Can Crayfish Live Together in the Same Tank?

If you are asking yourself, "can crayfish live together?" Well, the answer is going to be a big fat, "it depends."

There are so many factors that come into play with pet crayfish. Trust me, I've owned several crayfish over the past few years. I've owned two electric blue crayfish and one albino crayfish that probably could have killed a small dog.

First off, how big of a tank are you planning on using to keep your crayfish in? If you plan on using a ten gallon fish tank for more than one crayfish, personally I'd say that's not a good decision. One of my crayfish fought to the death with another one of my crayfish while living in a ten gallon tank. Yes, they got along perfectly for a while, but eventually it came to claws, and these guys went at it, hard.

I remember walking in from work one day to see that my blue crayfish had been eaten by my albino crayfish. There were tiny blue pieces of my crayfish throughout the tank. It was not pretty, but that's nature sometimes.

Personally, if you plan on having more than one crayfish, I'd recommend at least a twenty gallon fish tank with lots of hiding spaces, or hideouts. Crayfish like being able to hide out. And being able to hide out is especially important when they are molting. Because when they molt, they become weak and are more susceptible to attacks by both crayfish and other fish.

I'd also recommended keeping your crayfish fed. Now, I do not mean in any way to over-feed your crayfish. Crayfish already dirty the tank up enough as it is and over-feeding them will only make it worse. So do not overfeed these little guys.

Just remember, crayfish are scavengers and they are extremely aggressive. They are omnivores. They love to eat anything they can get their claws on. Because of their nature, there's pretty much no guarantee that they will not catch and eat another crayfish in your tank. Having said that, try to find fish that are aggressive, swim near the top of the tank and/or swim fast if you are looking for tank mates for your crayfish. These types of fish will have the best opportunity at surviving.

Explore The History of Tortoises

We see giant tortoises at the zoo and we know that many people keep tortoises as pets, even the larger breeds. When we hear about the history or tortoises, we seem to understand that these are extremely ancient animals that have been around long before the humans that keep them captive and will probably be here long after we are gone. This detail alone makes the tortoise such a fascinating animal to study and observe. Today, we know that they feel at home both on land and in water, for the most part. We know what they look like: stubby legs, slow-moving, hard shell, etc. But what have tortoises really been through in their millions of years in existence? That's what we're here to find out.

Let's start at the beginning. During the times of evolution, tortoises were among the species that partially made their way out of the water and went back and forth between land and sea throughout their evolution. Exclusively marine tortoises went extinct about 200 million years ago but the traces of turtles as we know it remain. During the Triassic Period, we see the body of the tortoise take its familiar form. From here on out, the body remains largely unchanged.

Although the evolution of the turtle can be an easy one to follow, unlike the snake's for example, there are still missing links and the expected gigantism of most prehistoric animals during the mesozoic and cenozoic eras. Can you imagine a giant tortoise roaming around, eating equally giant plants? Paleontologists can't seem to pinpoint the exact prehistoric family that modern turtles evolved from, but they can say with confidence that it was not the placodonts, as was previously considered.

Historically, tortoises have had an influence in certain religions. In Hinduism, Vishnu is half-man, half-tortoise and sat at the bottom of the ocean floor after a great mythical flood. In Ancient Greece, the tortoise is a symbol for the Greek God, Hermes. In Ancient China, turtle shells were used to make their predictions.

Today, you can find tortoises living in different parts of the world, growing to different sizes and showing different colors and patterns. The Galapagos Islands are home to giant tortoises and are said to have arrived there about 3 million years ago. One of the most impressive things about these turtles is their ability to survive without food or water for up to a year. Unfortunately, this couldn't save the majority of the population from near extinction. Whalers and buccaneers stored them as food on long voyages, and they were used for their oil to light lamps. Today, only about 25,000 wild tortoises live on the islands. Luckily, there are conservation efforts to preserve these herbivores from human intervention and other factors that have added to their decline.

In the U.S. people are generally fond of tortoises. Many see them as a the perfect pet since they're relatively low maintenance. They hibernate in the winter until around April, eat a regular and simple diet, and don't really need any training or walking. Caring for a tortoise is usually emphasized by having the right environment and diet. It's been observed that they enjoy human contact, although they're not very social animals. If they're kept with other tortoises, they can get aggressive but not with any major injuries. They like to burrow and will try to dig under any walls or fences so be sure to secure any enclosure.

Find a Tortoise for Sale

You can find a tortoise for sale just about anywhere these days. There are popular tortoises, like the Russian Tortoise and the Red Footed Tortoise, available in exotic pet stores and can also be found online. Before purchasing a tortoise, be sure to research the breed and its specific needs regarding lighting, temperature, and habitat. Knowing the evolution and history of tortoises, doesn't mean you know everything about modern tortoises. Educate yourself about how to care for a tortoise properly so you can make sure you're ready to handle the responsibility that comes with owning such an ancient animal.

Cockatiels Are Not For Everyone - Here's Why

1. Birds need physical stimulation, too.

Some people buy birds because, in their eyes, they are easier to care for than for a cat or a dog. The dog needs to go outside and get plenty of exercise, the cat needs her space and birds just sit in a cage, right?

Wrong! Birds normally fly, that's how they live in the wild. And the cockatiel, even though he is a small bird, will need plenty of exercise. That means he need a spacious cage and some out-of-the-cage time every day. That means you will have to have some patience while he's circling around in the room and please, please leave the windows and the doors closed while he's busy doing that. The bird has to be supervised for the whole time while he's enjoying his exercise, because he might fall behind furniture and injure himself.

2. Your 'tiel has emotional needs too.

Cockatiels are social birds, they live amongst a flock and tend to not do so well alone. If you plan to acquire one bird, be aware of the fact that cockatiels have the emotional intelligence of a 2-year old human- that means he's needy!

You will need to spend at least two hours everyday with your pet. That doesn't mean you will have to hang with him for two hours, but at least be in close proximity to him for that amount of time, he will try to interact with you and communicate you his needs. You can listen to music, or read to him aloud or just talk to him. The bird will like to perch on you and watch you doing your chores or just chill.

If you are a busy person, that gets home late from work, eats on the run while watching the latest on Netflix and then heads to bed, then you'll have a really depressed cockatiel, with behaviour problems and eventually health problems.

3. They tend to live for a long time.

If taken care of properly, cockatiels can reach up to 14 years. That's a long time. Take into consideration that the cockatiel will really bond with you and will have problems adapting to a new environment and to a new human. If you can't commit to take care for a bird for at least 7-10 years, than just don't buy it. Buy a cute, small mouse.

4. They do have behavior problems.

Cockatiels like to sing and vocalize, will attempt to communicate with the birds outside and like any other bird, will be especially noisy in the mornings and in the evenings. But I had my Chico for 4 years already and my neighbours didn't suspect I had a bird in my house.

But if they are not stimulated enough or do not have a routine, you might find yourself with a screaming bird. The bored cockatiel, that doesn't get the attention he needs will attempt to get it by being really loud. And if you do not react properly, this behaviour will intensify and will be really hard to unlearn.

So, if you like your peace and quiet, get a cat. If you do not have the patience nor the time necessary to stimulate your bird, get a fish. It's better for everyone.

5. They need a specialized vet.

Taking care of the cockatiels is an easy job, but you will have to closely watch his appetite, his water intake and to make sure he has a variety of foods in his diet. Cockatiels are birds of prey so they will try to hide the fact they are ill until they can't do so anymore. You will need to become an expert at your bird's behaviour, closely watching his patterns and also his droppings, as they can tell a lot of your birds' health.

If he gets ill, you will need to find a doctor that has some experience with treating exotic pets, while most of the vets are specialised in treating dogs and cats.

6. They are fragile birds.

When it comes to the environment, cockatiels are really sensitive. They enjoy a routine - lights on/out at specific hours, they enjoy a consistency and they don't really like change. Actually, they are frightened by it. So they need someone that can maintain an order and a consistency for long periods of time.

Also, they are fragile birds, they sometimes have night frights and will need your immediate attention otherwise they might injure themselves.

They are not well suited for small children. They are beautiful, sometimes majestic and very friendly- perfect target for children- but they are to be handled with care, so they are better suited with older children. So keep that in mind when buying one.

If you can manage all of the above you should know that cockatiels are great companions, they are kind and quirky and sometimes empathetic, really nice to watch and can entertain you and your guests with beautiful songs and vocalizations. If taken care of properly, your bird will become your best friend.

Monkey Business: Is A Monkey The Right Pet For You?

Monkey Business...

As a young teen living on the West Coast of Florida I was like a fish out of water. I moved there from New York with my parents. There were many things that took some getting used to and I was not a fan of the heat or bugs. Whoever invented air conditioning has my eternal gratitude! Then there were things that helped me tolerate any negatives. The casual lifestyle and dress, the beaches and the fishing to name a few. One the things I really loved about Florida was that it lacked many of the rules and restrictions that East Coasters were and still are cursed with today. Even in the early 1970s you could not walk into a NYC or Long Island pet shop and purchase a monkey. However, you could do that in Florida.

Before the government decided that they would make all the decisions for us, there was a time you could decide many things for yourself. That included what type of pet you might want to purchase or adopt. Sadly, there were some people who spoiled that for honest, sincere and thoughtful pet owners... People who left their dogs perpetually tied to a tree, kept an alligator in the pool, had a tiger in their apartment or used their home as an animal rescue center keeping hundreds of poorly fed cats in a totally unacceptable environment... Now I am not saying that there should not be laws against keeping certain types of wild or exotic animals as pets. What I want to point out is if the government is forbidding people from owning animals because they are endangered or in the opinion of some "expert" might be psychologically damaged by living with people... Then they are barking up the wrong tree.

As a fourteen year old boy I walked into a Florida pet shop and saw a squirrel monkey languishing in a small cage. This was not a case of neglect or abuse. This type of thing is often done by pet stores as a hook to get you to buy one of their more pricey or hard to sell selections. So said my dad and he was correct. Another week went by and the monkey was still there when I returned. At $25 it did not cost a fortune and that price meant the store wanted it gone. It was a time when few tourists were in town and that made it harder to sell. Most locals were older and did not want the hassle of keeping a Primate as a pet. Besides, the monkey was not good at self promotion. It had barely been weaned when someone took it from its mother, gave it some shots and sold it to the pet store for resale. As a result the animal was shy, skiddish and frightened.

I went to the local library and did some research on squirrel monkeys before I finally purchased him two weeks after my first visit to the pet shop. My parents were good with my purchase because I had always been a responsible pet owner having had a dog, birds and guinea pigs. The dog died before we moved. The other pets were adopted to neighbors who already knew and liked them because it was just not possible to bring them along. I named my monkey Sam and brought him home to a large cage that we kept in a Florida Room with jalousied windows on the side of our house. It faced an unused lot that was overgrown and looked like a jungle. That room could be cut off from A/C if necessary, but was heated for the short period of time that our area experienced any chilly weather.

Squirrel Monkeys are easy to feed, not very expensive to keep and not hard to train if you train them to do things they enjoy doing. However, they require a lot of companionship and mental stimulation. Fortunately, Sam liked me. He tried to bite me at first so I pinched him a few times until he learned not to be so aggressive. This was only possible because I got him so young. I also put him in his cage when he misbehaved. The idea was to use conditioning and repetitive discipline as tools to have the animal behave. I was the head of this primate group, not him. I was the provider of food, water and shelter. Once he figured all this out he learned faster. In the beginning I used a leash. After a few months it wasn't necessary. He was allowed to roam freely under our supervision and even played outside while we had barbeques or went in our pool. He used the empty lot next store as an exercise yard climbing the trees and chasing birds and squirrels. He also used it as a potty so I guess you could say he was potty trained for the most part.

Dogs and monkeys are sworn enemies. You can't really have both without stressing out one or both pets. In reality Monkeys are jealous. I strongly suggest that if you plan on owning a monkey of this type you avoid having other pets. Most Monkeys that are not well trained or kindly treated will likely get mean or moody as they transition to adulthood. Constantly caged monkeys will pee on you or throw feces at you. They may also attack you or destroy things they see are important to you if given the opportunity.

As a rule Monkeys are smart. They learn fast and are great escape artists. That is why training is important. I always left Sam's cage door open once he was trained. I did close the doors to that room. He learned to close or open his cage door as it suited him. After a while he learned how to open and close all the doors that lead to the back yard so he could go outside to play or do his business. But he would never go unless one of us gave him our permission. Doors to his room were padlocked when we went out without him.

Owning a squirrel monkey is easy and hard... satisfying and frustrating... fun and annoying... but it is ethical? Is it detrimental to the animal? You will have to decide for yourself unless your city or state has already done that for you. The truth is that people are going to own monkeys regardless. In China it's illegal, but thousands of Chinese own "Pocket Monkees" which are usually purchased as baby Pygmy Mamosets, Capuchins or Resus Monkeys. They do not treat them well. They tie their arms so they will learn to practice walking on twos instead of all fours which is painful and unnatural for them. They shave off their fur and dress them in clothes. You get the picture. These animals are status symbols in China where most authorities look the other way and ignore the rich and important people who own them. However, if they or responsible pet owners did not buy the monkeys they would be sold to research labs and condemned to a life spent being subjected to physically or emotionally damaging experiments while living in a tiny cage devoid of love or companionship.

Each year tens of thousands of monkeys are shipped to research facilities worldwide and many orders for more from these same torture centers remain unfilled. Given that fact it is hard to be concerned about the morality of owning a monkey as a pet compared to the same animal ending up as a lab rat. Most people I know who have owned a monkey did not mistreat it, or shave it, or beat or keep it in an improper environment. Once again, if you have the legal right to own one, you have to decide if it is something you should do or not. Before you do anything, do lots of research and buy from a reputable breeder if you decide a monkey is the right pet for you. No more $25 prices. You will spend $3000-$6000 depending on the type of monkey you choose. Most people prefer the Capuchins for their ability to learn tricks and behaviors. If tiny is your plan Pygmy Marmosets are finger sized as babies and hand sized as adults. Squirrel and Spider Monkeys require more time and effort than most people care to invest in a pet.

Bill Knell is a popular Speaker, Author, Writer and Researcher. Although his work covers many diverse topics, he is best known as a Paranormal Researcher with over forty years of experience investigating UFOs and other Paranormal Mysteries. Bill has authored hundreds of articles, written several books and presented over 2000 seminars on Paranormal Phenomenon in the USA and Canada since the 1970s. He has appeared on popular TV shows like Hard Copy, A Current Affair, 20/20 and been a guest on CNN, Headline News, Fox News, CBC News, BBC News, PBS and other major Networks. Bill hosted a popular cable TV show in the NYC area sponsored by Time/Life that regularly beat the network news broadcasts in ratings and was nominated for an Emmy. Considered a UFO Expert by the media, Bill was a consultant to a number of films and TV productions including Independence Day, Men In Black, War Of The World's, The Fifth Element, Fire In the Sky and The X Files.