Transcript Fuzzy exotics pt 2 - Appoquinimink High School

Ferrets
Weaseling their way into your
heart.
Terms
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Jill- A female ferret
Hob- An intact male ferret
Gib- Neutered male
Sprite- Spayed female
Business- a group of ferrets
Dook- a sound a ferret makes when
excited
Musk- odor produced typically by
males
Ferrets
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Ferrets are also a very popular companion pet.
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A ferret lives six to eight years on average and
weighs about 3 pounds.
Female ferrets are called jills, while male
ferrets are called hobs.
Neutered males are called gibs
Spayed females are called sprites
Ferrets
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Ferrets are extremely active, curious
pets that like to explore and play in
their surroundings.
 Instinctively, ferrets like to sleep
most of the day and are most active
in the dawn and dusk hours.
The name "ferret" is derived from
the Latin furittus, meaning "little thief"
Ferrets
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One notable quality of ferrets is their
musky odor.
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Males produce more musk than females,
but spaying and neutering can help
eliminate it.
Some people find this odor offensive, while
others hardly notice it.
Most ferrets come de-scented (meaning
they’ve had their scent glands removed).
Diet
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By nature, ferrets are carnivores.
Their food is very similar to cat food
and can be interchanged, but cat food
is unsuitable for ferrets, because of
their low protein content and high fiber
Although they enjoy grains and sweets
like bananas and peanut butter, many
experts discourage feeding it due to
diseases similar to diabetes
Housing
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Ferrets are very curious by nature.
A multi-level cage is usually adequate,
but if left bored, they’ll find a way out to
roam the house.
A litter box can be used, but ferrets are
not always 100%
successful in litter
training.
Housing
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Because they are so curious, it is best
to have hammocks for them to sleep in
and plenty of toys to entertain them.
Ferrets do not like to be cold, so avoid
drafts and cold areas of the house.
Reproduction
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A baby ferret is called a kit.
Gestation- 6 weeks
3 weeks into the kit’s life you should
start holding and socializing it to
people.
Also you can start weaning it by giving
it regular food moistened with water.
Weaning is complete after 6 weeks
since birth
Reproduction
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Jills come into heat when there is more
daylight than night.
If they do not breed, they may go into
a prolonged heat that can last 6
months and can result in anemia.
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This can kill her, so hormone injections or
mating with a neuter male might be
needed.
Medical Care & Conditions
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Ferrets should be seen by a vet every
6 months for proper evaluation.
Annually they should receive a rabies
and a canine distemper vaccine.
By law they must receive the rabies
vaccine in Delaware.
Medical Care & Conditions
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Adrenal disease can be caused by
unusual growths on the adrenal
glands.
Symptoms include rapid hair loss,
irritation, difficulty urinating and
defecating, and increased
grooming practices.
Medical Care & Conditions
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Lymphoma or lymphosarcoma is a
common disease where the body’s
immune system attacks itself and
causes growths on organs.
Although flexible, many ferrets are
seen by vets for fractures
and broken bones due to
mishandling.
Weasel War Dance
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE8
JFqlDUNg&feature=related
Rats, mice, and more!
Small rodents in all shapes and
sizes
Terms
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Rodent
Hamster
Gerbil
Mouse/Mice
Rat
Muroid
Diurnal
Pinky
Rodents
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Rodents are mammals
with two large front teeth,
such as mice, gerbils,
hamsters, and rats.
They make good pets in
confined areas due to
their size.
Rodents
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Rodents come from the order Rodentia
and typically the family Muridea or
superfamily muroid.
Larger muroids are commonly referred
to as rats, while smaller ones are
called mice.
Typically, rodents seek food and store
it until it is eaten.
Rodents
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All rodents are prey animals and
naturally like to hide.
Typically they reproduce quickly and
have many offspring.
Babies are often called pinkies.
Their gestations are short and estrus
occurs frequently.
Hamsters
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Hamsters are nocturnal
rodents that should be
handled often to keep them
tame.
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Some common types
are dwarf, golden, Angora, and
Chinese hamsters.
All hamsters like nuts as treats but should be
fed a commercial feed designed especially for
them.
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You can also feed your hamster fresh fruits and
vegetables, but raw beans, tomatoes, and green
potatoes should be avoided.
Hamsters
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You can house your hamster in a wire
cage, a plastic cage, or in an aquarium.
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Line the bottom with shavings, but avoid
cedar ones.
Always keep their living
environment clean and dry.
You should also provide
your hamster with places to
burrow and exercise.
Storing food
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK6
t8wZ6nxk
Gerbils
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Gerbils are quick and
curious rodents that grow up
to 4 inches long and weigh 3
ounces at maturity.
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They are diurnal, which means they sleep
during the night and are awake during the
day.
Gerbils tend to be shy and should be
handled often but very carefully.
Gerbils
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Feeding gerbils is inexpensive because
they only eat a tablespoon of food per
day.
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Use a commercial feed, but supplement it
with fresh grass, lettuce, or apples.
When choosing a home for your gerbil,
make sure it provides the rodent with
exercise and hiding spots.
Bedding should be replaced at least once
a week.
ESCAPE!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D4
VoIxKsHc
Mice and Rats
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Mice and rats are rodents
that make excellent pets
because they are friendly
and can be trained to do
various things.
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They come in many different colors.
Mice and rats need fresh water and can
be fed seeds, nuts, bread, and other
foods.
Always keep cages clean and dry.
Mice and Rats
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To keep them healthy,
disinfect their cages and give
them something to gnaw on.
Mice and rats are nocturnal.
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It is common for them to run in an exercise
wheel or explore their cages for food during
the night.
Rats LAUGH! …and more
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
myuceywaOUs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8
NoguHxGVqc&feature=related
Sugar Gliders
The only marsupial exotic pet
in this area.
Terms
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Marsupial- mammals that give birth
early and have the offspring stay within
a pouch or attached to the mother until
finished development.
Patagium- flap of skin that stretches
from the ankles to the wrists.
Joey- baby glider
Bifuricated- divided in two
Anatomy
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Sugar gliders are marsupials.
They can literally glide a fair distance
by using the patagium and steering
with their tails.
They have sharp nails and can cling
tightly like velcro to almost any
surface.
Anatomy- A visual
Reproductive Anatomy
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Being marsupials, females have
pouches to hold young as they grow
and develop.
Females have a double uterus in
which they can usually hold 1 joey in
each.
Males have a bifuricated penis in
which that use to mate with both
vaginal openings in the female.
Reproductive Anatomy
Reproductive Cycle
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Gliders are sexually mature at about 710 months of age.
Reproduction happens at night
because they are nocturnal.
Estrus is about 28 days long.
Females give birth early at 16 days
after conception.
Reproductive Cycle
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After giving birth, the joeys make their
way to the pouch where they stay,
attached to a nipple, for 10 more weeks
to finish development, then comes
weaning (by 12 weeks).
The father should stay with the
female during this time since
he will care for the babies
while the mother finds food and
exercises.
Diet
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Gliders are omnivores, meaning they
eat meat and vegetation.
A typical diet for gliders includes
mealworms, fresh fruits and
vegetables, nuts, and other insects.
There are pelleted foods that are
nutritionally balanced.
Good or Bad?
Good Pets or Bad?
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There is a lot of controversy
over this topic.
First, gliders are HIGHLY social and
can die if left alone, so it’s best to have
a pair instead of one.
Also, you should play with your glider
at least one hour a day to bond
appropriately.
Good Pets or Bad?
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Odor- male gliders during times of
mating due produce a strong odor from
scent glands.
Otherwise gliders smell no worse than
any other animal if their cage is kept
clean.
Noise- the biggest con is the
variety of noises that they make.
Sounds of the Glider
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Singing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwL
ZU2j1Gug
Crabbing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IpS
8ZBeZRw&feature=related
Happy noises:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqe
7op9OWzY&feature=related