Five Snake Care Tips for Beginners

If you're looking for an unusual, eye-catching pet, it's hard to go wrong with a snake. They're exotic enough to catch people's interest, yet hardy enough to require minimal care. Nevertheless, uninformed first-time owners tend to make some basic mistakes, some of which can be quite costly. Here are some simple tips that can help ensure the health of the snake and prevent a lot of aggravation as well.

1. First, take note of how large your snake can grow to be. Most North American varieties only grown to be about four feet long, which is a reasonable size. Don't let a pet store employee talk you into buying a Burmese python, since these critters can grow to be over thirty feet long, and will require huge cages and tremendous amounts of food. (And before you ask... No, most zoos will not accept these as donations.) 
2. Don't scrimp on cage size. A cage that is too small can be very stressful and unhealthy to your pet. Pet store clerks will sometimes try to sell you caging that is inadequate in size, so don't fall into this trap. For adequate comfort, the combined length and width of the cage should at least match the snake's length. Snakes can grow fairly quickly, so don't forget to take that into account as well!
3. Do find out how docile that particular specimen is. Most non-venomous North American snakes are fairly docile, but if you're a first-time keeper, you should probably make sure that your prospective pet can be handled easily.
4. Make sure that you select a pet with a hearty appetite. Ball pythons, for example, make great pets--but they are notoriously finicky eaters. Corn snakes make great starter pets because they are exceedingly docile and aren't picky about what they eat.
5. Snakes--indeed, any reptile--can potentially spread salmonella. The risk involved is very small, but one should still play safe. This is especially true when young children or people with compromised immune systems are involved. Do read up on reptile hygiene and salmonella before purchasing your pet.

Obviously, these tips only constitute some basic advice. I recommend that all prospective owners should read up on snake care in general, as well as the specific needs of the species that they plan to purchase. A little bit of basic research can prevent a great deal of aggravation in the future.

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Aggressive Iguana Behavior

An iguana is a fascinating lizard pet that when handled properly and gently from the time they are received, are not aggressive at all. When an iguana does show aggression he shows signs of fight or flight syndrome and will hide away or try to fight. Like every other living being, aggression shows signs of extreme discomfort to the point that the living thing believe it has no other choice but to fight or flight. It's simply a defense mechanism and in some animals, it is mating behavior. The iguana is also included in this group in that the male iguana will show aggression around certain hormones but that will be discussed later on in the article.
Handling an Iguana, The handling of an iguana plays a pivotal role in the aggression levels of and care should be taken when handling them from the time they are first brought into a home. There is a very incredible thing about an iguana that too few people know about and that is the third eye they have on the back of the head. This third eye plays a part in your pet's aggression at times because when you reach for your lizard from the back, he perceives it to be a threat as all he sees from this eye is shadows. Approach the iguana from the front and speak softly as harsh treatment does not affect iguanas in a positive way, in fact it has no effect on them except to provoke aggression. To avoid aggression in your iguana, always try to pick it up or pet it from the front.
Females and The Iguana Aggression, Although it may sound strange, female handlers and owners of a male iguana can display signs of aggression during the female menstrual cycle. Sounds crazy but its true. This is believed to be because of a specific pheromone that is emitted by the female during this time. This 'scent' that the iguana sense and cause the aggression can be abated with a replacement mate in his environment such as a small stuffed toy or even a rubber glove will calm him and he will be less aggressive. Iguanas that show aggression can be taught to be feel comfortable by you with some patience and as stated earlier, approaching it from the front. When the iguana allows you to pick it up, always let it sit on your forearm or back of the hand so it is in a position that it feels safe.If you want to learn more about Iguana's please visit our site which is free to the public. You'll find the best tips on everything to do with Iguana's

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