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Pet Heaven: Snakes & Reptiles!
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Scroll down for some great reptile articles or links to stores and other reptile sites!
Reptiles and amphibians, like other members of the natural world, are facing a crisis of immense proportions: available habitats are shrinking as a result of continued encroachment by humans and the world's changing climate. Only through a greater understanding of the fragile balance that exists between species and their habitats will it be possible for us to ensure their survival.Shopping for your reptiles can get pretty frustrating! There are hundreds of different pet shops on the internet. Some really good ones, and some you'd rather not do business with. It can take you hours of searching to find the best prices or that product that you just can't seem to find.Here you'll find the best, most reliable sources for your reptile supplies! You can visit the different sites to compare prices, or find that special product, without having to search hundreds of sites that won't have what you need!  Great Savings for your Reptile at PETsMART.com
Everyone has heard of PetSmart or shopped in one of their stores! Now you can shop PetSmart from home!
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Should I Get a Reptile?
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VIRUSES AN UNEXPECTED DANGER TO REPTILE PETS!
As reptiles are outgrowing their scary, scaly image as creatures from the black lagoon, interest and demand for them as pets is growing steadily.
Reptiles have several advantages over more mainstream pets. Without fur, they're attractive to animal lovers whose allergic reactions to animal hair and dander may disqualify more conventional pets. While many reptiles seem to enjoy attention, very few need the intensive interactions their mammal counterparts crave. Reptiles are quiet, a real advantage for anyone living in an apartment or condo. Also, they don't require outdoor excursions.
Equally appealing if you're looking for a low-maintenance companion, reptiles need to be fed only every couple of weeks. There's little need to worry about throwing out your back hauling 40-pound bags of pet food from the store to the car to the house. What's more, contrary to conventional wisdom, reptiles can be socialized; they may even show (subtle) signs of affection!
Keeping a reptile as a pet requires commitment and preparation. Before you browse through the yellow pages to find your local reptile breeder, take some time to seriously consider the next, very important question.
Is It Right for Me?
Just as dogs, cats, and fish are not for everyone, reptiles, too, are not everyone's cup of tea. Reptiles are different pets altogether, whose unusual care requirements merit careful consideration. People often become entranced by reptiles' exoticism, and rush out to buy one. Many of these reptiles end up abandoned, sick, or dead. Let's take a look at what's involved.
Do I have the time? Yes, reptiles are definitely lower-maintenance than most other pets, but they're certainly not maintenance-free. Most reptiles have quite specific light, heat, and humidity requirements; these must be closely monitored to avoid illness or death. Their enclosures must be kept clean. The more exotic the species, the more homework you'll need to do to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Is my family willing to adjust? Just because your seven-year-old swears he'll take care of the new lizard doesn't mean he'll be able to handle it. Reptiles make fascinating, educational pets for children, but you may end up doing the majority of the work. And remember: bringing a reptile into the household is not a good idea if someone in the family is genuinely frightened of them, as many people are. If Grandma doesn't like reptiles, and she's a regular guest, reconsider your choice.
What about handling them? Most reptiles dislike frequent, rough handling. Unafraid of reptiles, young children may play with them too long and too hard, inadvertently harming them. Think carefully about the ages and personalities of the children already in your household. Will they respect the needs of an arriving reptile?
Is anyone in my family young, elderly, pregnant, or immune-impaired? Choosing where to buy your reptile is just as important as which reptile to buy. Keeping your reptile clean and healthy is extremely important. Without proper precautions, reptiles can transmit bacteria harmful to humans, including salmonella, potentially deadly to vulnerable persons.
Can I make a commitment? Reptiles, established on Earth long before mammals, have survived eons of harsh climates and hostile conditions. Acquiring a reptile is not like buying a goldfish; reptiles can live 10 to 20 years, or even longer. Are you ready to have a cold-blooded family member living with you that long? If your lifestyle involves frequent changes that might make such a pet a burden, you may want to reconsider.
Can I afford it?
The costs of a long-lived pet with special needs must be considered, too. The cost of the pet himself is usually modest, but reptiles' accessories can quickly drain your pocketbook. Think about the following:
Cages or enclosures vary from less than to several hundred dollars (or more), depending on size, complexity and materials.
Food and water containers are inexpensive; however, the annual food budget is about for a turtle, for a lizard, for an iguana, and for a snake.
The costs of Lighting and heating are harder to measure. Apart from the cost of special equipment, they involve ongoing electrical costs.
Vet services can run from per year to hundreds or even thousands of dollars, if your pet becomes ill.
The First Steps
By reading through this list of questions, you've taken your first step towards acquiring a pet herp, and demonstrated your strong interest and willingness to learn. These attributes will serve you well on the path to reptile ownership.
Don't rush out to buy your new pet just yet, though. Caring for a reptile is a big responsibility, one that will have a strong impact on every member of your household. Choosing the right reptile, lizard, snake, or turtle, is critical. Even narrowing it down to "snakes" doesn't complete the job of selection. You'll have even more homework: researching the different kinds of snakes, their temperaments and requirements, and their suitability for first-time reptile owners. Visit your local library or bookstore, or browse reptile sites on the Internet. Locate and interview reptile breeders. Even better, find other reptile owners who can offer you hands-on advice, possibly through your local herpetological society. The more you know, the better your chances of successfully adopting a reptile into your family.
Find this, and other articles on reptiles at "Petco.com"
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I'd love to hear from you! jbaguss@yahoo.com
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Reptile enthusiasts know their pets can be plagued by bacterial infections.But another, less common problem also afflicts pet reptiles. Even veterinarians forget about them sometimes - viruses."If you read the textbooks, most of it is about bacterial diseases," said veterinarian Dr. Ramiro Isaza, a Kansas State University assistant professor of clinical sciences. "People throw antibiotics at an animal and it doesn't get better, because they are not thinking about viruses."Pet owners, and even veterinarians, can sometimes miss a viral infection in a reptile, which requires a completely different treatment. For example, mouth rot is a common malady in snakes and is usually bacterial, but in boas and pythons it can be caused by the boid inclusion retrovirus."In mouth rot of snakes caused by a retrovirus, antibiotics won't help the animal. That's why it's important to know it's a virus. Once you know that, you can at least help the animal feel comfortable," Isaza said.There are at least 10 to 15 identified reptilian viruses, but only three are often found in pets, Isaza said.
The boid inclusion retrovirus is one of the major viruses found in boa constrictors and pythons. Symptoms include an inability to move well, vomiting, weakness and a poor immune system, which leads to bacterial infections like mouth rot.
"This disease is very common and unfortunately it's found in the pet trade more and more these days," Isaza said.
Herpes virus in tortoises also looks like a bacterial infection of the mouth or nasal passages. This disease can even jump from one species to another. The third major virus is the adenovirus of lizards. These animals show signs of liver disease, refuse their food and seem weak.
Methods of diagnosing and treating these diseases are in their infancy. Isaza said veterinarians who think a reptile might have a virus should take a tissue sample called a biopsy, look at it under a microscope and possibly perform an electron microscopy test.
There are no drug treatments that cure reptilian viruses, but pet owners can give drugs that help the animal feel better. Isaza said they should also isolate the pet from other reptiles and not sell the animals. Viruses are generally more contagious than bacteria, Isaza said.
Isaza said owners of pet reptiles should remind their veterinarian that some viruses can affect their pets. Veterinarians should learn about the three major viruses, as reptiles are growing in popularity as a pet species, he said.
"In our practice, we are seeing more reptiles. In many ways, they are pets of interest to people. They are also relatively easy to keep," Isaza said. Here Are A Few Good Snake Sites! Split Rock Reptiles! Jason's Snakes & Reptiles Treating Venomous Bites Care Sheet For Snakes!Venomous.com 
Petco.com
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