How to choose a cage for domestic birds?

The bird lived for a time in the cage, is accustomed to people and ceases to be shy. It ceases to look for food, getting it ready, and most importantly, loses the ability to be alert. Issued from the cells of birds often become victims of predators, fall under the wheels of cars and simply die of hunger. Therefore, a man who has decided to take the bird to his home, must remember that it takes the whole "bird" life.

Cell shape and size depend on to what bird they are and for what purpose you intend to keep it. Males songbirds kept separately in small cell, which makes it possible to fully enjoy their singing.
Canary or goldfinches and other songbirds small size of the cells contain a length of 50 cm, height 35 cm and a width of 30 cm with a starling-sized bird cage needed a little more - the length of the cell must be at least 70 cm, height - 60, width - 40 cm . cage for a parrot, for example, Grays, or Amazon, even more - the length and height of 80 cm, width 55 cm

Avoid small birds placed in a large cage. In such a cage bird feels uncomfortable, little singing, itself reduces the size of his home, holding only a small part of it. You can not put the birds in too small for these cells, in which the birds or sit motionless on a perch, so that get fatter and die quickly, or because of the narrowness break their feathers on the tail and wings.
The form of the cells is also important. The most practical rectangular cells, with no protrusions, often with flat top, with the exception of cells for Klestov, which is recommended to put in a cage with a domed top. Architectural excess cells not only make it difficult to clean, but also contribute to the reproduction of blood-sucking arthropods.

It is also a place for the cell. Most importantly - enough sunlight and lack of drafts. Is a suitable place at the side or opposite the window wall of the room to the sun's rays shining on her 2-3 hours a day. Do not install a cage on the window sill to avoid overheating and cold bird!

Cells of larger sizes - cages used for group content of small birds. The optimum size of cages - 80 cm by 35 cm by 35 cm are kept young birds that require a lot of movement to strengthen the muscles. In the cages can be propagated small songbirds and small parrots, putting them back in pairs.

To produce cells use different materials - wood, plastic, metal, organic and silicate glass. Twigs cells made of stainless or galvanized wire, or bamboo. For birds, splitting the wooden parts of the cells with their powerful beaks - parrots, crossbill and others, better to use metal cage. There are cells of the so-called box-type, in which only one side covered with netting or twigs, and others - solid, made of Plexiglas or opaque materials. Box feeders cells, set on one another, form a bird's wardrobe, they are suitable for breeding birds, as well as in teaching young canaries in the shade of the curtains open. In cells with a soft-top contain larks and some other insectivorous birds, which are in strong fear tend to take off vertically and in an ordinary cell can get hurt badly.

The bottom of the cage, pallet, must be rising. He poured out on the big river sand, washed from the dust and debris, and calcined in the fire or in the oven. Pallet better make of galvanized iron.

In each cell must be placed perches, whose diameter should be almost equal to the coverage fingers feet. Perches need to have at such a distance from each other, so that birds can easily jump from one to another, barely flapping their wings, and that while on a perch, not contaminated by their faeces food and water, as well as the tail of each other. The number of perches depends on destination cell. For land birds, such as a lark, perches are not necessary, you can replace them with hemp or bumps.

Finally, let me say goodbye to the next part. To be continued! Good luck to you, dear, Dear Readers!

Dmitry Kolpakov
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How the animals were in the dock?

As we know, many people advocate the protection of animals.

French actress Brigitte Bardot intervened for the Australian kangaroo, whose meat is sold as dog food, and for harp seals, which are slaughtered because of the durable fur.

She appealed to the government of different countries to ban the export of elephant tusks and ivory, because African elephants on the verge of extinction.

Brigitte Bardot is fighting against the extermination of animals in laboratories for research purposes. To successfully influence public opinion, she sold her dresses and jewels, and set up some money to fund the rescue of animals.

For some poets, artists, musicians, animals were muse. Italian poet, Nobel laureate in 1975 in literature Eugenio Montale titled his collection of poems "Pantsir cuttlefish. In his poetry of nature - this background and character. He admires the singing of the hoopoe and its beauty.

Deer, mountain goats, rabbits, cheetahs, sharks, crabs, corals, sea ruffs, eels and cod served as models of the XVI century Italian painter Arcimboldo. He depicted the human head, made up of dozens of animals, linked together.

Many saints have been friends with the animals. Seraphim of Sarov fed with his hands an enormous bear. St. Francis of Assisi not only listened to the singing nightingales, and talked with wolves and flowers, with stars and crickets.

For many people, farm animals - are symbols. Lion - the king of beasts, the horse - the holy son of the god Poseidon, the ruler of the seas. Indians in America worshiped bison and coyotes. For the Greeks the butterfly was the way the human soul.

Do you know that in the past, many animals were arrested and tried in the present? In 1386 in France to the death penalty for murder was sentenced pig.

There was a medieval custom to throw off the bell cats. It was felt that way exorcise, which moved into these gentle animals.

Even worse: once the swallows prosecuted for violation of silence in the church, a rooster - a fact that the egg hatched, and the family of mice - for the destruction of the crop of barley. However, in rodents was a good lawyer. He won the case, arguing that their action was caused by the vital necessity - hunger.

In 1985, one of the towns in the province of Abruzzo, which is located in Italy, a judge ordered the detention of a starling.

Bird was accused of violating the afternoon rest people. After several days' imprisonment he was released, but with the condition to leave the lane, where it caused a lot of noise.

I wonder why none of the offenders spat llama or camel has not filed a claim for recovery from these animals for moral damage?

Literature: André Bertino and Fred Val, "366 ... and even more stories about animals."

Olga Cereals
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

Do I need to keep in the house more than one cat?

You know the situation where half-starved kitten begging in the house? And you let ... And again. Then he picked up, then you "tossed", and then ... Friends, neighbors, strangers everywhere already tell that you have a good heart. For the first foundlings followed thrown out, which have become obsolete, uneven adolescent kittens which have not been on time owner, and as long as you do not say "no", you have collected an army of cats.

Here's another situation. You have a pretty ordinary cat, but you wanted to have a pedigree. First you decide on one. Then another one, and you covered fever breeding cats. Buying a cat, and the temptation to raise the offspring of the elite, and you can not part with the beautiful young stock until then, until it becomes so much that you frantically start looking for new owners.

So, the question "How many cats in the house - not too much?", As a rule, impossible to give a clear, unequivocal answer. But there are points of departure, found "cats owners" and fanatical fans, with someone, often, alas, bitter experience should meet. Experienced veterinarians agree to these terms.

Do not take the cats more than you have hands to caress them. For cats, this procedure is very important. In England, where very kind to these animals, there is even a saying: "If a cat is not iron, it will dry the marrow. Of course, the British did not give the literal meaning of this proverb, but it speaks eloquently of the need for petting a cat.

Each of your comrades in housing may form around itself a zone of "taboo" - a mini-site, which will bypass the other cats.

For the normal physical and mental development of each cat requires no less than five square meters of "homeownership."

Under no circumstances do not allow ourselves to persuade to open an "animal shelter" if this does not allow your wallet.

If you intend to share life with not one, but with a couple or a "quartet" cats, it is better to take them all at once.

Sisters and brothers of one litter, who grew up together, as a rule, get along with each other throughout their lives.

Prove that neutered cats are more tolerant of the "brand new", but in relation to the kittens, they often assume the role of "mother" and acquaint young people with a home schedule. Well they are friends with a cat-ladies.

In contrast, cats jealously defend their right of primacy and graciously accept only the young animal, which subsequently will always play "second fiddle".

In order to teach each other the two whimsical opinionated females, requires experience and a subtle flair. And even if it succeeds, it may happen that for one of the two you have to find new owners. Because, if after three weeks of home world still is not adjusted, there is the threat of a long war, causing stress not only cats.

The same can be said about cats. If the month feud to an end, to try to separate the two bullies.

Hygiene of housing could not speak. It goes without saying. Each animal must have its own bathroom (a box, tray, and so on). In someone else's "pot" no representative of those self-centered animals will not go. And you'll toil with broken furniture and flooring.

Ideally, cats, especially long-haired, need daily brushing. Change the litter as pollution wool. So, you know, if you are unable to meet the listed essential requirements for cats, think: "And if you need general starts a pet?".

Tatiana Shuvaeva
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

What to do if you suddenly lost a friend?

Do not sigh in disappointment, but it goes not about people but about domestic animals. As they say in medicine: prevention is better than cure it. It is quite appropriate this wisdom. Therefore, for a walk better show dogs with leash and collar, is attached to the plate with the nickname of an animal, your address and phone number.

Cats to walk, too, will not prevent hoist on his neck just such a medallion, of course, if you really care about the welfare of your pet. In my experience, that it is not easy (especially if the cat is not accustomed from childhood to the collar). But after some time it will cease to be angry at you. Yes, and you can praise himself for caution when delivered to the address of your entangled revelers.

So, we go further. Do not tie a dog in offices, shops and other places that you need to visit. Try not to combine walking the dog, and business interests. But if not do without it, try not to let the dog out of sight.

Do not flatter yourself, believing that your dog - fierce guard. For the experienced hunter (if I se the kindergarten your dog) to divert even a vigilant dog - matter of a few minutes. In addition, many pets, especially in large cities, distrust of outsiders are not different.

But if precautions have not helped, and the animal is lost? Logically without losing a minute to begin the search, give a notice in newspapers, since it is permissible - stuck them in place of the alleged loss, seek to support the station caught animals. If you have a solid reason to believe the theft happened, please a written application to the nearest police station, demanding that a criminal proceeding.

In the language of our law, no matter how blasphemous it sounds, the dog (and cat, of course!) Is a private property owner. And the Act declares the protection of the state personal property of citizens. For theft, "that is the secret theft of another's property, the perpetrators are liable under Article 158 of the Criminal Code.

There have been cases where dogs were kidnapped, snatching from the hands of young and elderly owners leashes. And it is - robbery (Article 161 of the Criminal Code), or robbery (Article 162), when the abduction is connected with violence, dangerous to the health and lives of victims. Penalty on these items is deprivation of liberty.

Thus, the theft was not just strangers find lost animals and require you to pay? Then comes into force the Civil Code of Russia, under which the finder is not entitled to claim compensation from the owner, "if the finder of the animal is not announced his discovery, or tried to conceal it." In this case, it will only reimbursement for the maintenance of a pet and the search for its owner, if they were difficult (Article 232 Civil Code).

How much in monetary terms? Please: "A person detained neglected animals, is entitled to a reward of up to twenty percent of the value of the animal. If you found the animal is of value only to the former owner, the amount of remuneration determined by agreement of the parties." The cost of the animal can be determined based on the size of the market price, it rocks.

It also happens that you have found a missing friend, but he lives with other people. Do you have the right to take him back? The Civil Code says that if you have found no attempt to find you (and it must be recorded by the police or the mayor's office statement of the detention neglected animals) and that had not yet been six months since the discovery of your friend (the starting point - the time of filing of the same statement ), then you may pick up your dog (or cat).

So it turns out that six months after receipt of the police or the municipality a statement about the discovery of an animal, it will become the property of others, and you will be very difficult to take him back. True, you can try to prove in court that your friend still loves you or the new owners are not good enough.

In legal terms it sounds like: "the previous owner has the right under the circumstances, evidence of the preservation in it by ... (the animal) ... affection or ill or mistreatment of his new owner, to demand their return to the conditions determined by agreement with the new owner, and if it is impossible to reach an agreement - the court. "

And what happened? This song is good, start again. Returned to where to start. The conclusion seems perfectly logical: not to part with loved ones!

Tatiana Shuvaeva
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How to care for your dog?

"Beauty will save the world. We all know this is a great saying. Beauty will save you and our dogs from ill-will, and sometimes anger others, will help win favorable to them.

And how often at exhibitions and freeze, we delight: Here is a posture, gait, exterior, and shiny coat, and commands!

But we should not forget that beautiful dog - this is, above all, a healthy dog. And this dog needs daily care, attention, proper feeding, veterinary surgeon systematic consultation.

But what kind of dog can be considered beautiful? This question is not easy, and unambiguous answer to this question is no.Hounds, greyhounds, nark should be thin, lean body, as St. Bernard or newfoundler should look heavy and unwieldy. Beauty mastiff, boxer - in a short shiny coat, and the terrier must have a tight curly hair, wearing a beard and mustache. In short, the concept of beauty in general, and the dog in particular, is very difficult to admit a lot of interpretations, and relies solely on general and individual tastes. And for them, as you know, do not argue!

Wool

Wool in dogs varies, in different ways and have to take care of her. Probably the least hassle from the owners haired dogs.

Boxers, Great Danes, Dobermans, Rottweilers, and mongrels with short hair enough times in three days of brushing, not soft and not rigid, like a wardrobe. However, if the hair is very dirty, you can take and a hard brush, but its use must be carefully so as not to scratch the skin of the dog. Even if the dog seems to you very clean, not too lazy to take 10-15 minutes in the hands of a brush. This procedure is useful not only for wool, it provides an opportunity to massage the skin, increase blood flow to it.

By the way, now almost all have vacuum cleaners, and cleaning the apartment a good idea at the same time a little vacuumed the dog. However, her first reaction to such cleaning is not always positive, but this is only the beginning. Then, as a rule, the dog gets used to this procedure and even asked to be cleaned this way!

More trouble for owners of dogs with hair of medium length and long-haired: shepherds, huskies, collies, setters. Here, in addition to vacuuming, you need a thick ridge. Generally, the more you comb the hair, the better, but in the molting period is a must do every day. Incidentally, some amateur breeders do not emit a soft, combed wool, and gathered it, spun and then knitted warm mittens, hats, socks, sweaters. They say that things are out of this wool help with radiculitis and are the warmest.

Washing

Do I need to wash your dog? It is necessary, only very rarely. They washed the dog with warm water and soap or a neutral shampoo.

In winter, dogs love to roll about in the snow, and themselves this good clean their skin. And those dogs who do not like the snow bath, you can while walking to wipe clean the snow. Summer dog usually does not miss a chance to splash in a pond or river, he does well enough.

The sad fate of some light-fluffy dogs, especially lapdogs. The owners have even wash their pets almost every day, so even with soap and water. Hair from the immoderate bathing lose fat cover, become fragile and brittle. After washing the dog should be groomed.

Nose .

Over the nose of healthy dog care is not necessary. I awake dog, he is cold and slightly humid, and during sleep - a little warm. Some breeders believe that the tip of the nose can determine the temperature of the diseased animal. But better not to overestimate its sensitivity, put dog ordinary thermometer. If the temperature of the dogs are not above 39 degrees, do not worry.

Let your pets be healthy!

Dmitry Kolpakov
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

Stray dogs: shoot or sterilized?

Figures do not lie. Calculate how many people you bark furiously, and how many dogs!
"Pshekruy" - Polish magazine.


The problem of stray animals acute in many cities of Russia. Hundreds of reports of attacks and the loci for the year, and their number is growing. The problem is exacerbated, but authorities do not solve it. Sterilization program has not brought the expected results. So where mutts are taken and who is actually bites people?

In the cities a growing number of abandoned animals. Home emit not only cats but dogs of various breeds (including "of fighting"). Coordinator of the Moscow city search service animals Svetlana Badunova confirms that the basis of a lot of purebred dogs and cats. In Moscow alone on the streets of the city inhabited by about 30 thousands of stray animals.

"To say that the bites are responsible for all the homeless, which like" all the dogs to hang, it would not be true. According to our estimation - about 2%, - said Konstantin Sabinin, project manager of the Center for Animal Rights Protection "Vita".
"... 78% have grabbed at home, owners' dogs. The leaders of the attacks American Staffordshire terrier, pit bull, Rottweilers, bull terriers "- says Nemsadze Vakhtang Pankratevich, chief pediatric surgeon in Moscow.

Aggressive dog breeds - a separate and serious issue. The man brought them up himself for the amusement: for fighting and harassment. Now the acquisition of such an animal - a tribute to fashion. However, these "gladiators" are not to blame, that they made a formidable fighter with a strong jaw and a stranglehold. They are just victims of human experimentation. Consequently, the responsibility for the conduct and consequences of the actions of these serious dog lies on the person on the host.

As mongrels, then the first stray dog appeared, when it threw the man on the street. Children of those most, once exposed to the door pets - now mixed collie, mixed taxes and other "MUTANTS", running through the streets of cities. Uncontrolled breeding of animals is a major factor in the emergence of "nobility." Factory shaft spawn a huge number of animals. Offer exceeds demand. Notorious prestige of doing his job, leaving the last chance of the usual "no breed" find the dog house. "The Forgotten" in the country, "dropped out" of the machines and just lost animals also joined the army of street quadrupeds.

Very often people provoked the aggression of animals - will kick one leg, the child is hit with a stick, taking the example of the mother, the other will strangle puppies. This and every home like a dog. It affects a large number of irresponsible owners of animals.
"Since the majority of owners in Russia produced their dogs for a walk without a muzzle, leash and, at times, generally without their support. Determine ownership of such a dog is difficult. Boss, walking near distance, fearing tragedy committed by his dog, without revealing his connection with it, hiding from the crime scene ", - says Konstantin Sabinin from the Center" Vita ".

The situation is tense in the society to the limit. People are ready to take up arms. The authorities have already announced nearly insolvency sterilization program. But officials do not want to really understand where they are going budget money. As explained by Ilya Bluvshtein, assistant deputy IY Nowicki: "... there is an imitation, registration. Sterilized one dog, and write that sterilized, five or seven. "

According to biologists and veterinarians that the program has earned for real, one-time fee to sterilize more than 80% of stray animals. ZooDefenders sure that the state should take control of breeding dogs and cats. Before long, day and night working factory machine (nurseries, Flats, markets), this whole factory shaft, which supplies more and more new animals - any action will have the character of Sisyphean labor.

"We need only examine the experience of Western countries, where the problem of stray animals has been solved in two steps. We must understand the root cause of the problem, because the fight with the investigation completely ineffective. The first step - the state should take control of breeding animals. The second step - to promote pristroystvo animals from shelters ", - says Irina Novozhilov, president of the Center" Vita ".

While officials will postpone the problem, former knackery inefficient practices continue to capture animals cruel methods (in the eyes of the children by arranging massacre) and receive budget money from the pockets bitten by the Russians. "Bad is not politics, terrible performance! For decades in this country practiced method of killing, which yielded no results. This method is inefficient, not to mention the fact that this blatant cruelty "- says Ilya Bluvshtein.

Maria Moscow
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

Is it true that the three-color CATS does not exists?

Nature never ceases to amaze mankind its riddles. Why caterpillar "trying on" a cocoon, a chameleon changes color, and the bees build their "state"? It seems to be these phenomena have long been studied and scientifically explained, but not everyone knows the reasons behind them.

Genetics, in the opinion of many, and there is a dark forest, impenetrable jungle of science. We all learned a little, that there are genes that are added to some amazing sequences form a unique and almost predictable combinations, just as different types of beads can produce original and delightfully different decorations. It turns out that a common mechanism of inheritance to us about the sign, but more narrow aspects of it, subtlety and cunning little known. For example, you probably have heard that three-colored cats in nature does not exist. What lies at the basis of this fact? How to explain such oddities Mrs. Genetics?

"Before contrive discussion, agree on terms", - said YM Lotman. So let's just note that a household name "tricolor cat" shall mean the cat (but not the cat), tortoiseshell color, ie color, which combines black and red (red), or black, red and white.

It is widely known statement of non-existent tortoise cats only half true. For such individuals still born, though very rarely. Most of them are sterile, that is deprived of the possibility of procreation.

The fact that genes are the basic colors of cats - black and red, are located in the same locus (fixed location of the gene within the chromosome) on the X chromosome, which have both sexes. The cat, having a set of XX can be red, black or tortoise-shell (ie, having a red and black). Cote same, the owner of HU, may have either a black or red color. Schematically it looks like this:

XX - female (two X chromosomes, the possible combinations: red, black, tortoiseshell);
XY - male (one X chromosome, the possible combinations: red, black).

Assume that the red color gene is denoted by Latin letter O, and the gene black - B, and depicted one of the options inheritance tortoiseshell color:

Black Cat (XB XB) + red male (XO Y) = 50% tortoise cats (XB XO), 50% of black cats (XB Y).

It turned out that the kittens are male "have" color of the mother. The same situation is observed in the case of the offspring from a pair of "red cat and a black cat": perhaps the birth tortoise cats and red seals. Here arises a tricky conclusion: genes, localized on the X chromosome and have no opportunity to "consolidate" in the Y-chromosome, passed from mother to son.

Chinese folk wisdom says: if one day you do not learn anything new, you lived through the day in vain. I hope your "today" you will not have wasted?

Anna Cat
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How to behave when meeting with a snake?

On the territory of the CIS live about 55 species of snakes. Dangerous to humans are only a viper, virtually all of their varieties, as well as EFA, cottonmouth, viper and cobra. Snakes, Coronella and snakes are not poisonous glands and therefore they are totally harmless.

Myths . It is only in Hollywood giant anaconda falsely persecuted indiscriminately all Americans. Snake never attack FIRST! This is a very peaceful and beautiful inhabitants of our planet. «Lightning throws» (cobra, for example). Remember Kipling. There mongoose quite successfully resisted the snake. By the way, our ferrets - too nimble "guys", and also not averse to hunt for snakes. And "rapid shot" a viper is not more than typically a quarter of its length that is equal to only 15-25 centimeters.

conflict between the snake and man , as a rule, there is the fault of man. Snake bite only in self-defense, if it stepped on or caught unawares. To this did not happen, you need to follow some very simple rules. If you see a snake, do not try to catch her, harass or kill (for what? "Only for what you are afraid of it?), And she quietly hiding. Try not to move silently - heard your steps, the snake go away, but you will not even know that she was nearby.

Who is more at risk of being bitten . Most of such "risk" are the people in the field and in the marshes, because arable and moss-covered ground near marshes muffle footsteps. Snake simply can not hear you. Collectors berries also have a certain percentage of risk because, unlike the mushroom pickers, moving slowly and quietly. There are cases when a serpent crept to the tourists in a tent or sleeping bag to warm up. If you were in this situation, you do not make sudden movements, you have a chance from close range to admire the reptile. A short time later the snake itself go away without causing you absolutely no harm.

If the collision could not be avoided , but it happens. For example, like a viper in sunny weather to bask in the old tree stumps. At this point they are vigilant - you can accidentally frighten her, and then the bite is almost guaranteed. No need to panic: the time and means you have plenty. First, try to understand who you are bitten, because it may be innocuous individual. Poisonous and non-poisonous snakes differ in that poisonous pupil of the eye is vertical and has an elongated shape. We snake on the head two yellow spots.

Symptoms snakebite . The appearance of redness in the area of the bite wound around the large tumor appeared sharply deteriorating health, headache, body temperature rises sharply. In most cases there is vomiting.

What? Most have to bite the extremities, usually the legs, so suck the poison from the wound to reduce intoxication, you can hardly. Moreover, this method is only effective if you use it for one or two seconds after the bite, but the resulting shock and stupor or panic, you take away these precious scraps of time. In such a situation are best tourniquet. Bitten limb should lie motionless, and besides, the victim should be lying down, quiet position, so that the blood circulating in the body as slowly as possible. Also useful to drink a diuretic, tea or tincture, so that part of the poison out of the body naturally. If no diuretic, just drink plenty of water.

Liquor . Not only is not recommended and is strictly forbidden in this situation, because any alcohol dilates vessels, and the poison will be absorbed into the body much more intense.

Generally speaking, if we talk about the viper, they bite, under these simple rules, is not dangerous to human life. In any case, you must contact the medical institution, that you have a shot antitoxic serum.

Output . Do not provoke the conflict, and he was not there!


Vladimir Mao
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

Can fight animals? Elephants.

In the melee - and before the invention of firearms all the war was precisely because of them - is crucial brawn fighter. Therefore, the giant elephant that can easily be enormous gravity, and in a rage - to destroy homes and trees - could not avoid the attention of the military, and was doomed to serve in the ancient armies.

The first "called" elephants under its banners Indians, it happened in the early first millennium BC. Looking ahead, I note that the service is delayed and to this day. However, the combat capabilities of the elephants no one is interested in, but still great demand for live trucks and cranes.

Indian Maharaja chose to fight mobile units, the infantry they were not honored. Most mobile combat unit, of course, at that time was an armed horseman. That's against them, the elephants were extremely effective. Horses and elephants were afraid of panic at the meeting, completely forgetting his "military duty", turned to flight.

The elephant, called for military service was the basis of a small unit of three or four, and in some armies, and up to six people. In the minimal version of the staffing of the unit consisted of sarissofora defending the elephant from the attack of infantry, archer's arrow, and "driver". The latter was sitting on the neck and the other crew members in a lightweight shelter on the back. Alternatively, adding heavy weaponry - darter, or enhances protection - were added to the four infantry unit designed to protect the animal's legs in battle.

Frankly, the effectiveness of shooting from a moving elephant is not very high. To verify this, just ride on elephant back, when he moves unhurried pace. If an elephant is running, then hold "in the saddle" can only an experienced rider, but about the shooting can all forget.

But the main merit of the elephant was not in the armed crew, and in himself, his strength, weight and menacing form. Significantly increased the combat capacity of the animal steel lugs on the tusks and protective armor. A huge curved sword in the trunk further reinforces the impression, and brow-beat, without causing, however, virtually no harm to the enemy.

Indian tactic of elephants eventually copied the tank crews of the Second World War. Elephants were collected in a single fist and placed in the center of troops to break through the defense and break the enemy's system. Success developed infantry and cavalry, coming over the huge animals.

Enemy infantry, the first time, faced with attack by the elephants, initially fled in terror. But the method of combating giants found quite quickly. "Intrigue" was the psychological aspects of giants. They are fairly easy to scare, after which the animal becomes unmanageable, tends to escape and destroy their forces as effectively as the enemy.

Thus, in the Battle of Magnesia Romans used against elephants ... pigs. Plastered them with resin, burned and released on the battlefield. Mad squealing pigs caused panic among the elephants, after which the Roman infantry dobila remnants of enemy troops.

To combat such surprises in Carthage drovers began to equip the hammer and chisel or a long nail. In the event of panic, people had to kill an elephant, slid the chisel in the skull of the animal.

In addition to such "self-killer" and tactical measures taken, the elephants stopped at the center of the constructions, leaving their flanks and behind them, removing all its troops. And gradually, the beginning of a new era, the elephants have almost disappeared from the armies of most countries.

However, in India, they effectively used until the arrival of artillery, and then gradually elephants, men have become a convenient vehicle. In per se as the elephants are in the Indian Army to this day. Their service is regulated, every "war" animal has a passport, and on reaching the age of 65 is sent to "retire" to the conservation and maintenance ration.

As we see in our time, not only for horses, but for elephants military service continues ...

Alex Norkin
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How to act when meeting an unfamiliar dog?

Observing the behavior of the approaching dog, attentive, always able to discern whether he is afraid of the dog is obedience, or demonstrates aggressive intentions. The fact is that as a result of centuries of domestication and selection, the dog began to perceive the man as a let and a very exotic species, but the tribesmen. Therefore, not only shows him all the dog coenobite rituals, but the human reaction and response interprets and perceives mostly from this, purely canine point of view.

Here are the most important "messages":

Submission:
dog certainly recognizes the man a higher hierarchical rank, never come to an unknown man in front, but always on the side. The tail is horizontal or down at half-mast. The muzzle is lowered below the shoulder blades and pulled ahead. Ears lowered and slightly pressed. Lips are stretched and their corners clearly lowered down. Some dogs can sided grin, this kind of smirk. Sight is directed toward the dog. The front legs are like in a half, and back straightened and brought closer to the hock. Most dogs often wag their tail in friendly greeting, but the tail at half-mast, and moves only its distal portion.

Aggression:
The dog approaches as if on tiptoe, his hind legs wide apart and slightly sideways. Tail Zadran and hard immobile or slowly, as if to commit extreme positions, rocking from side to side. The head is pulled forward at the shoulder blades, or slightly raised. Glance is aimed directly at the man in the eye or, for a few moments before the attack, in place of the alleged bite. Ears raised, deployed on a person or a highly pressed. His forehead wrinkled. Lips or compressed, or semicircular bared grin with strongly elevated and wrinkled nose. Dog produces a low threatening growl quietly passing, sometimes in breast gurgle.

what is correct

When meeting with an unfamiliar dog and, especially, with a flock, you must:
Move carefully and, if possible, smoothly. Sharp movement could cause the dog will perceive it as a threat or a signal to attack.
Example:
Hand, sharply raised in greeting, can be interpreted as the beginning of the attacker's movement.
Do not stare, as they say, eye to eye.
Direct view, the "language" carnivorous predators, which include a dog, means being willing, at least for the immediate attack.
And if you "staring" at the alpha male, or simply the highest ranking dog, it will mean that you object to any leadership in the pack, or question the rank of the individual dog.
What is behind this may be followed, to explain, I think is not necessary, since these notes are not written for the fans to "seek adventure in the ..." Hm ... well, let's say, on his head ...
Do not scream and do not try to talk to the dog so-called "command" voice, if you are not significantly determined that before you low rank dog prone to subjugate anyone. Otherwise, if in front of you was the highest ranking person, leader of the pack or just a dog, specially trained not to execute the commands of a stranger, and the result, as they say, it may be, at best, in your pants ... Or, and this also happens in pants ...
Do not run away.
Since the dog's natural instinct is to prosecute, the fleeing man is a goal that you want to catch up and immediately attack.
Standing in a natural position.
Dogs know that people are facing significant rise above them, having, with a dog's point of view, more impressive dimensions and, as a consequence, potentially higher rank. Fallen same person, this rank in the eyes of the dog that loses immediately becomes a convenient target for attack. This applies particularly to surround you with a pack: Here comes into play the so-called instinct finishing stands with its back extraction.

If you are on the way met a single dog is clearly not going to yield you the way, you always have a choice, or "measure up" to her degrees, or, holding between her and a some object, slightly hunched, ie Having known low rank posture, avoid a dog in an arc, trying not to overstep the critical 1,5m distance.

If you must cross the territory of which a flock of urban dogs is committed, or that it (the area adjacent to the markets, metro stations, concentrations of food stalls, especially in night-night time) thought it necessary to protect, this should be done by known djudo principle: " To succumb to defeat ":

Do not hesitate to wait for passengers: mending pants or visit, God forbid, emergency station, it will take you much longer.
Firmly in mind "The great principle Barmaleev" from "Aybolita 66": "Normal heroes - always go to bypass.

But if you're still unable to avoid the "Rendezvous", then:
Try to identify the leader in the pack-leader and determine his intentions
making no sudden movements, stops and turns, change your path so that would circumvent a flock of large smooth arc, not approaching, but not away from it until you'll be on the old "path"
If the pack blocked the way for you - turn half-turned to her (and in any case not back!) - Slowly return to the "original position"
If a flock began to surround you, blocking and cutting way back, gently move the right or left side to the nearest vertical surface (wall, tree, car). Repeat as necessary side-step ladders, remember the "Argentine Tango", the older ones - and the waltz, "Boston" ... And the only shielding his back, you can proceed to active defensive operations. For a start, as soon as loudly and shrilly to appeal for help. Call the police: PPS or PPG (in Moscow) drive up, in such cases, literally within 2-4 minutes.
Do not try unless you're sure that you can use it properly, to bend and lift from the ground, for the defense, some sort of object. Such movement can trigger an immediate pre-emptive attack.
To struggle, if the attack did not succeed to avoid the need to subject, which proved to be in your hands - a lady's handbag / bag / wallet, plastic bags, briefcase ... It is necessary to make a circular loop-shaped or 8 motion, trying not to get so much (and may catch / snatch gripping teeth), how to create a veil of potential impacts, threats.
If the pack has to surround you, then Freeze, portraying himself from "a pillar of salt", or try gently moving to the left side, if you are right handed, out of the ring. The fact that the victim's role in a pen of dogs is as follows:
driven and meet the potential victim dominant and subdominant individuals capable of independent decision-making about the attack, and on the sides -low rank individuals who attack - just not allowed.
If the attack yet begun, in any case does not cease to move sideways and to the side, while making a bag / package circular loop-shaped or 8 scaring movement, creating around himself a kind of veil. And start to scream, than piercing - the better!

Alex Semenov
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How to help pupils prepare a home for the winter?

On the eve of winter animal organism is reconstructed: adjusting to lower temperatures and reduced daylight. Immunity pets decreases, they become drowsy, their body needs more vitamins.

In this period should be especially attentive to the behavior of their pet and be able to predict what kind of help he needs. After the beast say it will not ...

Dog depression
Sometimes the fall affects dogs as well as people: they, too, begins depression! Pay more attention to pet, caress, play a little longer than usual, often take to the streets. Daily physical exercise and physical activity will improve the mood and the dog, and you. In November of daylight shortens, the temperature drops and the dogs begin active molt. It is particularly reinforced by the inclusion of radiator. Let's pet dog multivitamins containing vitamin A, biotin, and unsaturated fatty acids, and then the new coat is thick and silky. Autumn dog organism particularly susceptible to infections: do not forget to make vaccines against infectious diseases.

Cats sleep
Cats in anticipation of winter are more calm, long sleep and a warm embrace to the batteries. Like dogs, before cold weather they are actively shed. To fur grew thick and beautiful, supplement the diet with multivitamins cats taurine and biotin. The cat, which goes into the street, with the onset of winter lie in wait for such perils as salt reagent and various chemicals that are sprinkled on the track during slippery road conditions. Getting on a soft pad feet, reagent causes burns and leads to the formation of painful ulcers. Therefore, after your furry beauty returned from a walk, wash her feet with clean water.

hamster - in heat
If your hamster hides food in secret places - expect a quick cold snap! More often to check bins and do not let spoiled food, or pet might be poisoned. As the daylight decreases, pets are becoming restless. Chinchillas, guinea pigs insulated nests of any available material - thread, pieces of litter and wool, which animals plucked from each other! Then buried in insulation and for a long time there does not emerge. Vitamin deficiency and reduced immunity compensate, adding to the usual food germinated grains, herbs and vitamins.

Fish need light
Autumn - the best time to do the improvement of the aquarium. Audited underwater garden: remove damaged plants. If a lot of algae, they were trimmed, leaving the strongest. Check all equipment, clean the filters and valves of compressors. Lack of lighting has a bad effect on the feelings of fish, so with a lyuksometra measure if there is enough light in the aquarium. Take care of properly heating the aquarium: keep the temperature about 20 C. Inspect its inhabitants. Pay attention to color and condition of the fins of goldfish and the state of the eyes and scales - in cichlids. Weak and sick fish to remove. Small fishes transfer to another aquarium. Serious preparation for winter fish require high bandwidth, living in an aquarium: minnows, ruffs, perches. In the autumn they need a gradual decrease in water temperature. In winter it should not exceed 7 C.

Long Day's Birds
All the birds feel the approach of winter and prepare for it. In the autumn they begin abundant molt. If they are fed only grain, new feathers to grow long and will look dull and uneven. Bird takes seriously this time: sitting on a perch refuses to eat. During this period, it needs an additional source of amino acids and minerals. Add to food or water, multivitamins containing these substances. Birds, like other animals, suffer from lack of light in winter. Dark evenings include a table lamp in daylight. This will cause a bird feels like daylight lasted.

Cheerful reptiles
For the cold-blooded approach of winter due to the thorough reorganization of the organism. Almost all species of turtles, frogs, lizards and snakes fall into a long hibernation: the metabolism slows down, the animals stop eating, become lethargic. They fall into a state of suspended animation. To prepare for reptiles gentle wintering smoothly and evenly reduces the temperature of heating in the terrarium and contract in its coverage of up to 4 hours, but not stop completely. Turtles fed no more than once in 4-5 days, and snakes and do once a month.

If you follow all these tips, all your favorites will be better able to move the winter.

Maria Magomayev
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

Why cats have nine lives?

Contents of pets is not only pleasant but also useful, as confirmed by science. Victims of sciatica and arthritis, helps fine "compression" of the beloved cat who found a sick place, and heart problems becomes easier if every day to walk the dog in the fresh air. Owners of dogs and cats related to each other almost as much as ourselves, dogs and cats, Having committed themselves to rhetorical arguments on the topic "Who is better". Not the last argument in this debate are the medicinal properties of pets.

Cats unofficially recognized as almost a panacea: schizophrenia, diseases of the joints, depression, nervous disorders, muscle tension, neuralgia and even diagnoses evaporate under the weight of their purring. But what a sound that, until now nobody really found out. Veterinarians, of course, tell you that purring occurs during the passage of air stream through the shrinking muscles of the larynx. But this lively motor manages to run smoothly for a long time - a riddle. And the more so no one knows the origin of the unique effect that purr can have on the audience and the musician himself.

Researchers tried to understand the nature of "murrr" studying the situation in which it is possible, but without result: cats are easy to keep his own song, and in a state of pacification, and pleasure, and hunger, and even pain. There have been cases where cats murrchat before death or during nursing kittens. Some believe that purr - signal applied to other animals and the mean total peacefulness. In short, the opinion of the masses, and the only thing that managed to reach the experts - to distinguish between types purring on behavioral characteristics. When the source rumbling relaxed flattened, closed his eyes and moves his tail, he purr to express pleasure. And if the animal's body is tense, his ears are perked up, and mustache bristle - hence, the cat purrs for your own reassurance.

It turns out, purring, not only helps owners of cats, but also a means of self-treatment. Physicists have found that the sound of "Mur Mur" is published in a frequency range from 25 to 150 Hz, and the medicine just those frequencies used for the healing of fractures and other injuries of bone tissue. It turns out that the purring cat helps to increase bone density and accelerates the healing process. This animal is very little consumption of energy for the emission of sound healing. Moreover, the sound vibrations are something of a trainer-masseur for the cat's body. The fact that the cat's way of life involves a dream for most of the day, but the muscles of animals did not weaken. Zoologists suggest that the fitness function for the fans to sleep is just "murrr".
The astronauts who at certain stages of flight is almost impossible to move, but do not have loads of weightlessness on bone, and because of the declining strength of the fabric, the mastery of technique murrr would open up great prospects. However, cats are not going to share secrets with the man of skill. They not only walk, but also purr themselves.

Source: http://utro.ru
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

Why is a raven not like?

Not to be confused with the black one, which is "black" and who "weaves"! It is a bird "Raven Gray Common. One that is familiar inhabitant of urban landfills and territories located near the garbage containers. Also the ordinary. Must, by the way, make a reservation: You will probably find on planet Earth, a number of people who hoodie for one reason or another like it. Such people may be much - more land - but they are not the majority.

What is still not pleased, this incredibly intelligent bird vast majority of our population? It turns out that their way of life and a way to power: she eats everything he can eat that can not - it bites into holes, and always something or someone to steal. She has a chronic kleptomania. And if this very kleptomania multiplied by the uncommon intelligence and astonishing wit - it becomes clear why this bird, to say the least disliked.

You know what the criminal law robbery differs from theft? If you secretly and quietly - theft. If a brazen, force, threats - this is robbery. So. Hooded Crow robbery and even murder of great respect! But to return to her mental faculties ... It's a pity I can not remember how long the book I learned this information, but still divided. The author has argued in all seriousness that crows can count to five! And this, he said, the strength not every dog, not to mention the various birds.

As argued by this fact ... in the yard was a pile of garbage, which was chosen the local crow. Nearby stood a barn. If a man went into the barn, the crow would not sit down on a pile. The man went away - the bird was starting meal. If two people came and went one - the crow would not sit down. It came out and the second - a crow sat down. If three people ... In general, when the barn went six and five and then left, a crow perched on a pile. Thus, concluded the author, the crow can count, but only up to five. Sounds logical. I do not know, I personally crow this experiment did not run. But the fact that a crow, for example, easily distinguish a gun from the ordinary sticks for a good hundred meters - this will confirm any hunter!

Ordinary, if I may say so, the crows and ways of obtaining food. By the way, for those hunters and how disliked cordially gray Bandits. In "early times" for each dead crow gave hunting cartridge. Will government guy 15, 20, 30 feet in the dried hunting - get ammo! Because, among other things, and encouraged childish fun with slingshots and an overhead against the raven: bullets, then do not have to spend, and bring feet - will give new! And the youngsters as the future of hunting, practice is not a sin!

What is it harmful crow hunters? And she loves to strangers jacks dart! Where is the egg, where the bird drag, do not hesitate. With a large number of crows poultry stock in the region rapidly fizzles. All birds are destroyed. Populations survive only as long as the number of gray crows did not exceed the limit.

In the city of gray crow behavior is somewhat different, but in general - the same gang violence. A case when a crow landed in the water and dove there with him coolly massacred. Crows can eat kittens, chicks, attacking the little puppies ... The list is very discouraging and length, and content. Some authors compare the gray villain with another gray - a wolf. Maybe not in vain in the major cities of Russia, some enterprising young people remember the old games and run after the crows with an overhead. crowkillers call themselves! Bullets for his feet, so far do not give (and give unlikely), but they do not get upset, running for adrenaline.

Complete list of crimes crows gray pine can these words: it is also contrary to croak! And, especially likes to do it in the morning, when sleep is not as strong, but still very sweet sleep.

Hmm, yes, having read this and think - and crow about it? Predator, not a bird! And yet, almost all the bad things to say about the gray crow - the truth. And let our reader ever, anywhere, under any circumstances would be neither white, nor, moreover, gray black!

AA Prayer
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

What vitamin and mineral supplements to give Red-eared slider?

The problem of calcium in tortoises, and even more so in growing calves, is particularly acute because of the specific structure of their body. Therefore necessary to constantly give reptile calcium-containing drugs. This can be finely ground bone meal, which should be given in each feeding, every day. On a small scale individual enough pinch.

Aquaterrarium for freshwater turtles

Youth calcium preparations recommended to give daily, adults - once a week. bone meal are usually sold in pet stores.Eggshell may well be a substitute for bone meal. You can use the usual, "human" sulfate, phosphate or calcium gluconate . bone meal, powdered compounds of calcium and vitamins injected into the cooked food, or crumble them into pieces of food. Foods containing vitamin supplements (except calcium supplementation) are not subject to long-term storage.

Powdered vitamins (to combat beriberi C and E) and minerals are given no more frequently than once a month in the form of mineral supplements by adding them to feed. Sales have special vitamin preparations for turtles. Vitamin preparations proved well designed specifically for reptiles imported "Reptavit.

Turtles - in his element

Once a day you can spray the skin and coat of spray reptiles «Nature's Reptile Vita-Spray», which is a positive effect on the skeletal system of reptiles, due to skin and bone absorption.
Once a week, you can add a few drops of food "Trivita" or "Tetravita.
As you can see, the choice of drugs and vitamin supplements is quite large, and we should just not be lazy and constantly apply them, varying in different combinations.
That's just not try to use the dog and cat vitamin and mineral supplements - they are absolutely not suitable turtles composition.

Not suitable as turtles and a dog, cat food , despite the fact that "Red-eared" they eat with pleasure.
These combined feed designed for warm-blooded animals with a completely different energy metabolism and the need for nutrients and other substances, and therefore unsuitable for our pets.

Comparatively good combined feed "BIOREPT" Polish production


For the same turtles, and specifically for water, developed and are selling quite different in their composition, ready to feed. They recently appeared in such abundance in specialized stores, which sometimes is difficult to orient in a variety of prices and names, in a wide range of both imported and domestic production.

Cheap home (for example, St. Petersburg) food prepared from one type of raw material - dried Gammarus, dried and pressed Tubifex or moth. And all is good, but their disadvantage is that they are unbalanced in nutrient, minerals and vitamins.
Comparatively good combined feed «BIOREPT» Polish production.
But the best and quality, and therefore are more expensive food companies TETRA and SERA.

Foods and goods from the firm SERA

Very good variety and high quality feed, the American firm WARDLEY, but unfortunately, they are too expensive and not everyone can afford. The best of them - "REPTAYL T.E.N» ( «REPTILE TEN»).
For the young, very young turtles, the company produces special food from a mixture of dried larvae of various aquatic insects. It is sold in cans labeled "Forage for turtles» ( «Turtle Food»), and is suitable only for young animals.

Huge diversity of artificial feed is produced in large quantities, is not always worth trusting and lump all of what you see in pet stores. Very often, their composition does not always correspond to the real needs of the species, and does not meet the tastes of the turtles, which simply refuse to eat them.

Although it is possible that your turtle is like something out of ready-made pellets . There are indications that there are turtles, no complications grown only in the pellets (eg, Nutra Fin firm Hagen).

Fodder for turtles Tetra ReptoMin

Yet - advice: do not get carried away! Natural is always better And just as a dessert this rare and, therefore, a tasty delicacy - a sort of candy-granules, can be "spoiling" sometimes your pets.

Bon appetit to you and your aquatic beauties - "turtles"!

And in the next article will discuss how and where to feed the cats - in the water or on land.

Marina Dutta
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How to equip the home place for cats?

Create your cat - it does not mean just bring her home. You must learn the daily care of animals. This may seem too complicated, but do not worry. Caring for a Cat is based on common sense and does not take much time. Like you, the new family member should have its own "property" and "personal effects". On this and will be discussed in our future articles.

Where to put the basket?
Cats have an amazing ability to find the warmest place in the house, where you can curl up into a ball and take a nap. If you have central heating, then the cat is likely to choose a sleeping place near the boiler. If no place is occupied, is not on the aisle and there is no draft, the best cat's basket put it there.
In cold weather, you can put in the basket heater (electric, acting as a heating pad) to the cat was warmer. But do not place the heater in the center of the basket, but on one side. This will give the cat an opportunity to choose the temperature at its discretion.

cat while sleeping
The cat can be attributed to its place, but it does not am I supposed to sleep there all night. Most cats sleep in beds arranged in humans, and select family members close to him on the "social status". And even if you hang around home plate with the inscription "CATS !!!», live here anyway, once the time comes to sleep, the animal you have settled on the bed. If you do not want to share your bed with this furry hot-water bottle, to accustom the cat to sleep separately will not be difficult. Rules of conduct should be established and strongly supported, until the animal is young.
To start, before depart to bed, take the cat in its place, turn off the lights and close the door. Do not forget to leave a toilet and a bowl of water in an accessible place for the animal. At first, the kitten is likely to be protesting against this "eviction", perhaps even very loud, but after a week or two he will master the "rules of etiquette" and a night to sleep in his bed.

boxes and cages for cats
Although most of the time you allow the cat to walk around the house, in some cases you may want to lock her in the pen. Sales are cells made of metal or glass of different sizes. If you are going to keep a cat no more than an hour or two, you will approach a small wire cages, but if the period of "imprisonment" is long, it would take more spacious cell, where you can put a bed, bowls, cat litter and toys. A large cage is also valid in order to keep the kittens there, when the house is unoccupied.
Metal cages usually covered with plastic, so they just as easy to wash, as well as fiber products. After using the cage should be wiped with a rag soaked in a solution of non-toxic disinfectant. This is especially important if you kept it a sick cat.

Cell is usually used in the following cases:
- The period after surgery or during illness;
- When the cat left in the kennel for overexposure;
- To isolate the cat from other animals;
- To be able to leave unsupervised young kittens;
- To dry a cat after a bath with a hairdryer or heater.

Why aviary and how it should be
If you have intact male, then it would likely be difficult to keep in the house. He will begin "to tag" territory, and the apartment will be persistent unpleasant odor of urine. If you still want to keep the manufacturer, then it must provide a separate housing. You can build an aviary in his garden. Ideally, the cage should have as many dimensions, it should be a house where you can hide, a place where the cat could bask in the sun, a special of cat tree and a variety of shelves.
Most enclosures constructed of metal mesh on a wooden basis. Be sure to cover the mesh top enclosure, the cat could not get out. House should stand on a flat surface, it must be embedded heater in the event of cold weather, and should not be a draft. There also must be "bed" and bowls. Must play with a cat, when you offer him some food, otherwise he will feel abandoned.
The best way to cover a portion of a solid (concrete), and the rest - a grass lawn. Cote will be used for the toilet of the lawn.
If you live in an area with heavy traffic, the aviary, even a simplified and smaller, it is advisable to build for any cat.

Cat ventilator ( "cat door" or "cat hole»)
They are only needed if you decide to give the cat the freedom to come and go as she pleases. These doors are opening with a vent at the front door of your house, large enough so that the cat could pass freely back and forth. Plastic or rubber ventilator attached to a hole, neatly cut in the door. Once tasted, your cat can enter or leave through the window, when she pleases.
There are several types of cat doors. But whatever you choose, they must be placed no higher than two inches above the floor, so the cat could have taken place, and not jump through them.Window may open in both directions, either in one, allowing the cat to enter the house, but not allowed to leave. In the pane should also be constipated, to keep out unwanted visitors. If your cat has started in estrus, the males will perceive local cat door as an invitation.
The only drawback cat doors - they create a draft. But you can select the window with the magnetic stripes on the sides. They will keep the door tightly closed until they open the cat.

How to teach a cat to use the vent
Some savvy cats learn to open cat door completely independently, but others need some encouragement. First, open the window, and then fix it in this position and show the cat, encouraging the animal to explore it. If you put a little food on the other side, the cat will dare to pass through the hole, and you make sure that the ventilator does not suddenly fell down and scared the animal. Once the cat has passed, pull down the window and using treats to entice the animal back, helping him to open the window.
Good luck to you and your pets!

Source: ZOO-business

Preparation material: Dmitry Kolpakov
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How to contain an exotic animal at home? Salamander: general

Salamander in all ages been considered a mysterious and mystical animals, as she attributed to the inextricable link with the elements of fire. Ostensibly, this elegant lizard can remain intact in an open fire and even live in it - whether it be a flame or a fire pit of an active volcano.

Meeting the salamander on the slopes of the volcano during the eruption, the medieval alchemists believed that the creation of this is the heart and soul of fire, its personification, and seriously believed that the salamander's body is made up of solidified particles of the ancient flame. It was also thought that the salamander could suddenly appear on the hearth, but she not only burns in the fire, and vice versa - has the power to extinguish the flames, even his unusually cold body and the strange mystical dance.

Fire Salamander

Pliny in his book "Natural History" says it this way: "Salamander is so cold that, if even touches the flame, it immediately turns off, as if it put a piece of ice.

Residents of those areas where forests are inhabited by salamanders, amphibians associated with the many wonderful lore and legends, often bleak. For many people this animal was personified by an otherworldly force. He was perceived as a strange monster, a messenger of hell. It also was one of the symbols of witchcraft and alchemy. Thus, to enhance the action of poisons to the desired substance added to the dried and finely comminuted salamanders.

Image salamanders in medieval manuscripts

Salamandra, depicted in the Middle Ages in the form of a small lizard or Wingless dragon, dancing among the flames, was also a symbol of the alchemical process of burning. Sometimes it portrayed as a human or dog figurines, supposedly living in the fire. Medieval theologians have argued that the salamanders can live in the flames and feed the fire.

In British heraldry salamander was given an honorary role: it meant bravery and courage. In Germany salamander somehow symbolizes beer feast.

But the relationship of this legendary animal with the fire still undeniable, and the first insurance company have salamander its symbol because it represented a safety from fire.

Transcarpathian salamander

Habitats salamanders - Eurasia, North Africa and North America, where there are several subspecies, differing in length and color. In our latitudes, habitat of this amphibian - Transcarpathia.

Fire (or spotted) salamander - a beautiful and quite large (up to 25 cm long) lizard. This is the most familiar to us, except for newts, Caudata. For the most part this land animals, their fingers are deprived of swimming membranes, and therefore in a deep lake, with no possibility of escape, the salamander may drown.

On land, she feels confident enough. Massive, wide body, short but strong legs and powerful jaws make it a strong and swift hunter. Hunt salamanders, throwing, like frogs, language. But, unlike frogs and toads, they lack not only moving, but stationary feed, which are using the olfactory system.

Allegory of salamanders in the form of a woman

Favorite places of these amphibians are mountainous and foothill forests, where they give special preference for beech, but not neglected, and mixed, and even the coniferous forests. Beech trees are the same, and especially lying on the ground rotting trunks of beech, these lizards are particularly fond of. They were happy to settle within them, where even in drought season is a high moisture content, suitable both for the amphibians, as well as for life and reproduction of "live feed" - many invertebrates.

You can often find salamander in the valleys and slopes of the mountain rivers, overgrown with ferns and studded with stones covered with moss.

In a favorable time of year - summer, autumn and spring - amphibians find themselves refuge everywhere: this is a heap of leaves and fallen branches, and courtines moss, and animal burrows. But winter salamanders crawl into a little deeper - in rodent burrows and other underground cavities, sometimes reaches a depth of 2 meters, where sometimes even accumulate a few hundred individuals.

Peace-loving and harmless in nature, salamanders, however, are well armed. The main weapon of these beautiful, like a painted lizards is their brightest "aggressive" color. Skin color - mostly black coated with a bright yellow or orange spots and stripes - intended to act scares the enemies. In addition, salamanders may, if necessary, to provide paralytic poison - salamandrin - and if anything can be put into operation a weapon capable of hitting any animal to death of small size, even the dog. A lethal dose of poison salamanders Carpathian for dogs is only 0.8 mg per 1 kg of body weight.

- You look at me? Well, I'll look at you! We can even meet!

Poison animal protection, in addition, his bare skin from bacterial and fungal infections. For man is poison salamanders are not dangerous.

Produced salamandrin (sticky secret milk color) so-called parotidami - skin glands, located behind the eyes, and have the kind of large, elongated warts.

Fire salamander - a bright and beautiful animal - thanks to its exotic color can decorate and liven up any terrarium and become a real gem of a home living corner.

About the same content and feeding of amphibians in the home will be discussed in the next article.

Marina Dutta
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

How to contain an exotic animal at home? Varan. Part 1.

Varans belong to the family of lizards. Body length - 0,8-3 m. There are 30 species of these animals. They live in the Eastern Hemisphere. Predators.

They eat lizards, snakes, small mammals and rodents, arthropods, turtles, birds and bird eggs. Largest representative - Komodo dragon, up to 3 m in length, lives on the island of Komodo (Indonesia).

Emerald Island Indonesia - Komodo


A little smaller than the size of his South Asian striped giant lizard - 2,8 m, and dwelling in Australia, a giant monitor lizard - 2,5 m. Camaya big lizard fauna of Central Asia - gray monitor lizard, length up to 1.6 m. The length of the smallest, the Australian short-tailed monitor lizard -- to 20 cm are listed as endangered.
Meat giant lizards are edible, taste like chicken, so in some countries people are mercilessly destroy them for their tasty meat, and also because of the valuable skin that goes to the production of various craft and haberdashery.

Komodo dragon - not on whether the word "chest"?


By the nature of habitat, these animals are divided into terrestrial, semi-aquatic and arboreal. But the division is - conditionally, because All of them to climb trees and swim and dive readily, if necessary.

Tinted lizards varied, but not too bright. Tree lizards are often painted in green, which allows them to camouflage in the foliage of trees. They live in deep burrows, snatches of their own, or occupy the burrows of rodents, which then expand to fit your needs. The length of the hole reaches the monitor lizard 2-2,5 m.

Lizards have a lean, muscular body with well-developed five-fingered limbs and long fingers with large curved claws. Powerful long neck crowns more or less elongated head. The tail is strongly compressed laterally.
The body is covered with round or oval scales. Numerous polygonal plates cover the head from above. Eye hole is always open.

Lizards love to swim and dive

Long, deeply forked at the end and extremely agile, language, constantly sticking out of his mouth, serves as monitor lizards, as the organ of smell and touch, "groping" surroundings, smells. During hunting lizards make great transitions for several kilometers in search of food. Very fast run, chasing prey, as well as fleeing from persecution.

Traveling in search of food, many lizards from time to time vertically raise the front part of the body, relying on widely spaced hind legs and tail to vysmatrivanii prey or danger.

I look in the blue of the lake ...

With the approach of a powerful enemy might be hiding in flight, but often throw themselves boldly on the offensive. This greatly inflate the body, hissing and beating its tail on the ground, trying to scare the enemy.
Hard tail serves as a powerful weapon for defense and attack these animals, which they knocked down the victim or the opponent to the ground, and then cause him terrible, smashing blows.
Teeth were giant lizards are arranged so that when they are inflicting wounds tearing the body of the enemy, inflicting painful wounds. In addition to mechanical damage, they can also put on a dangerous wound infection, because often they are feeding the corpses of dead animals.

Overwhelming number of giant lizards - active predators and beautiful, cautious hunters creeping quietly to the victim and grabbed her and then suddenly in the final dash. Their prey lizards killed vigorous shaking, lifting his head up, and then swallowed, with a long neck like a snake twists, encouraging the rapid passage of food. If the victim is very great, monitors tear my teeth suitable for swallowing the pieces, keeping production forelimbs.

Nevertheless, despite their carnivorous, some lizards diversify your diet fruits and seeds of plants. Thus, fruits and fruit trees fed inhabits the Philippine Islands a large tree Gray's monitor lizard.
Arboreal South Asian arboreal monitor lizard eats ants, capturing insects with a long sticky tongue.

Reproduction
Lizards become sexually mature by 3-4-th year of life.
In the mating season the males fight fiercely with each other, causing each other for a long time does not heal deep wounds.
All lizards - egg-laying. The number of eggs in a batch of different species varies from 7 to 35 units, they are protected pergament looking soft shell.

And here I am! Hello!

The quantity of eggs of the largest - Komodo dragon - perhaps up to 10 cm in length and weighing up to 200 g. In the small species of giant lizards eggs are no longer than 1,5-2 cm Females lay them in the loose soil, filling the old holes in holes in piles of plant residues, tree hollows, and even in the building termites and ant.
Duration of egg development in the tropics is very high - up to 10 months.


In the next article will discuss the types of giant lizards, which are most often kept in captivity.

Marina Dutta
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/

What secrets sharks have ?

We are born weak and defenseless. We may be overcome as invisible microorganisms, and the giant animals. We never get into the lair of the bear and will not swim with the sharks. Even watching movies on large predators, we expect reprisals against them. But maybe worth a look at them differently? The movie "Jaws" long denounced the killers deep - sharks. However, these animals are just amazing. I'll try to tell them what they so special.

First, sharks are very graceful animals. form of their bodies are very vaguely. They exist on our planet in prehistoric times. They survived even the dinosaurs. All these long Millennium is a shark not lost in vain. Currently, the species diversity of sharks is simply amazing: tiger, prickly, whale, dog, freshwater, and even a shark-hammer. And that's not all, but many species simply have not yet been described.

Secondly, a shark for a single moment from birth to death does not stand still. The fact is that, unlike other fish, it has no swim bladder, which regulates the position of the body at different depths. Poor thing has to make a waving motion with his whole body. Otherwise, it "falls" at the bottom. Although known and shark-dodgers who gather in a special pocket of gastric air, and thus are like a bubble.

Third, the shark never sleeps. Try to sleep in the movement. If she goes to sleep at least not for long, it will not be able to overcome the force of gravity, and will be on the bottom. Depth may be so large that the fish can not already be up. However, the shark can not be switched off for long, resting on the rocks. Even in those rare moments of calm, it remains questionable on the check.

And spying, poor food. Because, fourthly, it must constantly eat to compensate for the loss of energy on the motion. shark eats almost everything, and with gusto. Perhaps that's why she got the glory of a monster. Not once fishermen were impressed by the stomach contents of their prey. There were cases when the stomach have found a couple of dolphins meter or 40-inch fish, with just 32 pieces. However, some sharks are able to pry his stomach inside out and, thus, get rid of unnecessary content.

There were times that found in the stomachs of sharks horse skull. This means that the mammal was eaten whole. The special structure of the shark's jaws, formed for many generations, can swallow it whole fairly large objects. Even 100 centimeters in your waist it is not a hindrance.

Fifth, senses sharks developed almost to perfection. It can feel a drop of blood for miles around. So she finds his victims. Yet it attracted different sounds and kind of helpless floundering of the body. Incidentally, only 39 species out of 250 seen in the attack on the people. And attack they have, basically, to separate swimmers swimmers.

Incidentally, shark teeth - is her pride. Imagine several rows of sharp as the blade teeth. And their number in one row may be over a thousand. Form of dental records can be different. The most common form - triangular. But again, there is a harmless shark, which was not lucky with my teeth: they simply do not.

Do not believe that sharks - giant monsters that will hunt you all my life. Maximum body length of the shark - 20 feet, but such an instance, you are unlikely to encounter. Often come across individuals 1,5 - 2 meters in length. Sharks live up to 30 years, but again - this is the maximum limit. Maybe now, fin-triangle, cleaving the waves, will cause you to not only terror, but also respect. At least, if you do not want to be eaten by the owners, basking in their "home", do not provoke them.

Tatiana East
http://animaldin.blogspot.com/