VISITORS TO THIS SITE: 33,690
Since April 24, 2008 (UPDATED MONDAYS)
WELCOME TO OUR HOME
OUR PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS
Our goal in creating this site is to gather information that will provide avenues of growth and answers to our current dilemmas, we are always having some. We don't breed our reptiles and that allows us more freedom in maintaining their vivariums. We just like living with them. Our home is very alive. Our methods are controversial. We break many of the rules. We have many lizards and frogs and turtles living together successfully. Are there more risks involved? Certainly. And an age old question: does quantity of life over rule quality? Does the world not surround us with other lives, big and small? This can be a very challenging environment for the keeper. And a very satisfying one when you finally get it right.
How did it happen? No one ever told me I wasn't supposed to do it! The pet stores never mentioned the subject. Private sellers never said. Care sheets didn't express the thought and I didn't know what a forum was until recently. Apparently, someone forgot to tell the lizards too!
But we are not alone, many are looking at keeping lizards in more natural settings. We will try to pass on the knowledge we have to you and request that you please do the same in return. We are by far, long from knowing it all ~ nor could we ever be. We are also trying to learn more about the more natural herbal treatments. We gather bugs in the yard, and branches and leaf litter. We raise a few worms. We plant our garden to the needs of the pets. (With the exception of the strawberries, which I don't like to share.) We'd like to know your methods. We would also like to feature a couple of your natural environments each month. The requirements are a photo and a complete description (follow the example on the pond).
We have broken each of our environments down to residents, heat, humidity levels, water area size and pump capacity. We have let you know what is successful here. And we will let you in on our failures as well. If you are thinking of a co-habitation situation. Think carefully, because you may be risking someone's life. Think habitat similarities ~ differences. Think lizard personality. Think stress levels and how to relieve that in co-habitation. Think hiding spots and pathways. And the basics: heat, light, food, water. Then think what am I going to do if it doesn't work? Do I have enough lights, bulbs, supplies to split them.
Some lizards are very versatile. Others will have a very difficult time adjusting. B&E, an Asian water dragon has lived with everyone, well. Beck the day gecko also adjusts well to change and activity, as do the 5 line / rainbow skinks. The Uro does not. Leopards do well with other species their size, particularly if the others are diurnal. A nocturnal will live well with a basking lizard, as their is no association needed. A floor dwelling lizard can live well with a tree dwelling one.
All of our lizards are under housed, and when we retire and move we will improve their situations, but our environments will never be of proper size. I cannot supply the male Eclectus with a 40 square mile range....nor is it likely that the pigmy hedgehog will ever be able to roam 250 square yards. Not to mention the 100 mile flying range for the Macaws. What we create can never compare.
I have a much more relaxed kind of relationship with my buddies than most. My reptiles, I equate with raising children. They are always finding something to get into ~ or in this case, more aptly, get out of! Most times they make it through their adventures unscathed. Sometimes they get into serious trouble, once in a while I never see them again. One of the Berbers is out again saw him headed back under the fridge ~ his home away from home.
We will not be a forever home for our parrots. At 48 years of age they will hopefully outlive our ability to care for them. And to that end we want them to find a home that is committed to a long term relationship.
Birds are re homed for only a few reasons: biting, screaming, untamed, too needy. We hope to be able to teach ours what is acceptable behaviour. They are intelligent enough to learn.
I would also like to acknowledge my husband. Who is so tolerant of my obsessions and the one who foots the bill. He often walks in after a 12 hour shift to plants and dirt, sand and rocks, birds yelling, dogs jumping and no meal to be seen. You are my hero, Chris.
We hope you find our site helpful.
P.S. Please excuse the glitches in the paragraph sizing and centering, the program is fighting with me! Unfortunately, I am not much of a detail oriented person, spelling is an issue!
Come on in, I'll show you around...
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