Pet turtles are housed in terrariums, and when shopping for one in a pet supplies store, be sure not to economize on the size and quality. Like most other pets, turtles like to explore, and getting the biggest you can afford is a good idea since it will give your pet ample room to move around. Also, make sure that you’re buying terrariums of excellent quality and is capable of holding water. Some terrariums, especially those made for snakes and lizards, aren’t designed to hold water. So ask your pet supplies expert which among those in their shelves are best suited for turtles. The size should be big enough to allow the turtle to swim freely and have deep enough water. When the water is too shallow and the turtle tips on its back, it won’t be able to right itself. It should also be big enough to contain a floating docks for the turtle to bask on. You can get these floating docks from pet supplies and reptile accessories stores.

As with any other pet homes, it is important that you stay on top of your turtle’s house maintenance. In many cases, problems with turtle as pet starts with poorly maintained housing.

One maintenance task that you need to do is to always keep the water clean. For this, you will need to have a strong filtration system which you can buy from a pet supplies store. Having one will help keep the water clean so you don’t have to change it very often. However, this does not mean that you don’t have to change the water because you still do. Changing the water removes any particles that may harm your turtle. Also, keep in mind that their tank is also their bathroom, so regularly changing the water is a must or else they may suffer from infections.

Consider making use of water conditioner as well. This will help to keep organisms like salmonella at bay and make the water much more livable for the turtle. You can get these water conditioner from pet supplies store.

It is important that you provide your pet turtles with the appropriate ambient and water temperature at all times. The right temperature will vary and depend on several factors like the current season and others. To be sure, ask an expert while you are buying your thermometers in a store that sells pet supplies. You can also do your own research about the right temperatures for your specie of turtle. As much as possible, you’ll want to copy the exact temperature as that of their natural habitat. Failing to do so can result to your turtle losing appetite or developing respiratory problems.

You’re going to need at least two thermometers, one to measure the temperature of the water and another to measure the dry side of the tank. Both types of thermometers are usually sold in all pet supplies stores.

Providing your turtle with sunlight is essential in ensuring its health. You can do this by putting your tank near a window, though this will also promote the growth of algae and cause your tank to become dirtier faster. Thus, the best way to do this would be to get some UV light bulbs designed specifically for reptiles. If you don’t then you run the risk of your turtle suffering from metabolic bone disease or soft shell syndrome.

Admittedly, turtles are not the cuddliest of pets—they have hard shells and they’re scaly, plus they’re wet and slimy for most of the time. Nevertheless, you also have to admit that they can be terribly cute at times—their glassy eyes, short and plump legs, and even their slow and awkward movements contribute to making them one of the most adorable reptiles ever. This is one of the many reasons why a significant number of children and adults go to pet dealers and pet supplies stores looking for baby turtles to buy and bring home.

Unfortunately, many of these people are not aware that caring for turtles can be quite demanding—yes, they’re not low-maintenance pets despite their seemingly lazy and nonchalant disposition. In fact, many more people are not aware that it can be illegal to own and keep turtles as pets in some parts of the country. So before you go to a store that sells pet supplies in Milperra and buy a terrarium and other accessories and pet products for turtles, do give the following paragraphs a read.

Turtles, like all other reptiles, are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act to prevent them from becoming extinct, with the National Parks and Wildlife Service commissioned to keep records of their numbers and maintain control over their dissemination. This is what makes buying and keeping a turtle as a pet somewhat of a challenge. Though it is legal to own a turtle in most parts of the country, certain states and territories have strict laws about selling turtles in animal and pet supplies stores or even in private parties.

Because of the challenges that comes with buying pet turtles, you may be tempted to simply take one from the wilds or keep one that has wandered into your backyard. This, again, is illegal.

So how do you get to own and keep a turtle for a pet with all these regulations?

If you truly have your heart set in turtle-care, you first need to obtain a license from the NPWS—a Class I license should suffice. But if you’re planning on taking care of the more exotic species of turtles, then you’ll need a Class II license. If you are under 16 years of age, you’ll need your parent’s consent before you are awarded a license.

With regard to buying turtles, make it a point to buy from a member of the Australian Herpetological Society. They have several branches all over the country and you should have no trouble contacting one near your locale. There are also turtles being sold online, though extra caution should be taken when buying pets from online sellers. You have to make sure that the pets—or in this case the turtles—that they are selling are not poached from the wild.

White proso millet seeds have a hard shell. This is advantageous in the sense that it offers excellent protection for the kernel inside and makes them less susceptible to rotting. This type of bird food is a favourite of many ground-feeding birds. However, they are also the favourite of other species of birds that are considered as pests and which you may not want to attract to your homes. If such species of birds are present in your area, especially when their habitat is close to your home, you may not want to make use of white proso millet and instead turn your attention to getting other types of seeds or bird food.

Because most of the birds that love white proso millet are small-beaked ground-feeding birds, you can simply scatter the feeds on the ground and leave the birds to eat them. However, you can also make use of low-set tray feeders that have excellent drainage. You can buy these types of feeders from stores that sell pet supplies in Mt. Druitt.

Corn is another type of seed given as bird food, and more popular as feeds for doves and ground-feeding birds. However, there are many things that you should consider if you choose this type of seeds.

For one, they attract many different kinds of stray birds as well as critters like raccoons and squirrels. Second, cracked corn can rot easily if it becomes wet. Thus, put it in a weatherproof bag for storage. When feeding, use a tray feeder and not a tube feeder because tube feeder harbors moisture. Be sure to give only sufficient amounts that the birds can consume in a day as well.

There are also issues of corn being toxic. This is because corns may contain aflatoxins which can be toxic even in small amounts. Also, be careful about buying corns that have red or pink dye in them. Corn with these colours are treated with fungicide and are supposed to be used for planting and not for feeding. This is one reason why you want to buy your corn or any other bird food from reputable stores that sell pet supplies in Mt. Druitt. This way you can be sure that the products that they are selling are free from any toxins that may harm your feathered friend.

Peanut is another type of bird food that is popular among birds, especially jays. However, like corn, they also tend to attract a host of other stray bird species as well as critters. Along that line, peanuts also have high chances of containing aflatoxins.

When using peanuts as bird food, make sure that you don’t give more than a day’s worth of food. Peanuts can easily rot and will thus need to be kept dry all the time. During rainy and humid weathers, be sure to clean the tube feeders and dry them completely before feeding.

Considering all the dizzying array of bird food available, it is no wonder that many first time bird owners get confused as to which one they should buy for their feathered friend. Although it may seem that the easiest way to get around this is to buy just about any seed, consider that all seeds aren’t the same. Thus, it is important that you take the time to carefully choose which bird food to buy.

If you are looking for safe and nutritious bird food, reptile food, or any other kind of pet food for that matter, please don’t hesitate to drop by any of our stores. Our main store is located in Milperra, and we have another one at the Shop Smart Shopping Plaza in Mt. Druitt. As one of the leading pet shop in Mt. Druitt and Milperra, we make sure that both our stores carry a wide range of pet food and pet supplies in order to better serve you and your pet’s needs and demands.

Most pet shop in Mt. Druitt sell a wide variety of bird food, with seeds being the more popular option. There are many different types of seeds that are given as bird food. Although some of these can be given individually, they can also be mixed together and sold as commercial mixed seeds. You can also buy these individual packs and make your own mix if that is what you prefer.

So what types of seeds are commonly given as bird food? Is one seed any better than the other in terms of nutritional value? What seed is best for what specie of bird? The following paragraphs aim to provide some answers.

Sunflower seeds are one of the most popular types of seeds given to birds. Birds like sparrows, doves, and cardinals are particularly fond of these. But it’s not just the birds that love these seeds, since they also tend to attract squirrels. There are two main types of sunflower seeds that are given as bird food to feathered pets, namely black oil sunflower seeds and striped sunflower seeds.

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

Between the two, black oil sunflower seeds more commonly given as bird food. These types of sunflower seeds have thinner shells, which makes them easier to open, and thus recommended for the smaller birds. The kernels found inside also contain high fat content, making them a perfect choice for most winter birds.

Striped Sunflower Seeds

Striped sunflower seeds are larger than black oil sunflower seeds. In addition, they have thicker shells which are more difficult to crack open, thus making them more suitable for larger species of birds and those with strong bills or beaks.

Hulled Sunflower Seeds

Hulled sunflower seeds are excellent choices for smaller birds with weaker beaks, or those who have a hard time cracking sunflower seed shells and getting the kernels inside. However, even birds of the larger species will thoroughly enjoy a treat of this particular bird food. This is also perfect since you don’t have to worry about cleaning up the shells left after the birds eat which can attract rodents.

There are certain things you’ll need to keep in mind though with regard to hulled sunflower seeds. For one, this is more expensive than sunflower seeds with shells for obvious reasons. Second, because of the absence of the shells which helps to protect the kernels, hulled sunflower seeds tend to spoil much quicker, thus they should be kept in airtight containers. Also, because they have no shells, there is the possibility that they can be easily infected by germs and bacteria. This is why if you’re going to get hulled sunflower seeds, buy and stock only that which can be consumed within two or three days.

These seeds are large and oval-shaped. They have white shells that look like plain, white sunflower seeds. The shells of safflower seeds are pretty thick and hard. This makes them unsuitable for smaller species of birds, and they should only be given as bird food for large species of birds or those that have stronger bills. Safflower seeds can be fed to birds using a hopper, tube or platform feeders.

If there is one thing that many people like about using safflower seeds as bird food, it is that you can leave them and have no fear of squirrels or other critters from ransacking them. Safflower has a slightly bitter taste which the aforementioned animals do not like.

Nyjer seeds are tiny, black, needle-like oilseeds that are high in protein. Birds need to break the shells in order to get the kernel, which again leaves you with a significant amount of shells which can attract rodents. Many people think that nyjer seeds are actually thistle seeds. However, the nyjer plant where the seeds are taken from aren’t related to the thistle family. They are actually grown overseas and imported to the country. Prior to packaging, the seeds are heat-sterilized which helps to retain their food value during logistics.

One of the problems of many people with nyjer seeds is their size, that is, they are so small that they tend to fall out of feeders. However, this can be easily remedied by getting feeders that are specially designed to hold nyjer seeds and other smaller types of seeds given as bird food. You can find these types of feeders in some pet shop in Mt. Druitt.

Take note also that nyjer seeds are more expensive than other types of seeds being sold as bird food. However, there are many birds that prefer nyjer seeds over other types of seeds, and you may find it hard to feed other types of seeds to such species of birds.

One last factor that you need to consider when shopping for bird cages is maintenance. It is important that you keep your bird’s home clean at all times. When you choose a bird cage that is high maintenance, upkeep can be challenging. It is rather unfortunate, but some bird owners buy high maintenance bird cages and, for a while, are able to maintain it. However, a few weeks or months later, upkeep becomes bothersome for them, thus resulting in neglect. Needless to say, this will have a negative impact on the bird’s health and well-being.

Thus, be sure to buy only bird cages that you can easily maintain so that it doesn’t feel like work. Choose a cage that has litter trays and seed catchers that pull out easily. Also, choose a cage from stainless steel or powder-coated so that it can be wiped down easily.

As can be gleaned from the above paragraphs, much of your bird’s health and well-being will be influenced by the kind and quality of the bird cage it lives in. It should be large enough to allow your pet to fly around inside it, but not too large that it provides your pet a chance to escape. It should be safe and secured that there is no chance of your bird harming itself and keep predators from inflicting harm to your pet. There are several other things to consider when it comes purchasing bird cages, but knowing the above should help get you to a good start.

As one of the leading pet care supplies store in Milperra and Mt. Druitt, we here at Paws and Claws have a wide range of bird cages available for you to choose from. For years, we have provided nothing short of the best in animal supplies to our customers. Our growing number of patrons should be enough proof of the quality of products and services that we provide.

If you’re looking for high quality bird cages, or for any other pet supplies like dog leash, dog accessories, cat food and others, please don’t hesitate to talk to us. You can do so by dropping by at our shops located in Milperra and at Mt. Druitt. You can also get in touch with us by calling us up through our telephone line at 02 9772 0316 or by leaving a message in our contact page. Our staff of friendly animal experts will be more than happy to answer any question you may have about our products.