Why Are Horned Lizards Illegal as Pets?

Horned lizards look as though they would make great exotic pets. It's true that some people enjoy them, but most find them to be dull pets. However, that is a non-issue in most states because they are illegal to own. Some states are very aggressive in enforcing those laws and impose fines up to $1000 and a year in jail. But first, more about the creature.

As the first name mentioned implies, it is a lizard. They are known by other names, which are all technically incorrect: horned or horny toads, and horned frogs. They got those monikers because their body is somewhat round like a toad, and they have a stubby snout. The horned part of the name comes from the horns on their heads.

In addition to horns, they have spikes that run down their sides and back. Their colors generally match their environment, which is typically desert sand. Dim shades of burgundy, gray, orange, tan or other dull colors may decorate their skin. They usually grow to be 3-5 inches, but in some regions, they may grow to eight inches.

The Endangered Horned Lizard

Most states have listed them as endangered and/or protected. They are illegal in most of those states, and even bothering them in the wild can land someone a hefty fine. Not all species are listed as endangered, but those that are include the Texas horny toad of that state, and the flat-tailed horned lizard of Arizona and California, among others. Some states allow ownership if the animals are bred in captivity, and some allow people with a hunting license or a commercial trade permit to collect them.

The reason they are endangered has more to do with collecting them, though. It is due to the expansion of residential areas, which decreases the lizards' own territory. Additionally, agricultural growth and the related use of chemicals such as pesticides and weed killers takes its toll on them. Some authorities say their demise is also due to predators and fire ants, but that is natural and it likely has little to do with it.

Don't be disappointed if your state has a ban on ownership of horny toads as exotic pets: They are interesting to look at, but they do very little but sit and wait for you to feed them some fire ants. By the way, if you find a way to own one of these lizards, you will probably have to mail order those ants. They also won't drink water out of a dish, so you have to take the time to drip it on the reptile's nose. Your best bet is probably a gecko, which has a lot more personality.

Hats Off to Veiled Chameleons

Veiled chameleons get their name because of the large, ornate casque on their head. It also has a prehensile tail, meaning that it uses its tail to grab limbs and things as if the tail was another claw. Their tongue is long and sticky, so they can wait until a juicy bug passes by, and then zap them with their tongue.

These reptiles can grow to be as much as 18 inches. They are usually a bright green color that will get brighter as their mood changes. They are adorned with blotches and stripes that vary in color.

They inhabit parts of Western Asia, and because of that, they are also referred to as the Yemen chameleon. It lives in diverse habitats, and it enjoys both tropical and arid climates. In other parts of the world, they are popular as exotic pets. One reason is that they are a hardier pet than many other chameleons are. Owners must keep them separated from other chameleons, though, because they will fight. Even if they don't have access to each other, they will stare each other down and have a mental fight.

The following video has some excellent information in it to help you become more familiar with the veiled chameleon. It talks about its personality and tips for taking care of it. Enjoy.

Ohio Lays Down the Law for Exotic Pet Owners

Once again, it has been proven that one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. Evidently, an irresponsible owner who had Bengal tigers and some lions on his farm released them because he was feeling suicidal. The authorities ended up having to kill most of them, even though the animals weren't likely feeling the same. So, rather than just deal with the one person, authorities decided to make new rules for everyone.

The rules are bad news for would-be future collectors of exotic pets: In Ohio, they won't be able to. Those that already have them will have to permits and meet certain requirements, as well as follow some other new rules, some of which are aggravating at best.

"The measure, which seeks to regulate wildlife in the state, would ban new ownership of lions, tigers and other exotic animals, allowing current owners to keep their pets by obtaining new permits by 2014. The owners would have to pass background checks, obtain insurance, install microchips in the creatures and show they can adhere to caretaking and safety measures. Zoos, circuses, sanctuaries and research facilities would be exempt." - Ann Sanner for the Associated Press

Many of the resident pet owners have legitimate concerns. Those who cannot afford to abide by the legislation are concerned they might have to put their animals down to avoid keeping them illegally. Other comments stress that these new laws would only force the industry and the owners to go underground, which could be more harmful to the animals in the long run.

One exception to collecting and breeding new animals is snakes. Even those that are venomous and those that are constrictors are allowed as long as the owner has emergency plans in case there is an escape or if someone is bitten.

One article reports the words of an exotic pet keeper:

  

"Snake owner David Sagan, who takes snakes and other reptiles into schools as part of his work at the Hocking Woods Nature Center in Nelsonville, described the proposed requirements as cumbersome and discouraging. Plus, Sagan said, constrictors are gentler than the proposed rules make them out to be." - Boston, MA News

Up to this point, Ohio has had lesser restrictions on exotic pets than many other states. It was back in October when the state government decided to make changes, which was when the man released his animals from his farm.

"The bill has the support of Republican Gov. John Kasich and the Columbus Zoo. The head of the Humane Society of the United States has said the measure would be a vast improvement for Ohio but had concerns over certain exemptions and snake ownership rules. Tuesday's hearing was the first chance opponents had to speak to the legislative panel considering the bill. A committee vote has not been scheduled. And the chairman of the Senate's Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Committee said he planned to take as much time as needed for people to be heard."

Apparently, it takes a village to raise an exotic pet; that is, if you are even allowed to have one.

Fun Myths and Interesting Facts About Snakes

There are a lot of myths slipping around about snakes. There are also a lot of interesting facts that you may not know. If you are interested in keeping snakes as exotic pets, you will be interested in knowing a few facts to better understand these reptiles. Some of them might surprise you.

Reptiles are tetrapods; that is, creatures that have four limbs or have ancestors that had four limbs. Snakes fit the latter description.

Humans have four chambers in their hearts, but most reptiles have three. Some snakes, however, have the ability to contract their heart so that they have four chambers. Pythons are one of those.

Pythons also have a sensor that detects infrared thermal radiation. This helps them detect other predators and prey so they can hunt for food in the dark. It is also believed to help them with thermoregulation, the process of regulating one's body temperature. This sensor is located in the area that would appear to be the tip of the nose.

FACTOID: Snakes are not technically poisonous, but venomous. The difference is in the way the toxin is taken into the body. Poisons are effective when they are eaten, breathed or touched. Venom has to be injected, hence the fangs on a snake. Next time you want to show off at a party, tell your friends that rattlesnakes are not poisonous. After they call you out, explain your newfound knowledge.

A popular myth about snakes is that they are slimy. Other reptiles get this rap, too. However, this is not true unless they have been in something slimy. In fact, they do not have the ability to make themselves slimy because they have no sweat glands. If you were to pick one up, you would find them to be quite dry and even somewhat leathery feeling.

Snakes do shed, so if you keep pet snakes, you need to provide plenty of humidity for them to help them shed. A humid hide for reptiles can assist with that. Younger snakes will shed several times per year as they outgrow their skin. Older snakes shed less often because they are not growing as fast. They may shed as seldom as once or twice per year.

The world's longest snake species is the reticulated python, which was recorded at 33 feet. Most of them, however, get to be around 20 feet. Other reports have recorded a 28-foot anaconda, and as far as weight goes, that species is probably the heaviest and can weigh hundreds of pounds. One was reported in 1978 by a geologist to be over 24 feet long and weigh between 300 and 400 pounds.

INTERESTING FACT: The hognose snake, which is found in North and South America and northern Mexico, has an upturned snout like that of a pig. But that is not the most interesting thing: If they feel threatened, they will play dead. They do this by rolling over on their backs and lying still with their tongue hanging out of their mouth. They are even able to generate drops of blood on their tongue to sell the fake out. If the predator moves them out of that position, the hognose will immediately assume it again in another effort to sell it.

If you do take an interest in owning a snake, you have to decide if you want a small one, like a garter snake, or a larger one like a python. If you choose to go with the latter, you will need a very large housing for it - very large; even closet sized. So, be prepared for that. Also, be prepared to keep it for a long time because they can live over 20 years - even up to 50. That's quite a commitment, so if you're not prepared for that, try a gecko or something that only lives about 10 years or so.

Reptiles: Bizarre Facts About Geckos

Geckos are becoming more popular all the time as exotic pets. These reptiles are lizards, and there is no shortage of them. You can find almost 1,500 kinds around the globe. The most popular for pets are the crested gecko and the leopard gecko, and others are becoming better known and more adored as well.

The Kawekaweau was the largest gecko ever noted. This lizard grew to be almost two feet long. On the reverse side of the spectrum is the dwarf gecko, which will not even achieve an inch in length. It is the world's tiniest reptile.

One thing about these lizards is that they have no eyelids. They have a kind of protective coating, however. They must clean their eyes using their tongues because of having no covers. One species, the crested gecko, looks like it has eyebrows because of the crest above its eyes, which is made out of skin.

These splendid beings are quite vocal. They will bark, chirp, click and hiss, determined by what they are trying to express. A few of the sounds are for protection, and some are cultural actions. They let the others learn when they are happy.

Something they are able to do that other reptiles can't is climb walls. They've got very small hairs on the pads of their toes, and these grab the walls so they can scale straight up. It practically seems like they have some form of suction power when they accomplish that. The only one that doesn’t do this is the leopard gecko, as it has claws rather than pads.

That particular lizard has another distinct characteristic. You can pretty much forecast what the sex of its offspring will be by being aware of at what temperature it was incubated. The warmer the temperature, the more likely it is to be a male; the cooler the environment, the more it is likely to be a female.

Just like a lot of lizards, geckos can eliminate their tails as a defense mechanism. That is widely known, but what is much less recognized is that the crested gecko is not able to grow its tail again. For the others, the new tails they grow do not usually appear just like the one they dropped. It's going to have duller colors and marks, as well as be stubbier and plumper. It could even be deformed. One more fascinating bit here: They hold fat in their tails to get them through lean periods. It also retains nutrition, so it's not just a source of energy.

Another one of the fun facts about geckos is that whenever they want to communicate is bob their heads. Males will aggressively do this once they come across another male that they don't want near. He will also do it to draw a female.

Why You Need a Crested Gecko in Your Life

If you're planning on raising exotic pets and reptiles, a crested gecko could be just what you need. This lizard takes well to people and is generally a hardy critter, so attending to it is easy. Furthermore, they are extremely adorable. You will likely end up devoting visiting time with yours regularly.

The thing about them that makes them defined is the marks and colors. Quite a few are hues of orange and yellow, which include brown and red. Sometimes the color of a crested gecko will be duller, however the animal is still stunning. Many of them have spots, but some have stripes. On many, the lines are straight, and on others, they can be layered.

Right over the eyes where an eyelash would ordinarily be is a crest. This is what earns this facts about geckos its tag. This crest works its way around the eye and lengthens all the way down to the tail. Strangely enough, some specimens only have this element on one side of their bodies. All the same, this spine-like feature would be quite scary if this beast were as large as a T-Rex.

Thankfully, they just don't end up getting quite that large. They usually get to be approximately 6-10 inches long, which happens to be essentially the perfect overall size for handling. That length includes the tail, which mind you, will break off when the gecko feels threatened. Sadly, though it will continue wiggling for several minutes, it will never re-grow. This is not the case for most other geckos, however.

When a crested gecko happens to be friendly, it will sometimes produce an endearing noise commonly termed a chirp. It does not actually sound like a bird, but it's like a small squeak. They often use this noise to communicate and convey excitement. If you are a late sleeper, however, you will not need to worry about the pet waking you up every day by using a boisterous noise. They do not make the noise all the time, and it is not problematic.

If you are convinced that you want to get involved in crested gecko care, it is essential to are aware that you ought to be ready to manage your new pal many years. Robust, content geckos can survive up to a decade, and many live as long as 15 years. Depending on your own age, you could have your new exotic pet the rest of your life.

What are Some of the Most Interesting Reptiles?

According to science, reptiles have been around for hundreds of millions of years. They come in many shapes and sizes ranging from short and fat to long and thin to humongous and weighing hundreds of pounds. Most of them have unique characteristics that make them quite interesting. A few are noted here, but you can find even more by reading these reptile care sheets.

Geckos. They get their name, gekko, from the sound they make, which is usually described as a chirp. They have no eyelids, so they use their tongues to clean their eyeballs.  Geckos have hair-like hooks on their feet that enable them to walk up the sides of walls. Some species are capable of asexual reproduction, meaning they need no partner to reproduce.

Tortoises and Turtles. These may be the longest living reptiles. Some tortoises have been known to live up to 150 years. These creatures do not protect their skin in the same way as other reptiles that have scales; instead, they have a shell made of thick, sturdy cartilage. Also, they are mostly herbivores (vegetarians), while most other reptilia are carnivores (meat eaters). Other herbivores in this class include iguanas and dragons.

Chameleons. Also, contrary to popular belief, chameleons do not change their color to blend in with the background. Their colors change automatically in relationship to their moods and to the temperature. The change is not that drastic, and it usually only involves a brightening or a darkening of the skin rather than a complete color change. If a chameleon becomes excited or scared, the color is likely to get brighter.

These creatures have tongues that seem to be as long as their body. These come in real handy when a bug flies by because they can quickly shoot their tongue out to trap the bug on a sticky substance that coats the tongue.

Chameleons have great big eyes that seem to be too large for their head. A more interesting thing is their ability to move their eyes independently of one another; however, they can only focus one at a time.

Crocodiles. Unlike many reptiles that have three-chambered hearts, crocodiles have four chambers. Their teeth are tough and sharp, but they are designed for crushing and not chewing. This makes digestion difficult for them. To overcome that, they swallow rocks, which help to grind up the food.

While the jaws are extremely powerful when it comes to crushing, that is a closing process: They have a problem with opening the jaws because they are weak when moving in that direction. That is why you see people able to snare them with just a light band around the jaws. When you see one with its mouth wide open and remaining that way, it is doing so to cool off by letting air cross the tongue.

Crocodiles may not be the one you would want if you were considering a reptile for a pet. Good choices would include geckos, turtles, various lizards, and many kinds of snakes. Most of these are easy to take care of because they are small and hardy. Consult with an exotic pet store to learn more about raising them.