Adopting a Pharaoh Hound: An Exotic Dog
August 28, 2009 by Kimberly · Leave a Comment
If you’re looking for a more unusual common pet, then you’ll want to look for more “exotic” breeds of dogs, cats, birds or fish.
The Pharaoh Hound is a great example of an exotic breed of dog that is domesticated and a fabulous pet and part of the family.
Pharaoh Hound Puppies
Pharaoh Hound
History and origin: The Pharaoh Hound is an ancient breed of hound, going back to the Phoenician empire. They took these hounds with them when they set up residence at Malta and Gozo. They are medium sized and generally used for hunting by Egyptian nobility, they hunted everything from rabbits to gazelles.
Description: The Pharaoh Hound can weigh anywhere from 45-60 pounds and will stand about 21-25 inches in length. They have a beautiful coat, either red or tan that requires very little maintenance. Their eyes are amber and they are known to be very athletic and are able to move extremely gracefully.
About the breed: Documents show that the Pharaoh Hound is the oldest domesticated hound in recorded history. They were very important in Ancient Egypt and played a prominent role in the lives of kings and nobles. Their elegance, intelligence, and power made them very popular among different hounds. They are very affectionate, but cautious, they do not appreciate chaos of any kind around them. They have a high prey drive and you have to watch them around smaller animals because they will attack them. Therefore, they are terrible watch dogs. Pharaoh Hounds are site hounds and need to have Read more
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Hanging Out with Squirrels in the Trees
August 26, 2009 by Kimberly · Leave a Comment
One of the simple joys in my life is watching the squirrels in the trees play around the neighborhood.
They do vex our crew of dogs at the house, but they’re so fun to watch at the same time.
They chase each other, run up and down the trees, and they’re so busy with all of their chores, like cleaning themselves, watching out for predators like dogs and cats, and tending to their meals.
Today, I took a look out of the window to see a squirrel actually lazing around in this midday Texas summer heat!
I’ve never seen this before. He was just “chillin’ out” in the tree with it’s arm hanging off a wide enough branch to lay down on.
Squirrel Hangin' Out in Tree
Too cute! Look at him with his leg hanging off the branch “chillin’”!
I’m glad Read more
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Mock Chameleons in Texas
August 25, 2009 by Kimberly · Leave a Comment
I have a little lizard friend that comes by my window and walks along the fence running the length of our home in Dallas.
Mock Chameleon
He’s a cute little guy – maybe 10 cm from nose to the end of his tail and is a khaki color.
When he sees me looking through the window, he starts showing off by forcing this rounded fan-like piece of skin out from his throat area. It turns a beautiful bright, ruby red color surrounded by sunshine yellow.
Now, I think he’s showing off to me. He’ll bob his head then thrust his beautiful fan out, walk a few inches and repeat, all the while peaking to see if I’m looking.
I think he thinks he’s a tough guy! LOL…
I don’t know if the showing off is because he feels threatened or he fancies me!
Today, just as I was Read more
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How Much do Clownfish Cost?
August 21, 2009 by Kimberly · 2 Comments
One of my readers – “Buy clownfish” asked me the question:
How much does that book on clownfish cost? I would like to know more on that fish.
I wanted to address that so that others out there are aware too, not only of the book, but about how much clownfish cost to purchase for your own aquarium.
The book he’s talking about is from my previous post about Clownfish. The book costs $15.16 and is all about them.
Actually, clownfish can range from around $14.99 for extra small ones that are more common…On the left is an example of a small Sebae Clownfish that’s tankraised for this price.
…all the way up to more rare and larger varieties like the “semi-picasso” for around $110.00 per fish. To the right is an example of the semi-picasso that’s tankraised for this price.
* Note: You can click on any of the photos to purchase that fish!
That’s a pretty good range with various colors and patterned varieties in between those amounts. So, it’s really up to you which one you’re partial to purchasing for your special aquarium.
There are even black Read more
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Brand New Species of Deep Sea Worms – The Green Bombers
August 21, 2009 by Kimberly · Leave a Comment
Exotic Animal Newsflash:
Seven brand new species of deep ocean worms were discovered that actually cast green glowing body parts when they’re disturbed or attacked.
The team was led by Karen Osborn of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
Thought to be used as a defense mechanism to confuse predators, which are unknown as of yet, the appendages glow green when they’re cast by the worm, and they will actually continue to be “let go” as they’re more and more disturbed.
It’s hypothesized that Read more
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Spirulina in Fish Food for Colored Fish
August 20, 2009 by Kimberly · Leave a Comment
When you read the ingredients on the back of food packages, it’s often we all get “lost”…to say the least.
Well, multiply that by 10 when you’re talking about pet food…pets eat things we don’t…
So, how often do you actually look on the back of your turtle food container and question the ingredients…Not often, I suspect.
Same goes for gerbil food or bird food.
Well, I have information on one ingredient in some fish foods you might want to include in their diet.
If you have fish that aren’t white (and supposed to be white), then Spirulina is a great supplement in some fish foods that will enhance color.
For instance, if you have fancy goldfish, like we do, who are brightly colored oranges, browns, reds, apricot or yellow, feeding them food with Spirulina in it will make them Read more
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Eco-Friendly Travel in Switzerland – An Environmentally Friendly Country
August 18, 2009 by Kimberly · 4 Comments
Did you know that Switzerland is one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world?
They are interested in a sustainable Switzerland!
That’s important to me, as you all know. Being from Canada, we are so environmentally conscious and have been recycling for decades now, since I was about 6 or 7 years old, as well as other environmental measures.
When I travel for vacation, this is also a factor in where we plan to go. Not only do we appreciate being able to have access to organic food to eat, but we enjoy eco-friendly travel and tourism too while we’re away.
Switzerland is a bike friendly nation, the train is easily accessible, and they have green hotels and resorts.
Of course, you know I’m an exotic animal lover! That’s why you’re here and reading this blog. When we are jet-setting, my husband and I are also all about seeing a country’s “green side”…it’s plants and animals!
What Animals Can You See in Switzerland?
Well, if you hike the alpine regions – the Swiss Alps – you will see the marmot, chamois, and ibex.
Photo Right: A chamois in the mountains
In the forests, you’ll see stag and deer, as well as martens and foxes.
Along rivers and lakes, you will now see around 800 beavers – newly reintroduced to the area after having been over-hunted or chased out. A few wolves have also reentered Switzerland’s borders from Italy, that were previously extinct from these parts.
Lynx and bear have been extinct for about 1 century in Switzerland.
What is wonderful, though, is you have the opportunity to see over 200 species of birds in Switzerland.
How important is a “green nation” to you? It’s of utmost importance to me. Our lives and the lives of all animals on the planet depend on us – don’t let them down!
Now, that’s my kind of vacation!
***
I hope you enjoyed this Environment post on Exotic Animal Lover! Until next time…
Live Exotically,
Kimberly Edwards 
P.S. Be sure to Subscribe to Exotic Animal Lover for fabulous up-to-date information!
Technorati Tags: sustainable Switzerland, eco tourism, environment, green travel, eco travel, Switzerland, chamois, organic food, bike friendly nation, Swiss train
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Keeping a Horny Toad as a Pet in Dallas
August 16, 2009 by Kimberly · Leave a Comment
Well, as we all know, TCU’s (Texas Christian University’s) mascot is the horny toad. Actually, it’s also called a horned lizard.
They are ridiculously adorable and are great, placid pets, that are even great with children.
The problem with the Texas horned lizard, native to Texas, is that their food supply is waning. Even as a lizard owner, it’s gotten tougher and tougher to find natural sources for their food.
What Do Horned Lizards Eat?
A typical horned lizard should eat between 20-100 harvester ants per day. This is necessary because harvester ants provide this horned lizard with the formic acid it needs to survive.
You’re thinking, “Well, just find some harvester ants outside and be done with it!”
Problem: Harvester ants have been displaced by the fire ant in Texas, especially Dallas. So, you need to be educated and knowledgeable when looking for harvester ant nests.
Also, you certainly don’t want to capture fire ants for 2 reasons:
1. Their bite can be very painful to a human and they can swarm you quickly.
2. Horny toads will Read more
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Hammerhead Sharks on Shark Week
August 7, 2009 by Kimberly · 3 Comments
One of the neatest varieties of shark is the Hammerhead Shark!
Why?
Well, because it’s head actually looks like a hammer with their head flattened and that extends laterally to make that strange shape. The hammerhead’s eyes and nostrils are at the tips of the hammer extensions.
Wow – How neat is that?
The largest hammer on a hammerhead shark is the winghead shark.
These sharks use their heads to sweep for prey and since all sharks have electroreceptory, hammerheads have an advantage because these pores along their “snout” are more extensive than other sharks.
Although they have a “big head”, hammerhead sharks have relatively small mouths, so they do a lot of bottom feeding on prey on or in the sand.
During the day, they like to swim in schools, but at night, they go solitary to hunt!
Are They Dangerous to Humans?
Of the 9 known species of Read more
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Sand Sharks are Different From Other Sharks – Shark Week
August 6, 2009 by Kimberly · Leave a Comment
Sand sharks aren’t often spoken of – they’re not the Great White Shark, nor an interesting Hammerhead Shark, but they’re so interesting nonetheless!
Why Are Sand Sharks Different?
Sand sharks are different because they’re know to come to the surface for gulps of air.
Why? Because they actually have a rudimentary swim bladder like other fish do, but very unlike other sharks.
Although this is strange, it helps them have exceptional Read more
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