Now, I’ve always liked the idea of having a lizard or snake as a pet, but I know they wouldn’t be a good fit for our family. I know that the bigger a snake gets, the bigger their meals need to get, and though I’m not squeamish about feeding them what they need (my first job at a pet store involved culling baby mice to feed to the snake population) and I don’t take offense to the circle of life and all that, I do know that it’s just not feasible for us to have to be running down to the pet store every so often for a fresh supply, and I don’t like the thought of keeping any in the freezer, either!

Feeding issues aside, there are some animals that just don’t make great pets, period, especially beginner pets for kids (experienced adults are on their own ). The video above from CBS talks about some of these pets, and how people buy them thinking they’re so cute and small, but get a big surprise within a short time!

Post from: Blisstree

Reptiles That Don’t Make Good Pets

A garter snake slithered through the greenery and among the stones.  “He’s so long,” Alex said.  He didn’t want to pick up the snake, but watched until it disappeared.

Image: sxc.hu

He has the same fascination with salamanders and will pick them up.  He and his cousins spend a vast amount of time looking for these under stones in the area around our house.  The turn over stones and look beneath fallen logs.  (We don’t have a lawn of grass around our house, but simply “tamed” woodland.)  This has given, first our daughter and now her children, ample area for nature explorations.

What curiosities of nature can children find around your home?  Even in urban areas with sidewalks and concrete, there are ants and birds, and occasional flowers.  We lived in the city when my daughter was two-years old.  I was amazed at the curiosities of nature the toddler could find as we walked from our apartment to various shops.  She made me aware that there was more than concrete and buildings in this area.

Take time to look at your surroundings through the eyes of a child.

Post from: Blisstree

A Boy’s Fascination with Snakes & Creepies

For the record, this isn't the snakey part of the creek

The other day at the park Truman and I were walking by the grassy side of the creek where you cannot see the bottom. I’m sure it’s not that deep, just murky. He wanted to look at the fish. There are some large ones over there. As we walked, Truman calmly said, “Mommy, what kind of snake is that?” I looked over and saw just four feet from us a gunmetal-colored snake. I’m not sure how big he would have been had he been unraveled and laid out, but his circumference was about that of my upper arm (which is bigger than it used to be or should be, I might add). I screamed, grabbed my son’s arm, and ran with him in tow. (So much for teaching through example.)

We walked (or ran) to the less frightening side of the creek, the side near the walkway just opposite from where we saw the big snake. I didn’t see the big guy, but Truman shouted, “Look Mommy! More snakes.” In the water, slithering on top as if skating on ice, was an 18-inch-long reddish snake. We watched as he wiggled from one end of the creek to the other and back again. He was joined by two more just like him. It fascinated my son…and, me too.

Springy Spiral Snake eating super scrumptious grilled cheese sandwich.

My camera-phone just couldn’t capture the snakes. I wanted to show Rick what Truman and I had found and maybe see if he could identify them. So instead we came home and (this was Truman’s idea) drew pictures of the snakes we saw. And then we started making up others to color. We even make a “snake book.” And then I found this site – DLTK Kids Crafts for Kids – and we did some of the snake activities for kids.

Springy Spiral Snake handler.

They have several different age-appropriate ones to choose from. Our favorite was this Springy Spiral Snake Craft. By the way… Springy Spiral Snake isn’t a big fan of super scrumptious grilled cheese sandwiches.

Photos, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

How to Have Fun with Snakes!

It’s been many years since I’ve had hands-on experience with snakes and I’ve never actually owned one (though I’ve wanted to!), so I found this neat series of videos by Holli Friedland, Reptile Rescue Coordinator at the Mid-Atlantic Reptile Show.

The videos walk you through every step of set-up, care, maintenance and even troubleshooting in corn snake ownership!

I love snakes and the only thing that’s kept me from having one myself is that I’m squeamish about feeding time. Though I’ve (live- and dead-) fed many snakes (my first job was at a small pet store, and I was at the bottom of the totem pole!) and I know that snakes need to eat too, I also love rats and mice, so I just don’t have a snake!

Anyway, more videos below the cut!

How to Decide if a Corn Snake is Right for You:

Setting Up the Corn Snake Cage:

Corn Snakes – Temperature, Humidity & Lighting:

Choosing a Corn Snake:

Corn Snake Handling:

Corn Snake Feeding:

How to Trouble Shoot Problems with your Corn Snake:

Post from: Blisstree

How To Care For A Corn Snake

1. Give them their own radiator
2. Or let nature do the work
3. Keep their paws warm and dry
4. A soft glowing light for dogs…
5. …and don’t forget the cats…
6. …and birds and lizards
7. Try some interspecies snorgling
8. Learn about keeping follicly challenged rats warm…
9. …and the hedgies
10. Make warm cat treats…
11. …and dog treats
12. And don’t forget the rodents
13. Floor heating for snakes
14. A luxury bed
15. Make sure they can get into the bed
16. Help them feel like they’re still at the beach
17. Canine windbreakers
18. And a slightly larger version
19. Learn about hamster hibernation
20. A little bonnet
21. Their very own heating pads
22. Block drafts
23. Body heat
24. A warm hat for Halloween
25. Keep them close
26. Fleecy cat blanket
27. Zap their bed
28. Chic ferret sweaters…
29. …and hoodies
30. Give the birds a nest
31. Give the cats a nest
32. Make them their own clothing
33. Keep the small pets warm with healthy bedding
34. A traveling blanket
35. Don’t forget the rats
36. A warm buddy
37. A warm soother
38. Keep the water flowing
39. Cozy hammocks
40. Pet tent with blanket
41. Give them a house
42. Give them a better house than yours
43. A feather parrot sweater
44. Heated beds
45. Give them a workout
46. Microwave their toys
47. Buy them a chalet
48. Don’t forget the caged pets
49. Keep them dry
50. Warm holiday headwear

More ‘50 Things’ around the Home & Dining Channel:
~ 50 Ways Chocolate Can Keep You Warm This Autumn
~ 50 Organizing Products to Add a Touch of Fall Color to Your Home
~ Hot Desserts, 50 Ways to Heat Up Your Autumn Evenings
~ 50 Awesome Crockpot Recipes to Keep You Warm (and Full!)
~ 50 Soul Warming Ways to Inspire the Next Generation of Offbeat Architects
~ 50 Things You Can Do to Stay Warm this Autumn
~ 50 reasons why a Japanese winter is hot
~ 50 Warm-Up Cooking Gadgets
~ 50 Vegetable Recipes to Keep Warm This Season
~ 50 Drinks That Warm The Soul

Post from: Blisstree

50 ways to Keep Your Pet(s) Warm This Autumn