cute costumes.

Homemade Halloween Costumes for Pets

First, no matter how cute your pet is dressed for Halloween, safety comes first. Many dangers, even hidden dangers, come along with the territory of Halloween and Halloween costumes. Strings that strangulate or materials that are flammable, poisonous substances, cool glittery things that could cause an animal to choke or a material that could be toxic. Noises that could scare your pet into a flight, and I do mean both definitions of the word flight. Children and adults, people that your pets would normally recognize will look and possibly smell entirely different.

How to make easy Halloween Costumes for Pets Homemade Halloween costumes do not have to be complex. Use construction paper or old material just use your imagination and be creative! It is more fun if you make it easy and simple.

Think about what type of costume you want for your exotic pet. Do you have a theme in mind? Second look at your pet’s proportions. Measure the neck, space between legs both from side to side and back to front. That is if the animal has four legs. Also measure the circumference of the legs, so on and so forth. Usually simply eye-balling the measurements will do the trick. Some pets just won’t hold still long enough to use a tape measure.

Now think about what you have on hand. You may have to purchase a couple of things but improvise using what you already have is a lot of fun. After all, a simple hat made from construction paper is cute in itself.

Perhaps you’re not so crafty, or just don’t enjoy or have time for homemade pet costumes. There is a bunch of costumes for your pet to look like an exotic pet, your exotic pet to look like a pet, a pet that looks like a child or a child that looks like an exotic pet. Sounds fun, doesn’t it!

If a child can be a lamb why can’t a ferret become a bumble bee for Halloween! The new rage, Halloween costumes for our pets from Halloween costumes for dogs, Halloween costumes for cats, and Halloween costumes for exotic pets.

I have found that many Halloween costumes for dogs and Halloween costumes for cats will work, (most are available in small, medium, and large) for many exotic pets including the skunk, raccoon, coatimundi, iguana, and many other animals. See there really are Halloween costumes for exotic pets!

I have found that many costumes designed for small dogs or cats will work on the skunk, raccoon, coatimundi, iguana, and many other animals. Ferret costumes work great with smaller exotic pets. I have even rigged a costume or two for iguanas. Use your imagination; think about your pet, how the pet is shaped, where the leg positions are, the sky is the limit with converting costumes meant for children and pets to fit other animals. I have seen some pretty cool snake costumes as well. There are literally thousands of costumes for animals at Amazon!

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Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - Pet

Insect exotic pets such as the pet Madagascar Hissing Cockroach are particularly popular. They are fascinating animals. A lot of people enjoy these amazing creatures as pets. They are not like the more common cockroaches found in dwellings, they spend their time naturally on the forest floors, not in homes! Unless of course, a person should decide to have an hisser as a pet but keep in mind they are excellent climbers, however, do not fly.

Hissers do make good beginner insects because of their durable outer shell; they are hardy insects. They are also quite docile, don't move very fast, and are easy to handle. If you want to start a responsible child out with an insect pet, this would be a good starting point. Making sure you supervise because all critters deserve the best of care. Hissers would rather hide when frightened, they do not bite.

Gently pick them up. They will be holding on to whatever they are sitting on. Scoop them up from underneath making sure their claws are unattached from whatever they are standing on so that you don't hurt their little legs!

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa), just one of the many species of an unusual life, found only on the island of Madagascar, which is a country off the coast of Africa. They reach an impressive size of 2-3 inches; about one inch wide at full growth. The male is more portentous with their horns (pronotum). They are a wingless roach. Bearing live young after the young hatch from an egg sac inside of the mother, meaning they give birth to live young (more accurately living young) after the eggs hatch.

Madagascar hissing cockroaches bugs gromphadorhina portentosa by Walton LaVonda, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

They get their name from the grand hissing noise they make. This hissing noise is mostly made during mating rituals and fights between male hissers the victorious often making the most hissing noises making a person wonder if it isn't the noise of the conqueror after many display hisses during the fight. Males are territorial. They may also hiss when they are startled. It is not unheard of to hear many members of a colony of hissers making this hissing noise at the same time. So perhaps, this is one of the many mysteries humans just don't entirely understand.

They make the hissing sound when they squeeze air through the body part spiracles (breathing tubes) found in front of the abdomen. The hissing noise can be quite loud; audible up to 12 feet away.

The hissing cockroach is found primarily in the rich vegetation of forest living between rotting logs and other debris eating rotting fruits, vegetation, rotting animals and insects. They are said to be a herbivore but this isn't true they are nature's perfect composters.

Hissing cockroaches are an invertebrate and go through growth cycles counted through each molting of their exoskeleton. They usually are capable of hissing when they reach maturity after their fourth molt.

They should have a large tank of at least 15 gallons (this will support a small colony) with a very secure (remember they climb) mesh top. Provide a much larger tank if you have more than a small colony. They should be kept at temperatures of 75-90 degrees F. Keep them warmer than 68 degrees F. Remember if you want an exotic pet you must keep them safe, happy, and secure keeping them as close to their natural environment. They live in warm tropical and must be kept warm.

I am going to presume they are a social critter since they live in colonies. I would expect it would be unhealthy to have just one hissing cockroach.

Provide a substrate making sure to stay away from the pine and cedar which will kill insects and small mammals, they have a toxic oily substance that is quite poisonous to critters. The best substrates or beddings are aspen. Supply plenty of safe hiding places to make them feel secure as they would on the forest floor. You can use cut up cardboard (without ink or paint) empty toilet paper rolls, or anything else along that line. Small pieces of wood (not treated). If you get wood near the bank of a lake make sure it isn't contaminated with chemicals from farm run-off.

Feed your hissers leafy veggies (not iceberg because it is as close to a non-nutrient food as you can get., other fruits and vegetables, dry dog foods. Remove fresh fruits and veggies quite often so that they do not spoil. Spoiling in a tank and natural forest floor rotting are quite different. Besides the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach naturally knows when forest floor vegetation is safe.

Change the food daily and clean the cage at least once a month. Remove the cockroaches and cage accessories and toss everything else. Sanitize the cage making sure it is well rinsed and dried. Make sure there are no odors from whatever sanitizer you used such as bleach.

Provide a shallow water dish very shallow to keep the hisser from drowning. Make sure they can safely get in and out. Put some safe material in the dish to help the hisser get in and out without drowning. If you use cotton, freshen it up frequently. Change the water frequently. Don't forget to use filtered water; filter the water for impurities and chlorine.

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Capybara Guide

A Capybara is very much like a guinea pig but only around 100 (45 kilograms) or so pounds heavier and substantially bigger. They are approximately four feet (1.2 meters) long. That is one big rodent! The size of a pet may matter if you are considering an in-house pet. They are very social animals as are guinea pigs. Do they make good exotic pets? Many of the people that have the capybara as a pet seem to think so. However, with all exotic pets, the individual species must be right for the right person. Let's examine the pet capybara.

Many people have guinea pigs. It is sad because the majority of them are not well taken care of; often considered a throwaway pet. Or kids tire of them and the guinea pig will sit in a dirty cage until they die. Maybe worst, they are a social animal, and they will die of loneliness. Or, because they're rodents their teeth continually grow. Without proper care, providing adequate objects to chew on, the teeth will overgrow, and the guinea pig will starve to death.

I am off my soapbox for now. If you want a pet capybara to make sure you know everything there is about them, their care, their social needs, and their dispositions/personalities.

Some people find the word rodent repulsive. I find rodents lovely pets some of the sweetest and friendliest animals I have had the privilege of having in my family.

To bond with your capybara make sure you acquire/purchase him or her young. Or, perhaps someone has raised a capybara and could no longer keep them. Try locating a rescue or small animal rescue and adopt an already human bonded capybara.

It may be difficult to obtain licensing for the pet capybara check federal, state and local laws. Be sure to learn all you can about proper legal requirements. Don't forget to check local requirements as well.

Find an exotic pet veterinarian that is familiar with these beautiful animals.

The Capybara is a semi-aquatic animal, and you need to provide a pool. It would be cruel to not provide for such an important and basic need. Keep it clean! If you cage a capybara they must have a minimum of 100 square feet for a single animal, double that for each additional animal.

Capybaras can be raised in a home. In fact, since it is hard for the young capybara to maintain body temperature, a safe heated area will be necessary.

They are a herbivore (both land and water plants) with some seriously strange habits. They chew a cud much like a cow, will regurgitate it and eat it again. Also, they will eat their own feces. Trying to get protein and other nutrients from a plant are no easy matter, so the process is repeated with eating the cud and feces. The bacterial gut flora in the feces helps with obtaining the nutrients they need from plant matter.

They can be leash trained, trained to potty in a certain area but you should use cat litter because of the fact they may eat their own feces.

Learn all you can about the pet capybara before acquiring your new pet. Perhaps volunteer and gain some experience with capybaras and other exotic animals before considering the purchase.

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