Things to Remember When Feeding Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are becoming popular as pets because of their unique and interesting characteristics of changing their shells when they feel like it. They are also different in many ways and only require low maintenance when caring for them. Feeding is one important factor you have to consider when rearing hermits as pets because although they are not choosy with their food, we have to give them food that must be nutritious, clean and must not pose danger in their habitat. They can be kept on aquariums so the problem of keeping them is very minimal and less costly. We can find commercial food for our hermits easily at local pet shops but they can also enjoy some food items that are readily available in our kitchen.

They will munch on fruits, vegetables, breadcrumbs, and would you believe they also love peanut butter? So how do you make ways in feeding hermit crabs? You just need these simple things:

· Commercial pet food anything from grounded to palletized commercial food.

· Fruits

· Vegetables

· Shells that are shaped like dishes

· Water that is completely de-chlorinated

When you have these just follow these simple steps:

First step

Use the shells as containments for their food and water. The calcium in these shells can be absorbed by the food thus providing calcium supplements to your hermits. Feeding hermit crabs that are small while using a large shell can be a problem so you can put pebbles or rocks in the middle of the shell so that the smaller ones can be able to crawl over and will not drown.

Second step

When feeding hermit crabs with commercial food, you can put only about 2 small pinches of the food on their feeding shells and this can sustain the small hermits. For larger hermits, palletized commercial food is better.

Third Step

Providing sustenance from natural food is a must for hermit crabs so you have to provide them fruits regularly. Their favorite fruits are grapes, bananas and apples. They also love to munch on ripe mangoes, papaya and grated coconut. You can slice the fruits in medium size cut before feeding it to them but make sure you remove the hard skin of the fruits first.

Fourth Step

Vegetables are necessary for the hermit crabs' diet and they can eat any kind of vegetables. It would be better, however, if you could feed them carotene-rich vegetables such as carrots and corn. The carotene supplement can help them to go through their molting process easily.

Fifth Step

Because they love to eat, they must also be provided with continuous supply of clean de-chlorinated water in their tank for their drinking and bathing. Always replace old water because their water can get dirty easily as they will crawl all over their dishes.

Sixth Step

Feeding hermit crabs is much like feeding your other pets. You can treat them with other food such as plain crackers, cereals, groundnuts, corn meal, small seeds or unbuttered popcorn and they will love it.

If you want to learn more about many things on how to feed your hermit crabs with different kinds of nutritious food, you can find this information on my sight.

Steven is a hermit crab enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on feeding a hermit crab, visit [http://www.hermit-crab1.com].

Points to Remember When Buying Pet Food

There are many varieties of pet foods available in the market depending on the requirement of the pet owners. Most manufactures sell food depending on the breed of the pet and its nutrition requirement. The nutrition requirement of your pet varies and it is important that you buy the right food for your pet. Avoid feeding your pet homemade food as it may not fulfil the dietary requirement of your pet. Some human foods like chocolates and onions have a negative influence on the health of your pet.

Most pet owners consider commercial pet food as better option as they are prepared after years of study and research. Also, these foods are prepared keeping in mind the nutrition requirement of your pet.

If you are planning to feed your pet homemade food you could face problems like bacterial contamination and other diseases that get transferred from human beings to pets. Also foods that have high calcium content can cause growth problems in young dogs and cats. If calcium is not given it can result in weak bones that break easily.

When you buy food for your pet, make sure you buy branded food and check the ingredients used by the manufacturer. Avoid buying cheap food as it could affect the health of your pet. Also, check the nutrition requirement of your pet before you buy commercial pet food.

When feeding your pet it is important that you follow the directions given on the label. The feed that you give depends on the breed, age and activity level of your pet. Some pet eat too much food that can harm their health and cause obesity.

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Planning for Disaster: Remember Your Pet

As thousands of families struggled with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many of them were also missing pets. Many people have plans to deal with emergencies for themselves, but fail to make arrangements for the animal members of their family. Whether it's a small emergency such as a house fire, or a large emergency like a tornado, hurricane, flood or manmade disaster, advanced planning always gives the best chance of keeping all of your family members safe.

Preparation

Start by talking with your family about what you will do in various situations. Responses to localized emergencies like fires, small storms and power outages will likely differ from emergency plans for large scale emergencies such as hurricanes, tornadoes and manmade attacks. Plan evacuation routes to designated meeting points.

These will vary based on the situation. If dealing with flooding, you'll want to take refuge in the highest room location in your home. For a tornado, you'll want to take family and pets to the lowest level of your home. If dealing with a chemical or airborne emergency, the Red Cross advises families to go to an interior room without windows that is above ground level (in the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed).

All pets should have collars and tags with easily visible identification. ID tags should have your pet's name, your phone number and important medical information. If possible, list a mobile phone number. If you're not at home when danger strikes, calls may not reach you at a home phone.

For local emergencies, it is important to display an animal rescue sign or sticker so that responders know that there are pets in your home. Your rescue sign should contain the types and names of pets in your house, as well as veterinarian name and contact information. Use your best judgment about placing additional contact information on the sign. While you want to give emergency officials enough information to safely rescue you pets, you must be cautious not to expose information which might be abused by solicitors or passers by.

Finally, make copies of contact, evacuation route and emergency plan information for all members of your family. Store them in Ziploc style waterproof bags so that they will stay dry in case of flooding or water damage.

Where to Go

After you take care of basic preparation, you should agree on two meeting places: one near your home for emergencies such as fires, and another outside of your immediate neighborhood if you must evacuate your home. Similarly, it's wise to designate two emergency contacts. The first should be in your neighborhood, the second should be out of town. During large scale disasters it can often be easier to reach people who are not in your immediate area. Make sure all of your family members memorize both phone numbers.

If it is necessary to leave your home, you may not be able to bring your pet to rescue facilities with your family. To prevent permanent separation, identify a boarding kennel or shelter in your immediate area that provides emergency care or foster care for pets. Outside of your area, have the name and number of hotels, friends or relatives that will accept your pets. By having these numbers and arrangements in place, you will be able to reunite with your pets even if you are not able to return to your home.

Making an Emergency Pack

It's easy to prepare an emergency pack for you and your pet. Each pack should contain 3 days worth of supplies. Supplies should be stored in a backpack as close to an exit as possible.

For each member of your family, your pack should include:

Batteries


Battery powered flashlight


Battery powered radio


Blanket


3-5 days worth of water


Energy bars, canned nutrition shakes or other food which does not require cooking or refrigeration


Baby wipes


Breathing mask


Plastic sheeting


Duct tape


First Aid Kit and guide book


Light stick


Spray paint


Whistle or air horn


3-5 day supply of Tylenol or Aspirin, as well as any prescription medication


Recent photos if family members become separatedYour pet's supply kit should include:


Easy open canned or dry food. If packing dry food, you may wish to store it in large Ziploc style plastic bags. For birds, a small, tupperware container is recommended


Bottled water supply for your pet


Disposable litter trays


Pet feeding dishes


Extra leash


Photocopies of medical records


3-5 day supply of any medicine your pet requires


Litter or paper toweling


A traveling bag or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet


Recent photos of your pets if you become separated

Remember to change food, water and medicine every three to six months to maintain freshness and effectiveness.

Disasters, whether small, large, natural or manmade can be terrifying. By having a solid plan in place, emergency contacts and disaster packs ready to go, you can give your entire family the best chance of surviving together.

Jenn Lanka is a writer for COMPANIONnet [http://www.companionnet.com] - a site for pets and the people who love them.

For pet news, pet care tips, dog treat recipes, fashionable pet accessories and more, visit COMPANIONnet [http://www.companionnet.com]

A Few Guidelines to Remember When Bringing Pets For Your Kids

All kids love pets and they want to make them a part of their family. But when thinking about bringing pets it is very necessary to keep certain things in mind. The parents are worried about the safety and also how to handle them. So in this article we will know some of the most important things to do while getting a pet for your kids.

Things To Keep In Mind

Here are a few things which must be paid attention to. These are explained below.

1. The Type Of Pets For Kids

The foremost thing to understand is the size of the pet. Start from buying till caring, you need to know about all the expenses. It is not at all easy to handle a small pet. Also if you have a small house you cannot afford to bring a big pet. Therefore one has to ponder over such matters. If suppose you go out on vacations then who will take the responsibility and care for the pet. So if you are bringing a pet you have to think of all the related issues.

2. The Space Required

It is a very important point because it all depends upon the size of the pet that you wish to get for your kids. If you don't have enough space then you cannot bring a big pet. As the pets require space to accommodate them so you must get pets which can easily be adjusted in your family.

3. Time For Your Pet

Sometimes it is seen that some families do not have enough time to spend with their pets. It is because of the simple reason that they are working and so cannot devote time towards their pet. It is important that you care about him like feeding him at proper intervals, taking him for a walk, cleaning and vaccinations, regular check ups etc.

4. Effects On Family And Neighbors

When a pet is brought home it make take sometime to adjust to the atmosphere. While their may be some who make noise thus causing disturbance to you and your neighbors. There are some who bark a lot and become a source of problem for the neighbors so it is essential that you bring a pet that is nice and well behaved.

5. Source Of Fun For Kids

Pets are very entertaining especially when small kids are there. Even the kids enjoy the company of pets. It is fun filled experience for kids to have the company of pets. Feeding them and playing with them is greatly enjoyed by kids.

So these were some of the things that must be kept in mind while getting a pet for your kids and family.

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