Getting Excited!!

On Tuesday I have to get up at 3:00am and I don't get into Ecuador until midnight--almost 24hrs with no sleep! I hope I can sleep on the plane. Our itinerary looks awesome as we are planning several different things. We are definitely going to visit a couple different cities, go on an Amazon River tour, and hike in the Andes mountains! The last few days we will hopefully get to visit a silversmith's shop, a local orphanage, a local college, and a high school. Some of the things to which I am most looking forward are meeting local people, and seeing God's beautiful creation! I don't know what God is going to do in my heart while I am there, but I know he will do something.

The Nangaritza River (with cute children releasing a turtle)

Las Cajas, Ecuador

Western Hognose Snake

My second profile will be on the Western Hognose Snake. This snake does not grow to be very big. The average size is 16-25 inches. However, some will grow bigger. Since this snake will not get big like a Boa Constrictor, you could start off with a cage big enough to house an adult snake. Therefore, we will look at the list for an adult Western Hognose Snake.

1. Terrarium (fancy name for cage) 20gallon to 30gallon (This should fit your baby and adult Hognose)--$40
2. Water bowl big enough to soak in--$20 (If you happen to have a bigger Hognose you would probably want a 40gallon tank in order to fit a big enough water bowl)
3. Substrate--Since this snake is known for burrowing aspen bedding would be a good choice
4. Hides--Price will vary usually $20-35. At least 2 appropriately sized hides (one for cooler side and one for hotter side of cage)
5. Branches and decor--Price will vary usually $30-40. Since this snake is not tropical it will not need a lot of plants, however, a few differently sized branches will help make the cage look more realistic and also help the snake shed
6. Temperature and Humidity gage--$15 unless you decide digital which is $20each. (2 temperature gages and 1 humidity gage)
7. Heat lamp--$15
8. Incandescent Bulb--$10-$15
9. Under Tank Heat Pad--depends on size. A heat pad for a 20-30gallon is around $20, for a 40g it is usually $35

Daytime temperatures should be 75-85˚F and nighttime temperatures should be 8-10˚F cooler. A note on feeding: In the wild, this snake species will eat toads, lizards, and small snakes. If captive bred, it will most likely be fed pre-killed mice/rats. Some captive breeders will feed their snakes live mice/rats. This snake mimics the Prairie Rattlesnake, but it is completely harmless! This snake may be difficult to feed during the winter if wild caught. Wild caught, however, is not recommended because they can be hard to tame.

The Green Iguana

I have decided to do 7 profiles on 7 different reptiles that I would one day like to own and take care of.
So, as the title suggests, profile #1 will be on the Green Iguana, one of the most popular pets in the U.S.

When you enter into a pet store and go to the reptiles section, you will usually find a foot long Iguana (including the tail). As babies, they need at least a 40 gallon tank with the proper amount of light, temperature, 8 plants, and heat. Lets look at a list of what will be needed for a baby Iguana and what it would cost:

1. Cage--40 gallon minimum for baby (usually $100 dollars)
2. Substrate--Newspaper, Coconut bark, Paper Towels (Coconut bark is about $15 to fill a 40g tank) 
3. Water Bowl--One big enough to bath in (depends usually around $20)
4. Heat Lamp--One for Basking ($10)
5. Heat Lamp--Ceramic Heat ($10)
6. Bulbs for basking--you are going to want to buy back-ups so 2 at a time (each bulb=$10)
7. Bulbs for Ceramic Heat--again buy at least one back up bulb (each bulb=$10)
8. Heat Pad--you want the one that says it's for 40g tanks ($20)
9. Branches(bought at store)--you want multiple as Iguanas love to climb ($30)
10. Plants(fake)--a couple big enough for hiding($20)
11. 2 Hides (a cold side and warm side)-- wood hides for warm and rock for cold ($30)
12. Temperature and Humidity Gage--($15 for all three 2temp and 1 humidity)

That's a lot of items to take care of before the actual purchase of the Iguana! Remember that 40g tank won't last that long! Before I move onto why I don't currently own one, I want to touch on food. For food, Green Iguanas typically eat dark leafy greens, apples, bananas, cantaloupe, and various other vegetables. (This will not change throughout the Iguana's lifetime!)

Ok. Adult Green Iguanas: 

Really, the only thing that you will need for an adult Green Iguana is a bigger cage (12 feet wide x 15 feet long x 6 feet high) Honestly, that is why I don't currently own one :) If you need a picture...try to imagine a 6 foot long Iguana that has taken over a good amount of space in your house. You will also need more plants and branches. As well as a bigger heat source :)

Amazing Creation

How can people think that the earth was just created by chance? 
Just look at reptiles for example: (I know what your thinking...Really reptiles?? Just keep reading :)
There is the category of Snakes :
There are venomous and non venomous snakes 

Non-Venomous:
--Constrictors (Ball python=small, Anaconda=large)

Venomous:

--Nurotoxins: fast-acting; attacks the nerves, causing blindness, paralysis, or suffocation...OUCH! ( King Cobra )

--Hemotoxins: slow-acting; attacks the red blood cells and blood vessels, destroying circulation...OUCH AGAIN! ( Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake)

How could all this be created by chance??