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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 18, 2015 22:25:34 GMT
I put cockroaches in the title because I know many of you do not like buggies, but I am very fond of my little pets. My two Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches, Rosie and Alfie Cuddle-Bugs have had babies so I guess that makes me a grandma.
Quite understand if you don't want to share, but I really love them.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by Bean on Aug 19, 2015 9:04:52 GMT
I must confess it's not something I'd think of keeping as a pet myself, but am glad you enjoy them and it must be fascinating to watch them.
I'd certainly like to know more about them. What sort of enclosure do they live in and what do they like? Also, do you get them out or just leave them to their own devices - wondering if there's anything in the Cuddle-Bugs part of the name?!
Oh and congrats on being a grandma! How many babies have they had or is it hard to count?!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 19, 2015 14:11:27 GMT
Congrats on becoming a grandmother Bugs aren't my choice, but I know you like them. Adding babies is a big deal
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 19, 2015 20:44:11 GMT
Thank you so much ladies for your kind reply despite not really being fans, I appreciate it very much. They live in a vivarium love which has two heat mats attached one at the side and one on the back. They eat virtually anything but I give them as much variety as possible. Today they have banana which is a favourite, apple and cucumber. It is very hard to count the babies at the moment, there is a coconut hut in there and they are all underneath it with mum dad and their older sisters and brothers who came with mum and dad. I had no idea Rosy was preggie, her little tummy wasn't distended or anything so I had a real shock when I saw them, they are so cute though. I do get them out for a "cuddle" but I am leaving them alone at the moment because I don't want any of the babies escaping. Cuddle-Bugs is the last name I have given to them love, the guinea pigs all have the last name "Cuddle-Hugs" so I thought to nice to have the babies called "Cuddle-Bugs". I have Alfie and Rosy who are mum and dad, the children they came with are still young and cannot determine what sex they are so cannot name them and obviously all the little choaties (my name for baby anything) are just "The Kiddies" at the moment I will keep you posted and thank you so much for your interest.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 20, 2015 2:55:21 GMT
A pet is a pet, even if it's not the normal variety of what you'd expect. I had a friend who kept a tarantula; a spider the size of my hand is not something I want to be near, so I kept my visits to a minimum while he had it. Some friends of mine also knew a man who kept a tiger as a pet, although this is where things start to get over the line. They showed me pictures of where he had a giant bruise on his shoulder after he fed it and turned his back to it- it reached through the bars and smacked him with a paw out of instinct. Now, if I had to choose a pet, I would pick a dog, who is known for loyalty, as opposed to something that tries to kill me any chance it gets!
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Post by Bean on Aug 20, 2015 7:19:08 GMT
I always think it's important to think what sort of animals you can provide a good quality of life for too, and the majority of big cats people try to keep as pets don't end up thriving.
My sister and her daughter have just been to Monkey World (a sanctuary/ educational facility as well as a tourist attraction) and the stories they had from there were pretty dire. People just think 'Oooh I'd like one of those please!' and don't think about what that animal needs.
We have votes for having dogs from the kids, and my son swears I'll never have to pick up a poo (which really puts me off)! But I know I would... It's such a big commitment too - all the walking and needing for someone to be home a lot. There's a family we see at the park who have the happiest dog I've ever met - a lovely chocolate spaniel. She is so sweet and about the only dog who makes me forget why I wouldn't want a dog right now!
Thanks for telling us more about your cockroaches Jo. I have more questions - firstly do they actually hiss, and if so, is it response to something or a general noise they make? Can your vivarium accommodate all the babies or will you have to expand or find homes for the babies? How big are the adult ones fully grown? I must confess I don't even know whether cockroaches lay eggs or have little babies?!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 20, 2015 19:13:26 GMT
That "We'll do all the work, and you won't have to do anything," works for about a week If you get a dog, be prepared to take care of it. I knew a man who had a lioness and and elephant for pets. Didn't go over at all well with the neighbors, as he had a fence around his property that was like a prison fence. Even with the barbed wire on top. They weren't too upset about him having the lion there, but when he moved the elephant there, and she trumpeted all night, that was too much. The neighbors put up such a ruckus about it, he was forced to send the lioness to a lion compound, and return his elephant to the elephant compound where she'd been living. Sad, but he had the wrong house in the wrong neighborhood, and it didn't work well, at all. Lisa, the lioness, lived free-range in the house. She did have a caged in area attached to the house, in case any non-lion loving people had to enter the house, but otherwise she lived in the house. I have a phobic fear of snakes, and am happy that most NH towns have banned the private keeping of any type of snake. Monkeys and other primates have also been banned from most New Hampshire cities and towns. I have a friend who would love to live in NH, but she also wants to have a Capybara as a pet. Not here!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 20, 2015 19:39:37 GMT
Firstly I want to thank you all for your kind emails. I have a Tarantula to Bazookagoof love, she is a Curly Hair and her name is Fluffy, I have had her for 15 years now and we love her to bits. I have had all sorts; lizards, praying mantids, stick insects, beetles, frogs, ferrets, a barn owl and not forgetting snakes and millipedes. I draw the line at centipedes or anything nasty, to me they are just not a pet.
You are right Bean hun, it is important to really think things through before you buy any pet, I always do. The family Cuddle-Bugs are in a roomy enough home; I am very keen for them to be happy.
They do actually hiss Bean hunny, they have holes along the side of their bodies and they hiss when disturbed. When I first went to pick Alfie up he hissed at me, really telling me to go away but not as politely LOL!! He is getting used to me now love him and he will sit on my hand waving his little feelers at me, he is so cute. Some if not all of the babies will have to be sent back to the lady I had the roaches from because I cannot possibly keep them all. As she is a business she has plenty of tank space. Alfia is nearly 3 inches long and they have live babies, that is why I had such a shock when I saw them running around. They were born white but soon turned brown. You do see some dreadful things at these so called sanctuaries I know, many of them should not be allowed.
That is true Piggles love, the parents always have to end up looking after a pet when they child has become sick of it, this is why we get so cross here when they say guineas and bunnies make good childrens' pets, only if the adult is prepared to do ALL that is necessary.
I think people can go to far with the pets they have. Perhaps if they have huge houses and land and really know what they are doing but even them I am not sure. I would love a leopard or something similar but it wouldn't be practical and they can turn on you at any time, as lovely as they are. I adore elephants and would love to cuddle a trunk. It is nice to hear how Lisa lived in the house, if I were to have something like that it would be the same, free all the time. I love snakes but don't have one at the moment. Our friends at Porfell Animal Land have a Capybara called Bertha and I have cuddled her, she is lovely.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 21, 2015 2:58:52 GMT
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Post by Bean on Aug 21, 2015 17:00:23 GMT
Haha! There's a tv program my kids love called 'Marrying Mum and Dad' - where the kids plan their parents wedding. They think it looks like the greatest fun have asked for us to get divorced so we can apply to go on it and remarry their way?! (It involves zombies chasing us and trampolines...)
Anyway, the kids on it are usually pretty young, so the day often revolves around stuff they like, but it's generally pretty nice and good fun. But they do play pranks too. One of the dads was petrified of spiders, so the kids put the ring boxes (both of their rings, and some empty ones) in some enclosures with tarantulas. The dad had to pick them out before they could start the ceremony. Harsh, but despite the mum thinking he'd bottle it (and him looking very grey and shaky), he cracked on with it!
Thanks for telling me about your cockroaches, Jo. I can see you get a lot of enjoyment from them and from looking after them well. It's great the lady you got them from can help you with the babies too. I expect they'll have more soon enough too?! I doubt that neutering a cockroach is feasible!
I should just clarify that the monkeys at Monkey World were very well cared for in big enclosures - it was their back stories that were awful. Don't want to give the place a bad reputation as it sounds great!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 21, 2015 19:04:26 GMT
What sort is she Bazookagoof love and what is her name? That TV programme does sound a hot, I love programmes involving kids they are always brilliant. No neutering a cockroach is not possible Bean love, I only wish it were and she keeps forgetting to take her pill LOL! I don't know how often this happens and the lady I bought her from cannot tell me because she keeps all hers together so she never knows who the mums are. I will be on the look out that is for sure. I appreciate your interest hunny. I am glad the Monkeys are OK Bean, bless them. We have a Monkey Sanctuary near us (Wooly Monkeys) and that is supposed to be excellent.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 21, 2015 19:05:52 GMT
Sorry Bazookagoof love I read that incorrectly, I thought you said you have a tarnatula too.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 21, 2015 20:47:35 GMT
I'm glad Bertha is in a good place. In the US, Capybaras are either breeding pairs, kept alone or kept in petting zoos. One person has two, but since they are both male, they don't bond with each other. The younger capy bonded with the older capy, but the older one bonded with the husband. None of them are kept in particularly capy-friendly, natural habitats. I hope Bertha is It was on the news last week that a person wore a python into a restaurant, and claimed it was a therapy animal. Got tossed out, probably after most of the patrons ran out screaming. I know I would have!!!
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Post by bazookagoof on Aug 21, 2015 23:13:04 GMT
Sorry Bazookagoof love I read that incorrectly, I thought you said you have a tarnatula too. Hugs JO xx It's all good. There's no way anyone in my house could stand having a tarantula in it. I do allow spiders in my house because they help kill nasty bugs.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 22, 2015 18:59:30 GMT
She certainly is Piggles love and thank you for your concern. She has a huge field but unfortunately no partner anymore as he died. I adore snakes but I certainly wouldn't take one into a restaurant, it is cruel to both the snake and the people in there. You do get some dickheads!!!
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 22, 2015 21:12:42 GMT
No Tarantulas in our house, either, as daughter is really afraid of them. I don't mind spiders, and don't kill them. I try to catch them and put them outside.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Aug 23, 2015 17:37:41 GMT
Sadly most people are piggles love but I am so glad that you do not kill them, killing them is totally wrong. Mum Rosie and dad Alfie and babies are doing well although there seem to be less babies, I hope they haven't eaten them.
Hugs JO xxx
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Post by Bean on Aug 23, 2015 19:55:50 GMT
Is that normal practise? I guess one reason insects have so many babies is because a lot don't survive the first few months - although of course in a nice cosy tank, they have less things to bother them. Glad mum and dad and at least some of the babies are doing well.
Because of the wet weather we've been having, apparently some massive spiders have been found inside people's homes - 12cm across?! We definitely have a bunch of those in our garden shed, but although we've found more indoors than usual for this time of year (I'm mainly ignoring them, as long as they're not hanging down from the ceiling over the loo in which case they get relocated outside), there haven't been any that big!
We're cat sitting at the moment and were presented with a dead mouse today! Apparently it's highly unusual for then to bring in mice, so I guess we must be special?!
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Post by 3piggles on Aug 23, 2015 20:40:38 GMT
We got dead mice, birds and chipmunks from all of our cats! The cat I finally took to the rescue for rehoming kept bringing live snakes into the basement. The laundry and pantry were in the basement, and I was too afraid to go in the basement to use them. Hubby always tried to find the snakes, but rarely did, so I figured they were in the basement waiting for me!!!
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Post by Bean on Aug 24, 2015 7:57:06 GMT
Oooh that would have been a bit scary for most people, let alone someone with a snake phobia! Mind you, could be a good excuse to get out of doing the laundry?!
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