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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The World’s Most Colorful Large Snakes for Pets


Extra large snakes are popular attractions in zoos from around the world. There are several large snake species to choose from but only a few are brightly colored although most of them are uniquely patterned.

Here are the most colorful large snakes in the world for pet.

Albino Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus)


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The Albino Burmese Python is one of the most beautiful large snakes in the world. It is also one of the largest and native to Southeast Asia. It can grow to a length of up to 19 ft or 5.8 meters.

Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria cenchria)


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The Brazilian Rainbow Boa is a large colorful snake native to Brazil. It was commonly name Brazilian Rainbow Boa for its vivid and bright coloration. This exotic pet is not advisable for beginners. Young specimens will often bite, but tend to calm down as they become more used to handling.

Peruvian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria)


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Another very colorful large snake is the Peruvian Rainbow Boa of Peru in South America.

Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)


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The Green Tree Python is a large bright green snake with white spots. This beautiful snake is endemic to Indonesia and New Guinea and part of Australia. It can grow up to 200 cm or 6.6 ft in length. It feeds on small mammals, such as rodents, and sometimes reptiles.

Boelen Python (Morelia boeleni)


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This colorful large snake is commonly known as Boelen Python. This huge non-venomous snake is native to New Guinea. This beautiful snake is considered to be highly desirable by private keepers due to its beauty, but is also exceptionally rare in collections

Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota)


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The Diamond Python is a large snake of Australia. It was commonly named Diamond Python due to the presence of numerous clusters of yellow/cream scales that form 'rosettes' that look a bit like diamonds. It can grow up to 4 meters in length and is commonly kept in captivity by collectors in Australia and around the world. Its diet includes rats and other rodents

Macklot's Python (Liasis mackloti savuensis)


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Macklot's Python is a non-venomous subspecies endemic to Indonesia. Prospective owners should remember that this huge snake has a reputation for being an irritable snake. It can grow up to Adults may grow to 7 feet or 213 cm in length or longer. This colorful snake breeds easily in captivity.

Caramel Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus)


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Burmese Python grow fast. In a span of 1 year it could attain a length of 7 ft. It is often sold as pet and is made popular by its attractive color and apparently easy-going nature. This powerful snake also consumes large amount of food and due to its size it requires large, often custom-built, secure enclosure, which can be very expensive.

Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus)


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The world’s longest snake and reptile, Python reticulates of Southeast Asia, is often kept as exotic pet for its beautiful markings or patterns. It can grow up to a length of 28 ft or 8.7 meters. This non-venomous snake is normally not considered dangerous to humans. Reticulated Python as a pet is not recommended to amateurs.

Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)


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Emereald Tree Boa, which resembles the Green Tree Python, is a large brightly colored snake often kept as an exotic pet. This non-venomous snake is native to South America and can grow up to 6 ft or 1.8 meters in length.


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It is distinguished from the Green Tree Python for its white irregular interrupted zigzag stripe or so-called 'lightning bolts' down the back and a yellow belly. It feeds mostly on small mammals, but they have been known to eat some smaller bird species as well as lizards and frogs.

Angolan Dwarf Python (Python anchietae)


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Although the common name of Python anchietae is Dwarf Angolan Python, this snake can grow up to 6 ft in length. It is native to Angola and Namibia in Africa.  This reddish-brown bulky snake with yellow belly is a non-venomous one which is a rare species seldom seen in the wild or in captivity. It is the only known python to have "bead-like" scales and its diet consists of small mammals and birds. It was once one of the most expensive pet with a price of more than $20,000 USD. Today, it can be purchased for as little as $1,000.

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Interesting Facts About the Amazing Goldfish

Goldfish are amazing pets. They are among the most popular pet fish in the world. They are beautiful and colorful too. Here are some amazing facts abut the interesting Goldfish.

1.) Goldfish lack a stomach and only have an intestinal tract, and thus cannot digest an excess of proteins. So it is important not to over feed them.
2.) Goldfish may change their color by varying the spectrum of light under which they are kept.
3.) Goldfish produce pigment in response to light. If a goldfish is kept in the dark it will appear lighter in the morning, and over a long period of time will lose its color.
4.) Goldfish can grow to a maximum length of 22 inches 58.42 cm and a maximum weight of 9.9 pounds or 4.5 kg.
5.) The longest goldfish measured was 47.4 cm (18.7 in) from snout to tail-fin end in Hapert, The Netherlands. 


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6.) The longest Fancy Goldfish measured was an Oranda called Bruce which measured at 37.2 cm (15 in) in 2002.
7.) Goldfish may live more than 20 years, but most household goldfish generally live only six to eight years.
8.) The oldest recorded goldfish lived to 49 years.
9.) The collective noun for a group of goldfish is a "troubling" of goldfish.
10.) Goldfish can survive if ice form on the pond's surface, as long as there is enough oxygen remaining in the water and the pond does not freeze solid. 


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11.) Italy passed a law in 2005 which banned the use of goldfish as carnival prizes. Rome has also banned the keeping of goldfish in goldfish bowls, on the premise that it is cruel for a fish to live in such a small space.
12.) Goldfish have a memory-span of at least three months and can distinguish between different shapes, colors and sounds.
13.) Although edible, goldfish are rarely eaten.
14.) In July 2010 a goldfish measuring 16 inches 0r 41 cm and 5 pounds or 2.3 kg was caught in a pond in Poole, England, thought to have been abandoned there after outgrowing a tank.
15.) A goldfish named "Goldie", kept as a pet in a tank in Folkestone, England, was measured as 15 inches or 38 cm and over 2 pounds 0.91 kg, and named as the second largest goldfish in the world.

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Monday, August 29, 2011

World’s Most Beautiful, Colorful and Highly Recommended Small Exotic Snake Pets

Many species of snakes are extremely beautiful and colorful. They also make good pet. Be sure to select the colorful but non-venomous species if you want to have a colorful snake for a pet.

Here are the prettiest non-venomous snakes which are awesomely colored and with impressive marking or patterns.

NOTE:. All the snakes included on the list do not grow more than 4 ft in length. They are all slender and requires affordable budget for maintenance.

1.) Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata)


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The Golden Tree Snake is an extremely colorful small snake that even its tongue is brightly colored. It is also commonly called Ornate Flying Snake and Golden Flying Snake. It can be found in Southeast and South Asia. This snake is very unusual because it is capable of gliding flight. The Golden Tree Snake’s striking coloration and gliding capability make it a popular choice for captivity.

This rear-fanged snake rarely exceeds 40 inches in length. The smallest recorded specimen is 11.5 cm while the largest is 136 cm.

2.) Redstripe Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus)


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Another colorful but small snake for a pet is the Redstripe Ribbon Snake. This snake is a subspecies of garter snake that inhabits southern United States. This snake is semi-aquatic, spending most of its time on the edge of permanent bodies of water like lakes, ponds, swamps and slow moving streams. It is fast moving and excellent swimmer.

Diet:
Primary diet includes amphibians like the Northern Cricket Frog, lizards and small rodents.

3.) Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila)


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Red Milk Snake is a colorful species of Milk Snake. Because of its high value in the pet trade, many subspecies are now being bred in captivity for sale.

Diet:
Slugs, insects, crickets, and earthworms for the young
Lizard like skink, small mammals, birds, egg, frog, fish and other snake for the adult

4.) Mexican Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum annulata)

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Another highly colorful species of milk snake is Mexican Milk Snake or Lampropeltis triangulum annulata. It is native to Mexico but can also be found in the United States. It is characterized by its, red, black and cream coloration. This non-venomous snake grows up to 76 cm in length.

Diet:
Crickets, crickets, earthworms, insects and slugs for the young
Lizard like skink, small mammals, birds, egg, frog, fish and other snake for the adult

5.) Formosa Odd-scaled Snake (Achalinus formosanus formosanus)

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The Formosan Odd-scaled Snake is impressively beautiful for its uniquely colored and glossy scale. This Colubridae snake can be found in Vietnam, Taiwan, China and Rykyu Islands in Japan. It is a harmless species perfect as an exotic pet.

6.) Nelson’s Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni)

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The Nelson’s Milk Snake is a highly colorful snake that is found in Mexico. This beautiful subspecies of milk snake can grow up to 110 cm in length. And it is non-venomous. The Nelson’s Milk Snake has a natural tolerance to the venoms of many native snakes

Diet:
Birds, small rodents, lizards, amphibians and other snakes, including venomous species

7.) Sinaloan Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum sinaloae)

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The Sinaloan Milk Snake is a very colorful non-venomous snake and is one of the most commonly bred milk snake in captivity. It is highly recommended for a pet because it is a fairly docile species and will rarely bite. A fully grown adult Sinaloan Milk Snake can reach a length of about. 120 cm.

Diet:
It feeds on rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

8.) Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea)

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The Scarlet Snake is a colorful small snake that can be found in southeastern United States. An adult Scarlet Snake can attain a length of up to 66 cm. This beautiful snake is non-venomous and is suitable for a pet.

Diet:
It feeds on amphibians, birds, invertebrates, reptiles but most especially, rodents.

9.) Scarlet King Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides)

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The Scarlet King Snake is a brightly-colored snake native to the United States. This lovely-looking snake is among the smallest of all king snakes. At maturity, it can grow to a length of up to 68.4 cm only.

Diet:
It feeds on rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

10.) Texas Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens)


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The Texas Garter Snake is colorful snake from the United States. It is a subspecies of common garter snake. This is perfect for a pet because it is completely harmless.

Diet:
It hunts in rivers for amphibians, small fish, other snakes and invertebrates, like earthworms.

11.) Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei)

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There’s nothing to fear with the colorful Long-nosed Snake because it’s a non-venomous species and it is a good choice for an exotic pet. This slender snake can grow 30 inches or more in length. It is characterized by a long, slightly upturned snout, which is the origin of its name.

Diet:
This rare exotic pet often rejects rodent-based diet. It feeds primarily on lizards and amphibians and smaller snakes.

12.) Coast Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans terrestris)


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Another colorful garter snake species is the Coast Garter Snake. It can be found in Alaska, Canada down to Central America. This beautiful snake is the single most widely distributed genus of reptile in North America. The garter snake is also the Massachusetts state reptile.

Diet:
It hunts in rivers for small fish, amphibians, earthworms, other snakes and other invertebrates.

13.) Eastern Blackneck Garter Snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis ocellatus)


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The Eastern Blackneck Garter Snake is a small garter snake with an average length of less than 20 inches. It is smaller than the Western Blackneck Garter Snake. This colorful snake displays three light stripes on a dark-colored body with uniform orange and orange-yellow spreading throughout

Diet:
It hunts in rivers for small fish, amphibians, other snakes, and invertebrates, such as earthworms.

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Colorful, Stocky and Beautifully Marked Snakes for Pet

A few snake species are extremely beautiful for their colorful and uniquely patterned skin. Here are some beautiful snakes you may want to consider as pets.

Except for the Blood Pythons, these snakes don’t grow more than 4 ft.

Short Python (Python curtus)

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Short Python or Blood Python is a non-venomous snake native to Southeast Asia. It is heavily built and its tail is extremely short relative to the overall length. The color pattern consists of beige, tan or grayish-brown ground color overlaid with blotches that are brick to blood-red in color.


The species is kept as an exotic pet. This beautifully patterned and colored snake has been extensively harvested for leather. An estimated 100,000 individuals are taken for this purpose annually. It is also known for many other common names such as Short-tailed Python, Black Blood Python, Sumatran Short-tailed Python and Sumatran Blood Python. They feed on a variety of mammals and birds.

Rhinoceros Viper

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Rhinoceros Viper is also commonly known as River Jack. Its formal name is Bitis nasicornis. If you decide to take this as a pet you should remember that it is a venomous viper species though there are no recorded cases of death yet.

It can be found in the forests of West and Central Africa. This beautiful snake is known for its striking color pattern and prominent horns on its nose. It is large and stout and can attain a length of up to 107 cm.

In captivity, it hardly ever leave its hide box, even when hungry, and once waited for three days for a live mouse to enter its hide box before striking. Its diet includes small mammals, toads, frogs and fish.

Ball Python


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One of the most popular short species of snake for a pet is the Python regius, commonly known as Ball Python. This is highly recommended as a reptile pet because it is non-venomous. It can be found also in African and is the smallest of the African pythons. Ball Pythons are popular in the pet trade. Another common name of this cute-looking snake is Royal Python.

This reptile has the tendency to curl into a ball when frightened or stressed hence the name Ball Python. This stocky animal with small head and soft skin does not grow more than 120 cm. Females are larger than males. Ball Pythons are bred in captivity and are popular as pets, because of their small size compared to other pythons and their docile temperament.

Ethiopian Mountain Adder

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The Ethiopian Mountain Adder or Bitis parviocula is another venomous viper species that can be found only in Ethiopia. This large and stocky viper snake with a broad head is characterized by spectacular geometric markings. It can grow up to more than 2 ft or 75.2 cm in length. Like the Rhinoceros Viper, the Ethiopian Mountain Adder features a very short tail.

Red Blood Python (Python curtus brongersmai)


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Red Blood Python, also known as Malayan Short Python, is a non-venomous snake found on the Malay Peninsula. It can attain a length of up to 182 cm and can weigh as much as 9 kg. Females are usually larger than males. This snake is gradually becoming more common among herpetoculturists. The snake is part of a commercial harvest for leather because of its beautiful and impressive markings.

Bitis Gabonica Rhinoceros

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Another beautifully colored and uniquely patterned viper is the Bitis Gabonica Rhinoceros or Bitis gabonica gabonica. This bulky venomous snake subspecies can be found in Central Africa. This stocky and bulky snake has a set of large nasal horns. Although the snake is venomous, no fatalities have recorded yet. It has a very short tail like the Ethiopian Mountain Adder and River Jack.

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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Freakiest And Weirdest Crabs in The World

Freakiest And Weirdest Crabs in The World

See some of the world's most unique and bizarre crabs. These crabs are truly and amazingly unique in physical appearance. Check it out!

Sponge Crab (Dromia personata)


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This species is unique because its body and legs are covered with hairs giving the crab a furry appearance. The body of this crab is often covered by an encrusting sponge, but is recognized by its distinctive pink pincers and the very small fourth and fifth legs.

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The World's Most Colorful Crabs

The World's Most Colorful Crabs 

There are 6,793 species of crabs known in the world. Crabs are found in all of the world's oceans. In addition, there are also many freshwater and terrestrial crabs, particularly in tropical regions. The smallest crab is the Pea Crab with only a few millimeters wide and the largest is the Japanese Spider Crab with a leg span of up to 4 m. The most colorful crabs are the one featured on this particular article. Here are the most colorful crabs in the world.

Harlequin Crab (Lissocarcinus orbicularis)

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This beautiful crab with awesome pattern is commonly known as Harlequin Crab or Lissocarcinus orbicularis.
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Saturday, August 27, 2011

Wonderful Mice and Unique Rodents for Pet

People purchase Mice as companion pets because these creatures are playful and loving. They can grow used to being handled. Like pet rats, pet mice should not be left unsupervised outside as they have many natural predators like cats, birds, lizards and dogs.

Here are some of the best mice pets in the world.

Fancy Mouse Pet

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The best known Mouse species is the common House Mouse or Mus musculus. It is also a popular pet. Fancy Mice pets originated from House Mouse. They are available in different colors and markings.

Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)


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Deer Mouse is a cool-looking mouse species endemic to South America. Although mice make good pets, it should be noted that they are carrier of emerging diseases such as hantavirus and lyme disease. They can live up to 8 years.

Knock Out Mice

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Knockout Mice are genetically engineered mice in which researchers have inactivated, or "knocked out," an existing gene by replacing it or disrupting it with an artificial piece of DNA. The loss of gene activity often causes changes in a mouse's phenotype, which includes appearance, behavior and other observable physical and biochemical characteristics.


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A laboratory mouse in which a gene affecting hair growth has been knocked out (left), is shown next to a normal lab mouse.

Knockout Mice are important animal models for studying the role of genes which have been sequenced but whose functions have not been determined. By causing a specific gene to be inactive in the mouse, and observing any differences from normal behavior or physiology, researchers can infer its probable function.

White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)

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White-footed Mouse is rodent endemic to North America. This mouse species is also known as the Woodmouse, particularly in Texas. It has a maximum lifespan of 8 years. It can attain a length of 19.7 cm including its tail.

Unique Rodent for Pet

Although these two animals were named rat they are not true rats.

Gambian Pouched Rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

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Gambian Pouched Rats are unusual rat species for having pouch on their cheeks. The Gambian Pouched Rat is a nocturnal animal and is one of the largest muroids in the world, growing up to 3 feet long including their tail which makes up half their length. The Gambian Pouched Rat can weigh as much as 6.8 kg.  This omnivore that feeds on vegetables, insects, crabs, snails and many others is also commonly known as the African Giant Pouched Rat.

Giant Pouched Rat (Crycetomis emini)

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The Giant Pouched Rats of Africa is a large muroid rodent that can attain weight of up to 1.5 kg. This rat is becoming useful in some areas for detecting land mines. Although they have poor sight, these creatures have exceptional acute sense of smell which is very effective in detecting explosives. In addition, they are small enough to not detonate any of the mines.

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