Black Widow SPIDER

Female Black widow spider sunning herself on a nice day. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The black widow spider is probably the most famous and feared spider species in the world, and all the scary picture comes from the habit of the female spider to devour the male after mating. It is this specificity that is actually responsible for the name of the species as such, but there are plenty of other features that make the black widow spider stand out. 

The most common color of this spider is dark brown or black with a red hourglass pattern on the body; the legs are hairy and the jaws seem very strong. There are several other varieties related to the black widow spider; they live in South Africa and Australia, and the major difference from the North American black one is of color: they are red and brown.

Even in North America, there are three different types of the black widow spider and their classification is made according to the geographical area where they live: there is the northern black widow, the southern black widow and the western black widow; thus the species is widely spread from the south of Canada to Mexico. Though there are some morphological differences, the three varieties are pretty much related and similar to each other.

Like many other venomous creatures, the black widow spider has bright red pattens on it as a warning sign for predators that would attempt to feed on it. The black widow spider is not capable of killing a bird that would eat it, but the digestive sickness that would follow will be definitely enough to make it avoid attacking the black widow again.

The female black widow spider is more venomous than the male, and it is she the biggest threat to predators. Nevertheless, the red color helps the males too in order to send the same threatening message as the female. While the males move freely in their habitat, the females usually spend their entire lives in just one place, as they very seldom leave their nests.

In terms of toxicity, the black widow spider has one of the most potent venoms in the animal world: it is actually fifteen times stronger than that of the rattlesnake for instance. It also surpasses the cobra and the coral snake in the effectiveness of the poison. Though death is not usually the outcome of a black widow bite, some dozens of cases have been reported over the last decades only in the United States. Nevertheless, on a more common basis, the black widow spider bite causes very serious symptoms and necrosis.

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GERBIL Care is Not That Difficult

Mongolian gerbil
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Unlike the situation you face with many other small or exotic pets, gerbil care is not particularly demanding. While there are the usual requirements for food, housing, and a healthy environment for any type of pet, those for the gerbil are really quite straightforward and easy to put in place.

A gerbil once used to human contact, is a very sociable little creature, cute with a capital C, and enjoyable to watch as it goes about its daily activities. Before you even start thinking about food and housing, the first rule for gerbil care, and a very important one, is when purchasing a gerbil as a pet, purchase at least two. Two males or two females will be fine unless you're planning to breed them. Solitary gerbils make very unhappy pets, and often do not live long. Even if you have ample time to spend with one, they really need to be with another gerbil for companionship to be happy. So get two. If you do get a male and female, realize that gerbils breed like rabbits, only more so! Figure on 10 litters a year with 8-10 little gerbils per litter. Unless you have plenty of relatives or friends who would like a free gerbil or two (they don't cost or sell for much), best stick to a same-sex environment. Unlike some other animals, two males generally won't fight but will get on just fine.

A 10-gallon glass aquarium type enclosure is best for housing one or two gerbils. You'll need a wire mesh top, as the gerbil is a champion jumper. Wire cages are OK but should have a fine mesh so gerbil legs or tails won't get caught. Also, with a wire cage, you might find bedding scattered all over near the cage. Gerbils love to shred paper, especially cardboard. Toilet paper rolls or kitchen towel roils make fine toys, although they won't last long. A few wooden blocks or safe plastic chew toys will be a most welcome addition to their home.

Gerbils need a supply of clean water. A water bottle that hangs from the side of the cage is best. A water dish or bowl won't work at all. The same goes for a food dish. Feed your pet premixed gerbil food. Gerbils love sunflower seeds and an occasional peanut but use these as occasional treats only as they are fattening. Proper gerbil care dictates a diet that will not be too fattening. A fat gerbil will still be a cute gerbil, but not necessarily a healthy one. An occasional piece of apple or carrot to gnaw on is another good idea, but just don't leave it in the cage. Pieces of food will get buried in the bedding and tend to rot.

On the subject of bedding, give them an ample supply, as they love to dig in it, and it won't get wet so quickly. Aspen or corncob chips or shavings are best. Don't use pine or cedar shavings, as both can cause respiratory problems, especially with young gerbils. With proper housing, bedding, clean water and the right food, you're well on the way to doing an excellent job of proper gerbil care. The gerbil, as a rule, is a pretty hardy little guy and, when well cared for, will live out a typical 4-5 year life span in good health. Most respiratory ailments can be traced to improper bedding. Gerbils also will at times get fleas or mites, depending on the environment they are in. A pet store or veterinarian can recommend the proper spray to treat fleas or mites.

Wire cages or some toys can at times result in injury, a common one being a damaged or broken tail. A broken tail will often repair itself (make certain to remove the cause if you can). One rule in gerbil care never picks one up by the tail. The gerbil tail is not up to the task of supporting the gerbil's weight. Following these simple rules should give you not just many hours, but many years of enjoyment, with a very nice little pet.

By Peter J Lee - Article Source: EzineArticles

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From PET MICE to Folkmanis Puppets - Mice Have Been Favorites Throughout History

Pet Mice (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All domesticated mice come from the descendants of the common house mouse whose scientific name is Mus musculus. In fact, the word mouse comes from the Sanskrit word 'musha' which means thief. The origin of the common house mouse is Asia. Today, mice are now found throughout the world, and mice, in general, thrive where populations of people are present. The mouse is also a member of the rodent family of the order, Rodentia.

It is believed that mice began living with humans as long as 10,000 years ago. Association with humans and interaction seems to go back to the dawn of history. Archaeologists have also found Egyptian bowls and other artifacts that contain pictures of colored mice. These artifacts have indicated they kept mice as pets because they thought they possessed supernatural powers. They worshiped these animals and believed that they were born from the mud of the Nile and had healing properties. Other societies believed that mice could cure diseases including measles, whooping cough, and smallpox. Even Biblical references recorded included plagues of mice. And mice were also used in various other writings such as Aesop's Fables which are the basis for many modern-day puppet shows.

During the 1700s the mouse fancy really got its start. The earliest domesticated mice were kept in the royal palaces of Japan and China. In Japan, they were increasing in popularity as breeding animals and also pets. It was during this time that people were experimenting with breeding to produce new colors. 'The Breeding Of Curious Varieties Of The Mouse' booklet was written in 1878 by Chobei Zenya. This informational booklet included drawings and descriptions of variations on breeding programs. The booklet instructed breeders on how to create specific colors and varieties.

In the early 1800s popularity began to grow in Europe. In 1877 Walter Maxey, the father of the mouse fancy, acquired his first mice in the UK. Later in 1895, Maxey founded the National Mouse Club in England. This club set the standards for the different varieties and sponsored regular shows. The first show was in 1895 in Lincoln and was won by Miss Ursula Dickenson with a Dutch Oven. This affair with mice breeding eventually leads to the rediscovery of Mendel's theories on genetics by the scientific community.

Mice eventually made their way to the Americas by sailing across the seas and are believed to have been introduced to North America by Spanish sailors. The mouse attraction is relatively young in the United States. The first U.S.mouse clubs were founded in the 1950s. Lately, the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association was founded in 1983. There are now several clubs in the United States and many more worldwide.

When most people think about pet mice they predictably think about the classic "white mice", but in fact there are well over 40 varieties. Most mothers are terrified at the thought of pet mice getting loose and scurrying around the home. Often these mothers prefer mice puppets and mice stuffed animals rather than the real thing. In fact, many manufacturers such as Folkmanis specialize in creating beautiful yet lifelike puppets and stuffed toys. Parents can use these puppets to teach their children the virtues of the mouse without enduring the clean-up.

The main feature of mice is their gnawing front teeth which continue to grow throughout their lives. These paired teeth are called incisors. Mice have poor vision and their activity patterns rely heavily on smell, taste, touch, and hearing. They are excellent jumpers and are capable of leaping at least 12 inches vertically. Female mice make the best pets because their urine does not smell like that of the male. Mice are nocturnal in nature and very social. They are active in the evening and night but mainly sleep during the day. They can breed as soon as 8 weeks old and can deliver a litter of up to 12 babies in three weeks. Mice can live for over two years while the average life expectancy is about 1.5-2 years.

The most commonly available type of mouse available as a pet is the domestic pet mouse and is the result of hundreds of generations of careful breeding. These mice have been selectively bred to be placid while enhancing the desirable qualities of the mice. They do not carry any diseases but also do not carry much of a chance of surviving in the wild if they were to escape.

This current economic recession has affected many people. People have less time, money and space available for animals. People are often turning to pocket pets such as mice as an ideal low-cost and low-maintenance alternative to having pets in their busy lives. Pet mice, both real and plush provide an outlet and a means to admire the virtues of the mouse.

By Tracy Quick - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Fascinating SYRIAN HAMSTER Facts

Sable short-haired Syrian Hamster.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Although there are several types of hamsters occurring in the wild, only five are commonly kept as household pets. And though there are several differences between the breeds that make them each unique, there are traits common to all hamsters, regardless of type. Chief among these traits is lifespan - the average hamster has a lifespan of roughly 1000 days, or just a little under three years, with male hamsters living on average just a bit longer than females.

All hamsters have cheek pouches which they use to carry food, or in cases of danger, they're young. Also common among all hamsters is the presence of scent glands, although the location of these glands differs depending on the type of hamster.

All hamsters reach breeding age in roughly 6-8 weeks, with a very short pregnancy lasting only 15 days. The size of the litter averages about 6-8 pups. As you may already know, hamsters are very susceptible to stress, with new mothers being particularly so. If this occurs it's not unusual for the new mother to eat her newborn pups, so it's important to keep stress to an absolute minimum for new hamster mothers.

One of the most common pet hamster breeds, the Syrian hamster is also commonly known as the Teddy Bear hamster, Fancy hamster, and the Golden hamster, among others. Syrian hamsters grow to full size of about 7 inches in length, with the females usually a bit longer than the males.

If you buy a Syrian from the pet store you may see several young Syrian hamsters kept in the same cage - this is very misleading as Syrian hamsters are extremely territorial and will fight to the death with any other hamster they are caged with. The only reason the Syrian hamsters you see in pet stores aren't fighting when you buy them is that they don't develop their territorial nature until about age 6 weeks. After that, the rule is one Syrian hamster per cage!

Here's a story from Tammy Crum, a well-respected hamster breeder:

"A previous partner of mine used a shelving system to store the hamster, with Syrians on top. They were in a fish tank and somehow got out landed in a tank with Roborovskis. Needless to say that by the time he discovered the missing culprit all the Robs were dead."

Given their large size, Syrian hamsters are more easily held for longer periods of time than dwarf hamsters as they tend not to tire as easily. Another interesting fact about Syrian hamsters is that, even though they have the nickname Golden hamster, they come in over 40 different color types. This is achieved through today's advanced breeding techniques, allowing for a range of color and fur length.

Most Syrian hamsters, like all other hamster breeds, do not require any grooming on your part. The only exception to this is the Long Haired Syrian hamster. In this case, a simple toothbrush can be used to remove any bedding material that may be caught up in his fur.

By Adam King - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Your Pet Chinchilla And Environmental Stress

Picture by tahanadakila on Pixabay 

Environmental stress can affect your pet chinchilla in different ways.  This type of stress results in either health or behavioral issues.  Your pet can experience the following:  anti-social behavior that includes biting, fighting, spraying urine, fungus, or irritation of the eyes.  Your pet can also feel angst toward other chinchillas, biting the fur, gnawing on their cage, or even depression.  

Unless you know in advance, you won't necessarily detect that one of these actions can come from environmental stress.  You usually find out when behavior or illness becomes a chronic issue.  If you are not aware of the issues of environmental stress, your pet may be more prone to suffer the after-effects.

If your pet is hyper, environmental stress will just compound the way they're already feeling.  In order for them to get a grip, behavioral rehabilitation would help them regain their footing.  Of course, if your pet is already easy-going, then rehabilitation is not necessary.  Environmental stress can affect how the chinchilla was treated, before and now.  Environmental stress can affect your animal if they were abused or handled badly.  This in turn, can cause them to exhibit anti-social tendencies towards the next owner.  

If your pet is experiencing boredom, this may eventually suffer from stress.  Your pet should be in an environment where there is some movement and noise.  On the other hand, enduring constant loud noise can take its toll on them, also.  It's better for them to have noise, but it should be at a moderate level.  This way, if they do experience noise out of the ordinary, such as people, thunderstorms, etc., they'll know how to handle it.  Your pet has to have a happy medium between the two extremes (boredom and chaotic noise).

Your pet will have to make adjustments if they came from an environment where there was boredom or chaos.  They'll have to make adjustments to the unfamiliar and unknown.  Like a human being, your pet will feel strange because all they know at the moment is the environment to which they were accustomed to.  It may take your pet at least a week to regroup.  You can help by putting them in a quiet room with some soft jazz music.  There should be no other pets in the house while your pet is getting acclimated to different surroundings, including the owner.

Giving your pet this transition time is crucial and imperative because if they came from a chaotic environment, they will have to learn to relax and if they came from a boredom environment, they must have time to get in the groove to handle noise in a timely manner.  If they take on too much too quickly, your pet can get overwhelmed, causing additional stress.

You will have to learn to be sensitive to their needs and get a sense of when they might be ready.  It's always best to start out small and gradual, then work your way up with your chinchilla.  This way, your pet can accept the gradual transition with ease.     

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Can I Give My FERRET Raw Chicken?

Domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If one of your new pets is a ferret and you would like it to grow up active and strong like other pets in your home, you are probably asking yourself this question: "Can I give my ferret raw chicken?" Well, the answer to that question is a big yes. The fact is that ferrets are carnivores by nature and therefore, they should eat meat in order to survive.

Since they are carnivores, most ferrets will definitely enjoy chicken meat comfortably, whether cooked or raw. However, if your ferret has never been fed on any raw meat before, he might experience stomach upset. Therefore, it is very advisable to start feeding your ferret on raw meat as early as possible so that he can get used to it.

Compared to other types of meat, chicken is probably ferreted' favorite. This means that your ferret wouldn't mind eating a huge chunk of chicken meat and chewing all the available soft bones. Apart from helping in cleaning your pet's teeth, raw chicken bones also play a major role in providing the much-needed dietary calcium.

Due to the fact that ferrets have highly acidic stomachs, you do need to worry that the bones may choke your pet or that he may get intestinal damage. As a matter of fact, ferrets are known to have quite high metabolisms, explaining why they are slender and active at all times.

While feeding your ferret raw chicken, you need to be very careful. Do not offer him meat straight chilled from the fridge as he may not find it appetizing. You should also avoid giving him processed foods such as pre-cooked cold chicken because it will contain too much salt.

To create a balanced diet and avoid monotony, do not feed your ferret on raw chicken alone. Try including other types of quality pet foods such as kibbles, eggs, bacon, cat food, and dry pellets. If you wish to feed your ferret on raw meat alone for a long time, it is very advisable to add a number of vital supplements such as taurine to avoid cardiomyopathy and calcium to avoid osteodystrophy.

Most importantly, do not forget to give your ferret enough water daily. Since ferrets like drinking water from a bowl better than they do from a water bottle, make sure you change the water on a regular basis for him to drink fresh and clean water whenever he needs it.

By Faith Kaltenbach - Article Source: EzineArticles

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GUINEA PIGS – Not Pigs, Not From Guinea and Not For Sale!

Guinea pig
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Despite their name; did you know that the guinea pig is neither a pig, nor does it come from the Republic of Guinea? In fact they don't come from anywhere near West Africa, and originate from the Andes in South America. They are also not universally known as the fluffy squeaking household pet we know and love in Western Europe!

Fact File

• Species: Cavia porcellus

• Common Name: Guinea Pig or Cavy

• Geography: Andes, South America

• Order: Rodentia

• Suborder: Hystricomorpha

• Family: Caviidae

• Subfamily: Caviinae

• Genus: Cavia

• Weight: 0.7 to 1.2 kg

•Length: 20 to 25 cm

Origins

The guinea pig was domesticated as a source of food by a native from the Andean region (modern-day Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) in around 5000 BC. It is still a delicacy in the highland regions, living off family food scraps.

European history wasn’t graced by the Guinea Pig’s presence until a series of 16th century English, Spanish and Dutch expeditions brought home guinea pigs for European eyes, where they were quickly taken as exotic household pets by the rich and famous.

Strangely, however, recent excavations on Puerto Rico and other West Indian islands show that the Guinea Pig must have been bred (and presumably eaten) long before the arrival of the Spanish.

Lab Rats

Since the 17th century, the guinea pig has been used as the subject of scientific research. Early examples of this were vivisection to establish anatomy, and bizarrely to assess the chemical combustion of respiration, where 17th-century scientists recorded that the heat from guinea pig breath melted snow, therefore proving that heat was generated from the digestion of food.

A Source of Food

Guinea pigs were originally foodstuff in the Andes and is now commonly found cooked and for sale in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia, particularly in the highland regions. High in protein and low in fat and cholesterol, it is reported to taste like a rabbit or chicken thigh.

Popular Culture

Perhaps due to their popularity as pets in Western Europe, the guinea pig has become a star of the cuddly animal variety, often appearing as characters in books, cartoons and movies; particularly aimed at children.

Literature:

• The Fairy Caravan, a novel by Beatrix Potter

• Michael Bond's Olga da Polga series

• The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

• Pigs Is Pigs by Ellis Parker Butler

• Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Trouble with Tribbles", written by David Gerrold, and based on Pigs Is Pigs

• Golden Hamster Saga books

Film and television

• Shredderman Rules

• Dr. Dolittle (1998)

• Nick Jr.'s Wonder Pets

• South Park season 12 episode "Pandemic 2: The Startling"

• G-Force

Advertising

• Egg Banking plc

• Snapple

• Blockbuster Video

Pigs in Space

Yes, that’s right - guinea pigs are amongst the few species to have traveled into space – and survived! In fact, they were amongst the earliest successful space travelers (before humans) and traveled on Sputnik 9 biosattelite in 1961 with a safe arrival back in the USSR, and more recently on a Chinese biosattelite in 1990.

Submitted by: Richard Chilcot About the Author: Richard Chilcot is an author specialising in guinea pigs for sale and other classified animal subjects, particularly in Scotland, Wales, Essex and Plymouth. Source: www.isnare.com Permanent Link: https://www.isnare.com/?aid=943154&ca=Pets

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