I have only been away for a weekend once in a LONG LONG TIME

so now I am going in Aug. for a WEEK I would be excited but I don't like to leave them for so long!

I do have someone comeing to the house to help out, but she isn't one to touch or care for lizards and other herps...so this is a problem for me!

I think she can handle the light for them...but beyond that I need help.

Especially for Sunshine my leo...she like crickets and I doubt the preson coming will feed her this! I can try to put abunch of mealies in a dish and hope she eats them while I am gone, but I will be so worried the whole time I am gone..so what do I do? Plus water? I could fill acouple dishes to last a week, but I am not sure that will work and may not be changed for so long I don't like that. I hope I can at leat get ehr to do the lights and mabey hopefully give her water! then I will be ok if I can get Sunshine to eat mealworms...any thoughts?

I have a newt and an African clawed frog to think about oo. I think I can put some goldfish in with the frog and she will be fine..and the newt could be a problem unless small rosie reds will work for her, but she isn't very fast anymore and I doubt she will be able to catch them...I could also try a dish of mealies for her she does love them! Would that work? I think those two will be alright...thought?

I have hemits that shpuld be fine food wis fi I find a food that won't go bad in the heat and humidity?

my furries are not a problem since she isn't afraid of them
I have plenty of time to show her what needs to be done, but I worry!

That's going to be an issue for me as well which I need to figure out sooner than later.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

if you wanted to make the long haul and bring them out to BelAir, I would take care of them. i'm not too sure how transportable their enclosures are.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

You could put some of the food for each animal in little dishes (one for each animal for each feeding day), so that all she has to do is take the cap off and put it in the cage (or dump it in, if it's full of crickets or such). Get her one of those water cans with a really long spout to refill the water, that way she really doesn't have to reach into the cage much at all.

Actually, though, it might be easier to see if you can find someone to come with her who isn't squeamish about bugs or reptiles. Someone who will be able to change out food dishes and water, while she takes care of the lights.

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"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

Wow tough one for the leo.

To take care of lights is easy, just buy a timer in any of Home Depot stores set the time for them to come on and forget it

For fresh drinking water get this Zoo med water dispenser.

Hmm if you have a swimming area in the enclosure maybe attaching an aquarium filter will help? This way the person that comes in can just see if there is enough water in the pool and if there isnt just add more.

As for feeding this is hard... I wonder if there is a way to make an automated cricket feeding device... I haven't come up with the idea yet but I am sure you can attach some cricket box to a time for it to open twice a day and crickets will come jump out.

Also you could try one of these it may last you some time since crickets come out very slowly.


hmm.. what else

also maybe if you get dead mealworms that are in the can you can get a vibrating dish and the person to take care of them can just put them on the dish and pres a button and it will vibrate this way he/she wont have to touch them.


Phew sorry if not very helpful but this is what I could come up with so far

If you're heading south, Paige, you can bring them to me, lol!

I am very fortunate in that one of the assistants at my vet's office is a herp-lover. She is also willing to stay at our house to keep my cat and elderly dog company. She's a gem!

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Amy

What I did when I went on vacation last year was typed up a care sheet for each set of animals..(that would be 5 bearded dragons, 17 baby corns, 5 adult Bp's and 7 adult corns, 5 adult leopard geckos)..My awesome mother ended up having to take care of them for me after someone backed out, so I had to make it simple, lol. Once I had the sheet typed up, I put a labeled on each enclosure. for those eating mealies, I bought 7 days worth of mini tupperware contairs, labeled them with each eaters name then but the mealies in there after I put a couple of holes. Worked like a charm. All she had to do was to dump them in the dish. For the baby corns, she used a large syringe to fill up the water cups...peace of cake

If my mother can do it,,,anybody can!!

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MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

thanks so much you all are great help!

I think she may be able to handle this advice I have enough time to try and get her less squeemish and me to be more comfortable to leave them! (which I think is my main problem I don't want to leave them lol)
Thanks for offering to take care of them for me Amy and Liz you all are very sweet! I doubt that is possible for me to bring them to you but I would feel more comfortable about experience friends doing the job.

I think I have a big enough dish to put water in for Sunshine, but she would drown in it would she? BUT that is the last resort if I can't get this person to do the water...which Sunshine is an Angel so maybe I can get her over the fear before I worry about it. I think if Sunshine was hungrey she would eat the mealies form the dish? don;t you? I could put a bunch in there and hope she eats them...and maybe talk theis person into makeing sure she is eating..and if Sunshine won't eat the mealies then possibly I can get some containers (like Marsha said) ready for an emergency feed..and to set my mind at ease...I don't know if I can handle this has ha ha!

I am sure the others will be fine...I know my frog will be..and the crabs should be as long as the lights are done and maybe spray down the tank that isn't so much to ask, right?

My newt is fat enough lol, but seriously I think she can find a dish of mealies on her shelf....she is old but I think she can handle it...I can put a small fish or two in the tank to be safe?

I just want to be sure I think of everything.

I mean even if the worst happens and my cuties (herp side) doesn't eat for a week will it kiil them....they wouldn't NOT eat if the food is there and they were hungry..so I won't come home to dead pets, right. I fear this big time.

The last time I went away for vaction for like two weeks a LONG TIME AGO I was a kid...my ferrets were attacked by a dog and one was killed! I was so upset..and I suspect the people taking care of them didn't shut the cage right or something cuase it has never been an issue before that. I think maybe that is why I freak out when I have to leave...which isn't too healthy I guess cause I do need a vacation =)

I also have a fear of dryer getting my car cause my ferret went in a joy ride in there once thankfully survived, but was very hot...and scared! but that is a different situation

I know in my area we have a few pet stores that will actually board your herps for you. the rates are reasonable and to my knowledge they are well taken care of. You couls also ask your vet.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

Here is a link to Tricia's Pet Sitter's list. Click on your state, and hopefully you'll find someone nearby. I'm not sure how often it's updated, but it is another source.

Herp sitters List (US States A - M) - reptile, snake, lizard, turtle, tort, toad, frog, amphibian

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~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck