Buy a captive bred hatchling because this ensures that you will have aperfect, healthy, trouble free snake and you are not adding to the pressures on the wild population.

Your snake should be aged 4 – 6 weeks old and at this age, security is all important and a baby snake will only eat if it feels safe and secure. Snakes can sometimes be frightened of open spaces so keep the baby snake in a small plastic box measuring about 20cm square and 10cms high that is well ventilated and escape proof. Place the last 5cm to 10 cm of the box on a heat mat so that the snake can keep its body temperature regulated.

Provide your snake with a hide of some kind, either purchased from a reptile shop or by using an inverted flower pot with an entry hole cut in one side. You will also need to provide your snake with clean fresh water and this needs to be in a vessel that is difficult to overturn. Finally, use something like kitchen roll as a floor covering which should be changed as soon as it is soiled.

When replacing the lid on your snake’s box make sure you always check that his head and tail are safely inside the box before you snap the lid shut or you could cause crippling damage to your baby snake.

Feed your snake one pinkie mouse every 4 to 7 days and as he grows, increase this to two pinkie mice, then a fuzzy and finally an adult mouse. The change from one size of food to the next depends on the rate that your pet is growing and not its age. If your snake regurgitates his food (brings up his food) it’s usually because you have fed him prey animals that are too large for him or he has been overfed.  It could also be due to the temperature being wrong or by being handled or disturbed when he’s trying to digest his food.

As your snake grows, he can be transferred to a larger box or allowed the freedom of a vivarium. If the vivarium has sliding glass or plastic doors check that your small snake can’t escape between the two panes of glass.

You should choose a vivarium that is escape proof, easy to clean, well ventilated and have a heat gradient. The vivarium should also offer your snake a degree of security. Ideas-4-pets have introduced some quality vivaria to their website which also have matching cabinets.

Wooden vivaria with sliding glass doors are a good purchase but make sure that all the joints are sealed with aquarium silicon sealer and ensure that you purchase a vivarium that is suitable for your particular snake.  Don’t house 2 king snakes together or they could eat each other.

Some snakes, like rat snakes and king snakes can overheat so it is important that the temperature should be about 30 degrees C in the hottest part of your vivarium and not higher than 25 degrees C in the coolest area.

Most snake owners find thatthe best form of heating for beginners are Heat Mats as these offer a gentle form of bottom heat and if set up correctly can’t harm your snake. The heat mat should cover no more than one third of the vivarium base so that your snake can regulate his body temperature. This means that your snake would move between the warm and cold areas of his vivarium to keep his body temperature under control. Snakes generally take in heat through their stomach scales and they will sit on the heat mat to warm up, digest their meals, before a slough and when they are carrying eggs. Make sure that you buy a low wattage vivarium heat mat rather than an aquarium heat mat as an aqaurium heat mat might get too hot. A vivarium heat mat is very reliable, easy to use and affordable, they don’t need a thermostat and are available in a range of sizes.

Light bulbs are thought to be a poor way of heating a vivarium and they often cause burns when the snake tries to climb over them. They heat all the cage, rather than just the small area required for your snake to keep his body temperature under control so the advise is to only use them as a last resort.  Most snakes don’t require any lighting.

Healthy snakes eat well and pass solid looking droppings so you are advised to ensure that you only offer your snake food of a suitable size for his size and place the food near his hiding place.  It is adviseable to separate your snakes at feeding time to help prevent problems.

It’s worth knowing that your snake may go off his food if he is about to shed its skin, if the temperature is too hot or too cold, the food is too big or given to them at the wrong time of day (evenings are usually the best time to feed)  A snake that has been recently handled or frightened in some way can go off his food and even having a vivarium that is overcrowded or too large can affect their appetite.  Some males go off their food if they want to mate and females can go off their food if they are heavy with eggs.

Before you fly into a panic, look for a reason first. Can any of the above reasons be the cause for his loss of appetite or is your snake ill? If in any doubt call your local vet – never leave a worrying problem for long as it could be dangerous or even fatal.

The gecko is a small lizard that can be found in warm climates all over the world.  They are also unique in being able to make chirping sounds to communicate with other geckos.

Unusually, they have no eyelids but periodically they lick the transparent membrane over their eyes clean with their tongue.  They have little toes which have an amazing ability to stick to many surfaces. However, the Leopard Gecko is an exception as this species does have eyelids but doesn’t have toe pads, so can’t climb particularly well.

In tropical regions, geckos are common “house guests”.  You may have seen them climbing the walls and ceilings of houses and they help to control insect pests. Geckos come in fantastic colours and patterns and this may account for their popularity as pets. Some species of gecko can even change colour to blend in with their surroundings and also in response to temperature differences.

You should never grab a gecko by its tail as he will drop it as a natural defence mechanism against predators.  It will eventually grow back but it may never regain its original shape and colour. If an accident of this nature does happen, then please make sure that your gecko is well-fed and cared for and separate it from any other geckos  until his tail has regrown.

Leopard Geckos have been known to live for over 20 years so please give careful thought before deciding to keep one as a pet. Remember as well that Geckos are usually nocturnal so you may not see much of them during the light hours of day.

If you decide to purchase a few Geckos, you can keep keep them together but it is better to avoid putting more than one male in the vivarium because two males could fight to the death.  Equally, only keep males and females together if you’re prepared to cope with numerous offspring!

Always ensure that you purchase a vivarium that is large enough for your geckos – the bigger the better. You should also provide hiding places and things to climb such as logs and perhaps some commercial reptile caves and any other features which will make the vivarium an interesting place to live. You can also just use cardboard boxes but make sure that you provide your geckos with a hiding place in a damp area, which will help with shedding. You could use a plastic container with damp soil or moss inside and a hole in the lid for easy access.

Paper or indoor carpet are good to put in the base of the vivarium but Try to avoid things like sand and wood shavings for baby geckos as they may eat it and cause themselves intestinal blockages.  Adult geckos are fine with sand in the bottom of their vivarium.

You don’t have to provide UV lighting for leopard geckos as they are nocturnal reptiles but they still need to have a basking spot under an incandescent bulb.  It is adviseable to use a red bulb or even a ceramic heating element to provide the warmth or maybe an undertank heater. The temperature gradient should range from low 80s F (around 27 C) in the day to mid 70s F (around 25 C) at night, with a basking spot of around 90 F (32 C).

Leopard geckos like to feed on insects in the wild so provide him with a diet of crickets, mealworms, waxworms and even pinkie mice sometimes as a treat. Make sure the insects are “gut-loaded” at least 24 hours before feeding and dust them with a calcium or Vitamin D supplement, especially for young lizards. Most young geckos need to be fed daily but adults can be fed every other day.

Before choosing, it’s worth considering a number of things ……

Does your dog like to spend a lot of time outside?  If he does, you should consider looking for a waterproof dog bed.  ideas-4-pets have a good range of waterproof dog beds which come in various shapes and sizes to suit your dog’s particular needs.  They are ideal for dogs who love to go on long walks in muddy fields or who enjoy a swim in the sea or paddling in the streams or puddles.  The great thing about waterproof beds is that they dry very quickly.  You can get them in a commercial material for using outside -  just hose them down if they get muddy – or buy a lighter weight material for in the house. 

The waterproof material they are made from also resists infestations so are extremely hygienic.  If you want a softer bed but still like the idea of a waterproof dog bed, then why not look at one with a waterproof inner cushion and a washable outer cover.  If your dogs spends a lot of time in an outdoor dog kennel then waterproof dog beds are the ideal solution – easily kept clean, hygienic and comfortable too.

If your dog is getting older, recovering from an operation, suffers from joint problems or is just spoilt and who loves his comfort, then look for an orthopaedic dog bed.  They also come in different shapes and sizes and can be made from either a whole piece of memory foam or crumbed memory foam.  They can be more expensive than other dog beds but have the added advantage of keeping their shape and they also mould to your dog’s shape offering both comfort and support for your dog.

If your dog is just a lazy hound who likes to laze around in luxury then a designer dog bed would fit the bill.  A designer dog bed will offer your dog a unique, stylish bed that will stand out from the rest.  You can choose from leather dog beds, raised metal dog beds,  comfy cotton dog beds in striking colours and designs or why not look at a mattress so that he can really spread out !!  

ideas-4-pets have an large, innovative selection of dog beds in almost every shape and size and we are constantly adding new dog beds to our range.  We have recently added some new designer beds by Wallace & Jones.   Why not take a look and choose from prices and designs that will suit everyone’s requirements – not least your pampered pooch !!

Young dogs can do permanent damage to their growing limbs by jumping up and down from high places and so Safety pet stairs are a great help.

They are also ideal if your dog is infirm and finds it hard to reach the sofa, the bed or the car. These simple but sturdy pet stairs make it easier for both your dog and for you. Why lift your pet and risk hurting him when you can make it easier on him and your back with these safety stairs!

As animals age, they find it more difficult to reach their favourite places. Safety dog stairs make reaching higher places easier and require much less effort for your dog. A steep incline can be a challenge to some dogs whereas they are used to stairs or steps and usually take to them easily.

Make life easier for your frail dog or cat with an easy way up onto their chair or sofa with these lightweight safety dog stairs.

ideas-4-pets have a fantastic range of chicken coops. There are chicken coops to suit every pocket and whether you want to keep 2 chickens or 100 chickens, we have a chicken coop to suit your needs.

The Covered Cottage chicken coop has been a best seller and now the larger model of this chicken coop with a nesting box attached is coming at the end of March. Be one of the first to order this new product !!

The electric dog bath is a fantastic product – ideal for both the professional dog groomer and at home. It will conquer the three most difficult aspects of home grooming which are lifting your dog into the bath, containing your dog once in the bath and draining the dog bath when bathing is finished.

The electric dog bath has an anti-slip base so your dog will not slip or slide and because

Bathing your dog in the electric dog bath can now be transformed from a dreaded chore into a bonding experience for both you and your precious pet!
It will lift the largest of dogs with ease so no more bad backs as you lean into the family bath. The electric dog bath also has a step to help old, ill or heavy dogs to get in and out of the bath with ease – so no more lifting struggling pets.

A clean dog is a happier, healthier dog!

And what better after having a bath than to groom your dog on one of our excellent dog grooming tables. These are priced to suit all pockets and range from a basic adjustable height dog grooming table to a hydraulic dog grooming table which is ideal for the professional dog groomer.

Look out for the new electric dog grooming table which will be coming soon to ideas-4-pets

It’s a great idea to have a Dog Dry Bag in the car as it keeps your dog clean and contained when he’s been in the field and he’s muddy or wet.

At home, the Dog Dry Bag is brilliant when he comes in from the garden with muddy paws because you can just pop him in the bag until he’s dry and then brush him down before he puts paw prints all over your clean carpet!

At bath-time I wouldn’t be without a Dog Dry Bag because your dog’s own body heat will speed up the drying process and because he’s contained he won’t career around the house shaking himself all over the place !!

The Dog Dry Bag is easy to use – just lay it out on the floor, pop Fido in it and draw up the drawstring comfortably around his neck and there you go – one contained and warm dog who will sit quietly in his bed until dry !!