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Post by rajh08 on Jun 28, 2011 18:35:23 GMT -5
What kind of cage would you suggest for a large bird/Macaw? How often do they eat? Do they make good pets? Can you teach them not to fly away from home? Tell me about your Macaw with pictures of everything please I'm am looking into getting another pet. It might be a 3rd ferret (husband asks me why do we need a 3rd ferret lol) or some kind of large bird (Husband would LOVE a falcon ;D )... or maybe something else. UPDATE-
I had a cockatiel growing up and he's still alive. I used to have a parakeet named Skeet but he flew away from home I was heart broken.
I would like to have a large bird. I was thinking about a blue and gold macaw.. but I don't think it would be a good fit for us right now. I don't really like the idea of having a cranky teenage bird that could bit a finger off at any time lol. They are really expensive and so is the whole set up.
My husband would really like a Falcon at some point in the future once he has more time. It's his dream. So I think if he really wants to do that, he can. He wants to take it hunting.
We have done a ton of research with all kinds of lizards as pets. I think I'm leaning towards that. We have talked about an iguana, bearded dragon, Chinese water dragon, even a monitor. I'm not excited about the monitor, from what I have read they can be pretty aggressive. I like the Chinese Water Dragon. There cage set up can be really pretty and they are pretty themselves and they are good tempered and I'm not worried about them leaving a gash in my arm or flipping out on us lol.
As a cage I was thinking the Natural Terrarium Large/Tall 90 x 45 x 60 cm / 36” x 18” x 24” (WxDxH)
and do a set up like this without the turtles but with a couple small fish
Reptile owners- what lighting do you recommend?
Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=dogs&thread=2638&page=1#ixzz1Qm7EwJLJ
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2011 19:09:59 GMT -5
Depends on the size Macaw, for example a Blue and Gold Macaw needs 42x42x60. They eat on and off all day long so keep the food and water dishes full of fresh foods at all times. (You must research diet thoroughly as well!) They are loud, very smart, very expensive to buy and maintain, and not reccommended for beginners. You cannot teach them not to fly away from home, they will fly away if the opportunity arises. They are beautiful majestic animals that need a lot of out of cage time (but can be destructive) and a lot of attention. If you have never had a large bird before, I recommend a Senegal or a Quaker parrot. They are quiet, friendly if raised properly, managable if they get "grumpy" and a great way to learn avian behavior without losing a finger Not as colorful, but an animal is not a pair of shoes, other than you really need the right fit, if you get my meaning
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Post by acodlin on Jun 28, 2011 20:06:56 GMT -5
My grandmother is obsessed with cockatoos and so I've grown up around birds. I wouldnt recommend a macaw to anyone who has never had a bird as a pet before. They can be a really hard to deal with at times, especially when they reach their "teenage" years. You also have to remember that these birds can live 80+ years. They are not cheap to care for either and they need alot of regular maintence like wing clipping and having their nails ground down, they are not the best talkers if your interested in that.. If I were you I'd do alot of research before I invested in one. A smaller bird would be a better choice for a beginner.
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Post by rajh08 on Jun 30, 2011 10:52:49 GMT -5
I had a cockatiel growing up and he's still alive. I used to have a parakeet named Skeet but he flew away from home I was heart broken. I would like to have a large bird. I was thinking about a blue and gold macaw.. but I don't think it would be a good fit for us right now. I don't really like the idea of having a cranky teenage bird that could bit a finger off at any time lol. They are really expensive and so is the whole set up. My husband would really like a Falcon at some point in the future once he has more time. It's his dream. So I think if he really wants to do that, he can. He wants to take it hunting. We have done a tone of research with all kinds of lizards as pets. I think I'm leaning towards that. We have talked about an iguana, bearded dragon, Chinese water dragon, even a monitor. I'm not excited about the monitor, from what I have read they can be pretty aggressive. I like the Chinese Water Dragon. There cage set up can be really pretty and they are pretty themselves and they are good tempered and I'm not worried about them leaving a gash in my arm or flipping out on us lol. As a cage I was thinking the Natural Terrarium Large/Tall 90 x 45 x 60 cm / 36” x 18” x 24” (WxDxH) and do a set up like this without the turtles but with a couple small fish Reptile owners- what lighting do you recommend?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 11:30:42 GMT -5
For the water dragon pretty much the lighting we run (for your size tank) 5.0 UVB bulb and 60 watt day lighting bulb for 10 hours (I use a timer), and with a 24 inch height you will want a 100 watt black or red heat bulb on constantly for heat at one end of the tank. That is a nice size tank to start out with I do not use youtube, I cannot see your example- if you have a water feature, that is great for humidity and they do love their water, keep in mind they will get bedding into it daily!
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Post by rajh08 on Jun 30, 2011 11:40:02 GMT -5
For the water dragon pretty much the lighting we run (for your size tank) 5.0 UVB bulb and 60 watt day lighting bulb for 10 hours (I use a timer), and with a 24 inch height you will want a 100 watt black or red heat bulb on constantly for heat at one end of the tank. That is a nice size tank to start out with I do not use youtube, I cannot see your example- if you have a water feature, that is great for humidity and they do love their water, keep in mind they will get bedding into it daily![/quote Will I need a bigger tank at some point? I would like to just buy one cage. It saves money in the long run. I would like to have water in the tank, since they do like the water and it will help with the humidity like you said Plus the fish can be apart of the diet if he will eat them lol.
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Post by lunartwist on Jun 30, 2011 11:42:52 GMT -5
All I can say is...if you do get an monitor or an iguana..especially an iguana...adopt adopt adopt!!! Iguanas are the #1 abandoned reptile in rescues and shelters. In fact, the reptile rescue around my area no longer accepts Iguanas because they're just overrun with them. Monitors, large snakes, and sulcata tortoises come after. People buy them because they like the /idea/ of having some large, awesome, dinosaur-looking pet, but realize, without proper handling, they can be a pain in the butt to care for. PLUS, iguanas and monitors and such that are in rescues, are typically fostered by individual people, who take the time and try to tame them down to make them more adoptable. So it saves some grief in your part! For lighting, it all depends on what reptile you're going for. Monitors vs Iguanas are going to need vastly different lighting, because they get vastly different amounts of sun exposure every day. Typically lighting is based on a number system "5.0/8.0/10.0/12.0" or broken down to specific areas, light "desert" and "tropical". I'd check with the reptile's care website/forum (just google them) to see what strength/wattage you need. I use a 150 watt Powersun bulb, as it was recommended to me by a tortoise forum as one of the better bulbs, and it not only gives out heat, but UVB as well. The only thing you must remember is that a Powersun bulb cannot be mounted at an angle, and must be set up perfectly vertical. That looks like a nice cage! A bit too small for a full grown Iguana (they need at least 4'x4'), but perfect for a juvenile, or a water dragon. :3 Lastly, yes, Monitors can be nasty little butts. But if you adopt one from a rescue, they are typically socialized, or are close to being fully socialized, so it saves you some time. If you REALLY like monitor lizards, why not try their smaller cousin, the Tegu? Tegus only get half the size of a Savannah Monitor (about 3 feet) and are typically tamer. Argentina (not Columbian) Black&White, Red, and Blue Tegus are all hardy, friendly little guys, though as babies, they do start off wild and skittish, so they will need some work. They also enjoy fruit and vegetables, so they're omnivores, just with a preference for meat. (They're like kids, they hate veggies, so you may end up hiding greens in their meat. ) Hope this helps!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 11:53:04 GMT -5
I think a 55 gal (48 longx24 Hx12d) would be a comfortable size for an adult, in which case I would increase the black or red heat watt to 150w, and place 2 5.0 UVB's on either side of your day bulb to cover area. Lots of plants are a plus, and for a water feature I would suggest a 4 or 5 inch tall piece of plexiglass at one end, secure in with aquarium silicone and use a turtle filter in the water.
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Post by rajh08 on Jun 30, 2011 12:02:15 GMT -5
All I can say is...if you do get an monitor or an iguana..especially an iguana...adopt adopt adopt!!! Iguanas are the #1 abandoned reptile in rescues and shelters. In fact, the reptile rescue around my area no longer accepts Iguanas because they're just overrun with them. Monitors, large snakes, and sulcata tortoises come after. People buy them because they like the /idea/ of having some large, awesome, dinosaur-looking pet, but realize, without proper handling, they can be a pain in the butt to care for. PLUS, iguanas and monitors and such that are in rescues, are typically fostered by individual people, who take the time and try to tame them down to make them more adoptable. So it saves some grief in your part! For lighting, it all depends on what reptile you're going for. Monitors vs Iguanas are going to need vastly different lighting, because they get vastly different amounts of sun exposure every day. Typically lighting is based on a number system "5.0/8.0/10.0/12.0" or broken down to specific areas, light "desert" and "tropical". I'd check with the reptile's care website/forum (just google them) to see what strength/wattage you need. I use a 150 watt Powersun bulb, as it was recommended to me by a tortoise forum as one of the better bulbs, and it not only gives out heat, but UVB as well. The only thing you must remember is that a Powersun bulb cannot be mounted at an angle, and must be set up perfectly vertical. That looks like a nice cage! A bit too small for a full grown Iguana (they need at least 4'x4'), but perfect for a juvenile, or a water dragon. :3 Lastly, yes, Monitors can be nasty little butts. But if you adopt one from a rescue, they are typically socialized, or are close to being fully socialized, so it saves you some time. If you REALLY like monitor lizards, why not try their smaller cousin, the Tegu? Tegus only get half the size of a Savannah Monitor (about 3 feet) and are typically tamer. Argentina (not Columbian) Black&White, Red, and Blue Tegus are all hardy, friendly little guys, though as babies, they do start off wild and skittish, so they will need some work. They also enjoy fruit and vegetables, so they're omnivores, just with a preference for meat. (They're like kids, they hate veggies, so you may end up hiding greens in their meat. ) Hope this helps! If we were to decide to get a large lizard we would adopt. I would NOT use the exo terra as an iguana cage. I would build my own. They need a really large cage from what I have read. What size would you go for for an adult iguana or monitor? One of my Dad's friends had an adult iguana and he was free roam but I would always see him up on his perch by the window. Is free roam possible with these large lizards? Would they try and eat my ferrets?! I'm pretty sure I will keep them separated. Do the red, blue and green iguanas have different personalities? I know they have size differences.
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Post by lunartwist on Jun 30, 2011 12:58:53 GMT -5
Surprisingly, the dimensions for an Iguana and monitor are pretty similar. For an Iguana, you're going to need something with at least 4' length, 4' width, and 6' height. For a monitor, its roughly around 6' length, 4'width, 4' height. Though, of course, you can go larger. P: Yes, you can let them free-roam, so long as they have access to their basking spot. Depending on the temperature of your house (whether its cold in the winter, or sweating hot in the summer) dictates how long you can let them roam around for. They still need to bask in the morning hours to warm themselves up, then bask after mealtimes to properly digest their food. If its warm enough (around 70F or above) and you get them used to reptile harnesses, you can take them out roaming outside in parks or such. A monitor, as a hunter, may go after your ferrets if its hungry. Some people have kept cats and (well fed!) monitors in the same house as their monitors free-roam, but it takes a log of socialization and know-how in order to keep both parties safe. And generally, cats leave large reptiles alone and aren't as curious as ferrets. Ferrets, as inquisitive little creatures, may want to play with the monitor and "pester" him enough for him to lash out. Iguanas won't go after a ferret, hungry or not, but if pestered, may lash out with its tail, which CAN fracture bone. Once again, people have let Iguanas roam around in households with cats and dogs, but it takes a patient person to socialize the two. Hmm...I don't know personality differences between the species. I've never really had any experience with anything but Green Iguanas...so hopefully someone else can answer this.
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2011 13:06:35 GMT -5
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2011 13:28:29 GMT -5
I would like to have a large bird. I was thinking about a blue and gold macaw.. but I don't think it would be a good fit for us right now. I don't really like the idea of having a cranky teenage bird that could bit a finger off at any time lol. They are really expensive and so is the whole set up.Reptiles and their set ups are also VERY expensive. And reptiles also bite - especially with some of the species that you are looking at. It takes a LOT of time and patience to socialize reptiles, and even the most "tame" reptile can never be trusted. They are wild animals. This thread is a perfect example. This iguana was very docile and the owner had spent hours a day for years socializing him. One day with no warning, the iguana snapped and bit the owner's face. She rehomed it to what she thought was a really good home and the iguana lashed out at the new owner (who was the owner of a pet store). Out of anger the woman put the ig in a freezer to kill it, even though she knew that they could be unpredictable. www.herpcenter.com/green-iguanas/29436-iguana-bite-wounds-graphic.htmlHerp Center by the way is THE best online forum for almost any reptile. Be warned, the members are not very tactful though and if you have something in your care wrong they WILL point it out. We have talked about an iguana, bearded dragon, Chinese water dragon, even a monitor. These are very different animals in terms of care, temperament, space, everything. What do you want in a reptile exactly? If you know what you want in the reptile, then maybe we can suggest something that fits? I'm not excited about the monitor, from what I have read they can be pretty aggressive.So can iguanas. Even Chinese Water Dragons can be highly aggressive (esp in breeding season) despite being (in general) a bit more docile than the other 2. I like the Chinese Water Dragon. There cage set up can be really pretty and they are pretty themselves and they are good tempered and I'm not worried about them leaving a gash in my arm or flipping out on us lol. Yuo should be. They are certainly more calm than iguanas, and I would surely trade my ig in for one! ;D BUT they have teeth and strong jaws and they can and will bite. Their cage requirements are almost identical to that of iguanas btw, with the exception of needing a large pool of water. As a cage I was thinking the Natural Terrarium Large/Tall 90 x 45 x 60 cm /3 6” x 18” x 24” (WxDxH)This will not be Nearly big enough. (see above) They need a cage that is roughly 4-6' tall, 6' wide, and 3-4' deep. That is the MINIMUM size for an adult WD. And they grow fast, so a smaller cage will not last long. IT is more cost-effective to start with a full sized enclosure vs building/buying a new one every year because it is growing. Here is a caresheet. www.herpcenter.com/water-dragon-care/Reptile owners- what lighting do you recommend?All of the reptiles you listed need a Good source of UV B lighting. It is critical for their health. Without a doubt the best UV bulb on the market for reptiles is the MegaRay bu Reptile UV (link below). If you get the self-ballasted bulb it is very efficient. It is cost effective because you have ONE bulb to provide both heat and UV (you can supplemetn with a ceramic heat emitter on a thermostat if you need more heat and for fine tuning) rather than several heating devices and UV bulbs. Thus you save on electricity. You only need ONE mercury vapor bulb, where if you buy fluorescent tube lights, you need several to get the proper levels of UVB. Also, where fluroescent bulbs' UVB emission typically lasts about 6 months, the MegaRay is goof for a min of 12 months. So change one bulb yearly, or several every 6 months. Not to mention the levels of UVB in the MegaRay are specially formulated FOR lizards like iguanas, water dragons, etc so that they REALLY get what they need. You will see a noticeable change in your lizard when you switch to MegaRays. When I switched to MegaRay, and then again when I have replaced bulbs (because the old one was worn out - well past 12 months ) Tito became/becomes significantly greener within a few days. www.reptileuv.com/megaray-products.phpCheck out HerpCetner and read around and ask questions there. It is one of the biggest online forums for reptile owners, and has the best info out there. I've spent a lot of time roaming around the internet for reptile stuff and this site is the best. www.herpcenter.comGood luck!
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Post by katt on Jun 30, 2011 13:45:24 GMT -5
What size would you go for for an adult iguana or monitor? Iguanas need a MIN cage of 6' tall, 6' wide, 4' deep. Monitors need a much larger footprint if I remember correctly, but not nearly the height. They also need to be able to dig, and a large pool.
One of my Dad's friends had an adult iguana and he was free roam but I would always see him up on his perch by the window. Is free roam possible with these large lizards? Free roaming is possible, but not recommended. You have to be sure to really iguana-proof everything (they will eat things on "accident"). Also, t it is much mroe difficult with free roaming to ensure that they get the temps, humidity, and UVB that they need. You would need to keep the temps of the room up as well as provide multiple basking spots with UV lighting.
Would they try and eat my ferrets?! They would not necessarily try to eat them, but it would not be safe to have them together. Ever. Regardless of the reptile you get.
Do the red, blue and green iguanas have different personalities? I know they have size differences. They do not have personality OR size differences. The so-called "red" and "blue" iguanas are the same species as green iguanas. They are all iguana iguana. They just have a genetic mutation that causes different levels of color pigments in their skin that results in a different color. As they grow into adults you will typically not even be able to tell the difference as they all fade to about the same color. The males of course will often turn orange during breeding season.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 14:21:11 GMT -5
Ultimately you would have to think, do you want a pet you can hold and interact a bit with, one with a little challenge or a LOT of challenge as far a aggression. Personally, I prefer Bearded Dragons. I have handled many many beardies and not once had an aggressive incident.
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Post by rajh08 on Jun 30, 2011 15:09:50 GMT -5
Thank Katt for all the information!
I knew the Iguana's and Monitors can be unpredictable that's why I was leaning towards the CWD. I didn't know the CWD had teeth or could do damage.
Almost all animals can cause harm to people.. I recently visited family in MO and I guess they just had a recent accident involving a ferret and a child. The ferret chewed up the childs fingers. I got crap from my friend I was staying with. They were scared of my ferrets. It was really annoying hearing all the crap b/c they have dogs that growled and barked at us when we walked in the door.. I guess they don't get that even there sweet dogs can chew childrens fingers and even kill a person.
I'm fine with being bite and just the damage I'm afraid of. My parakeet would bite me sometimes and my parents Cockatiel is very aggressive b/c they don't care for it at all. I knew he would bite me but I still took him out. He just needs more attention. They were even going to let me take him home with me, but I knew my friend's who were driving me home wouldn't like that very much. I googled CWD bites but I couldn't find anything. What is there bite like? What are the chances of being bit?
I see so many people with the Exo Terra Terrarium for there CWD online that I thought if I got the biggest one it would be okay. I guess I could build my own, and it's cheaper to do it that way. Maybe I could even find one on craigslist. My estimate in the beginning for a CWD set up and the reptile itself was 600.
I really like the CWD b/c it looks very similar to the Iguana but it's smaller and I don't hear a lot of horror stories about them.
I have also looked into pet skunks but I found out that they are illegal to own in the state of CO.
Big birds are expensive. I think it would cost me about 2,000 or more just to get started.
I'm looking for a pet that I can take out, spend time with, likes the company of humans, different, interesting, not too small. No dogs until we own a house, allergic to cats and guinea pigs. Bad experience with our ex evil pet rat Templeton. No rats, hamsters or mice.
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