Other pets (pics and discussions)

[infernalis]

Kenny is nice Steve....

[Floof]

Kenny's cute! Does he have any issues burying in the pellet-type substrate? In any case, it's nice to see another person with "sand" boas who doesn't use sand!

Concinnusman, I don't know why Steve doesn't use it, but I can tell you why many keepers choose not to. Sand is, frankly, a bad substrate for any snake in captivity. As well, it's been found lately that most species of "sand" boa don't naturally dwell in sand landscapes in the wild. You can find a good explanation on Kingsnake.com's Sand Boa Page (sorry, can't hotlink atm!).

[ConcinusMan]

Thank you for that. I do realize that, and that's why I was just teasing. I mean, I find garter snakes in mud, dirt, water, wet grass and damp rotting wood in damp mossy forests, but I sure as heck wouldn't keep them on that stuff in captivity.

Too many people try to re-create indoors in an enclosed environment, what they see as "natural habitat". That's a big mistake in many cases.

Still, with a sand boa, I would be tempted to have at least part of the enclosure be a sandy substrate or other somewhat fine particulate. Not saying it's necessary by any means though.

Maybe some of this:

Zoo Med Repti - Sand Substrate - Desert White 25LB (SW-25)

I used this stuff for lizards that live in rocky forested areas or hardpan with cacti - Lizards that don't even live in sandy deserts. Just so happened that they did very well. Better than using a pebbly substrate like where they are found. They liked to dig in and spend the night in the sand. I guess my point is, I realize what works for them outside, isn't necessarily what's best inside. Sand worked out better for me when the animals didn't even live in sandy places. I'm sure that the opposite can happen. A sandy substrate could be far less than ideal even for animals found living in sand dunes. It happens.

[infernalis]

Before I really knew what I was doing, I kept a couple snakes on dirt mixed with sand.

They survived it, they spent the final years on decent substrate, they thrived and grew old.

I still would never repeat it though.

I like simple layouts..easier to clean and maintain.

[ConcinusMan]

I like simple layouts..easier to clean and maintain.

And that is more important. Not only because it's easier on us, but also so that it's easier to provide an environment that is comfortable and healthy for our snakes.

[DerekB]

Very nice, Steve. What are you using instead of sand? Does he burrow in still?

[guidofatherof5]

Compressed aspen pellets and Yes Kenny still burrows. Comes out to get a drink or eat.

Gentle Touch Products - Products: Cat Box Filler, Pet Bedding, & Horse Bedding

[Calift]

Well I haven't been on the board a lot because I have a mini miracle to tell you guys....


Last Christmas I pet-sat this beautiful dog and loved having her here! She brought so much joy that Christmas and we definitely had a special connection!





Fast forward through Winter and Spring...and I STILL missed "my" girl. And then I learned her owners couldn't keep her and she was being rehomed.

Summer and fall passed and I finally had the courage to email her owners and ask where she had ended up. It was way to hard to do before, because it made me incredibly sad to think she was with someone else. But I received a happy email back from her original owners saying she was was with a man who wanted a Basenji....and they now thought she was a Basenji mix.


After that email I felt no comfort. I should have been happy or at least relieved she she was in a good place, but I didn't!

I had been searching for months to adopt a dog, and had always been looking for a Whippet mix, which was the breeds we originally thought Phoebe was. But after that email I typed in "Basenji" and pressed search.


This was my FIRST result on a long list of dogs that popped up:




....to be continued

[Calift]

It was "Ruby" at an Animal Control 1 hr from my house, and 8 hours from where I now live in Ontario. She was described as an anxious, dog/kid unfriendly mutt who needed lots of attention and exercise...and she was a "stray".. not the most appealing description, but she had an UNCANNY resemblance to Phoebe!

I ask friends what they thought of the photos, emailed the animal control a few times and called like crazy over a two day period until I finally got a confirmation.....they thought it was a match!

I got that news at midnight on a thursday night...and by Friday morning I was in the car, driving from Ontario straight to the middle of nowhere (the animal control was really in a dark, wooded area)

Was it really my Phoebe? Or just Ruby? I still DIDN'T know what to make of all of this. Who was lying?


WELL .... when I arrived they brought out a much skinnier, scared, dog missing fur and raw paws. It was a stark difference from the friendly, outgoing, and well-fed pooch I had pet-sat nearly a year before. But it was Phoebe! And I adopted her on the spot!!


So a very happy ending for everyone!!


I just entered her in a facebook contest too....if you like Dave's soda and pet city here: Dave's Soda and Pet City | Facebook
and then "like" her photo (it's the second one down on the page)...we could win a $25 gift certificate to the store!

[Calift]

PS... she likes snakes!


MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!