Exotic pets

This is my chameleon Spikey, he is six months old. I’ve always wanted a chameleon because I like how they change colour and move slowly. They are different to other lizards; they are not nocturnal and they have a real love for their owner. The only steps out onto my hand from his vivarium and for no one else. I have to feed him every day. He has five locusts and five crickets. He doesn’t like worms. I have to make sure his water Phoebe mister is full and that he has his vitamin drops. This sprays into his vivarium every hour and he licks the water droplets off his leaves. I have to feed the bugs first so that their bellies are full of vegetables. Then dust them with his vitamin. The bugs really like to eat parsley, they eat it all up! Soon Spikey will only eat every other day; Then when he is a year old he will be fed once a week. I love how he runs up to me and clasps his hands around my fingers. He takes a lot of care and I have to do it right or he can became poorly and could die. He spends a lot of time under his basking spot to keep warm in the day. If it’s a hot sunny day I take him outside, he loves climbing our Olive tree. At night, his heat lamp and light turn off. He curls up and goes to sleep in the cold. When he is in a deep sleep he turns red because he is happy. He goes to bed at 7 pm and wakes up at 7 am.

Phoebe is a ‘honeybear’ or Kinkajous and is looking forward to welcoming visitors at the Exotic Pet Refuge when they have their first opening of the season on Sunday Auugust 16th - please support them this year - they have been looking after unwanted and unloved pets all year and need your help now more than ever! Please see the link below to order tickets.There will be some differences compared to usual open days, there will be no food or hot drinks but cold drinks and toilets will be available. You may find some areas are closed off and some areas are one way systems. They will be doing all they can to keep staff, animals and visitors safe so please check with the facebook page for updates before you attend https://buytickets.at/exoticpetrefugh/396206

Ragdoll Cats are large, powerful, and imposing with distinctive markings but when they are picked up they become very relaxed and floppy like a ragdoll - hence their name! First bred in California in the 1960s, probably from a Persian queen and a Birman tom, we do have some of this breed in the Deepings Meet Rupert (seated) and Bella Boo. To this Deeping family, bearded dragons are the loveliest and easiest of pets! Draco is friendly and loves sitting in the kitchen watching the cooking or on someone’s lap watching TV! He only goes to the loo every other day and that can easily be dealt with by tissue. They go into brumation (hibernationlike state for cold-blooded animals) throughout the winter so when they stop eating and get lethargic they are getting ready to go to sleep. If you get them from a baby and take your time to handle them gently every day, they will be running up to the glass to come out when you come in the room. It’s best not to change their tank around when you clean them out as new decorations and different arrangement of the vivarium can cause stress. Make sure, though, that the lighting is right and the vivarium is big enough for your bearded dragon to be happy in.

Jimmy Riddle, aged between 80-90 years old has called Deeping his home for 48 years. He is a Mediterranean Spur Thigh and hibernates in a garage for five months, otherwise he is free range in a contained garden. He can feel a rapid drop in air pressure and quickly goes inside his house before the rain starts. He walks towards his owners, listens to their voices and loves to have his shell rubbed. He has climbed over a fence around the pond twice and been fished out from the bottom and survived! He once escaped, was missing for a week but after flyers were put out he was safely returned. He has participated in a tortoise race at a garden fete and done the rounds of the local playgroups. He went out to stud in Spalding but didn’t cooperate. He is considered as a family heirloom to be passed down through the family in the same way that others pass down jewellery! 39