Possibly the most common pet snake in the United States, the corn snake’s ease of care and gentle temperament make it the ideal first snake for children and adults alike.
Crested geckos come in a wide range of colors and patterns, but these individuals are only common at reptile shows or from private breeders. This species lives comfortably at room temperature and about 50-70% humidity. Crested geckos will eat crickets, roaches and other insects if offered. This powder is mixed with water and fed in a dish for the gecko to lick up. These personable lizards are suitable for people who are squeamish about live insects, since they can be fed a powdered diet. Offer hiding places in fake or real plants or upright logs for this nocturnal animal to rest during the daytime. These geckos are excellent jumpers and climbers, so plenty of vertical space is a must for their enclosure. Babies tend to be intolerant of handling, but adults are often much calmer. Unlike other lizards, crested geckos cannot regenerate their tail. This species can grow to six to eight inches, including the tail, although the tail can be lost. This species breeds readily in captivity and is available at many chain pet stores. This common gecko is from the island of New Caledonia, but wild-caught individuals are virtually non-existent due to its protected status in its native range. These animals are well-suited for first time keepers, due to temperament, availability and ease of care. This list includes some of the more common animals available. A large number of these species require specific diets or husbandry to keep healthy and are unsuitable for inexperienced keepers. Hundreds of different species are offered throughout the country through pet stores, reptile shows and private breeders. However, choosing your own or your child’s first pet reptile can be a daunting task. Many species can be handled safely by children over the age of five. They are safe for people with severe allergies or asthma. So is it better to have a surplus of antifreeze or a surplus of plastic? While it has problems, antifreeze will eventually break down, while plastic effectively never will.Reptiles make for fascinating and endearing pets that do not require the same amount of attention as cats, dogs, and birds. In fairness, plastic can also be mistaken for food, especially by marine life. Improper disposal can thus lead to poisoned wildlife, including endangered or threatened species such as condors. Both mammals and birds might prefer to drink ethylene glycol instead of water when both are available. However, in high concentrations, the breakdown of glycol depletes dissolved oxygen in water, potentially harming aquatic life, particularly in a pond or other enclosed body of water.Įthylene glycol has one other strange feature: apparently it tastes delicious. In low quantities, glycols cause little direct harm to aquatic organisms. One of the main sources of antifreeze in the environment is winter airport operations, where large quantities of ethylene glycol and related chemicals are used to remove snow and ice from planes and runways. These worms eat plastic, but convert it to an antifreeze-like chemical.Įthylene glycol is a federally-regulated contaminant, and there are strict restrictions on how much of the chemical can appear in drinking water. However, plastic is also problematic to consume and difficult to dispose of, so it’s hard to say if the relative environmental impact of ethylene glycol is better or worse than that of plastic. Antifreeze is toxic if consumed, so large quantities of antifreeze present a disposal problem. Careful study has determined that the little dark worms have a rare talent-they actually eat and digest plastic.īut before we breed an army of worms and loose them on our landfills, there is one catch. Wax worms do not make plastic disappear completely, but rather turn it into ethylene glycol, the primary component of many antifreezes and a widely-used precursor chemical in industrial processes. Wax worms, the caterpillar larvae of the wax moth, are most commonly known as pet food or fishing bait.
Now, after observing mysterious holes in plastic bags, researchers may have a solution: the common wax worm. Vast quantities of it end up in the ocean. Plastic can break into increasingly small pieces but it may take hundreds of years for it to decompose, if it breaks down completely at all. The problems of plastic in the environment are well documented.
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