Fulton County 4-H AQUATIC SCIENCE SUPPLEMENT FOR NON-FISH EXHIBITS

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1 Fulton County 4-H AQUATIC SCIENCE SUPPLEMENT FOR NON-FISH EXHIBITS Information from Mississippi State University April 2011

2 4-H Members are not limited to the following animals. This is for general information only. Frogs Pet frogs are interesting and fun to watch. They come in a variety of colors, and some can change color. You find frogs almost everywhere from north to south. They have a head and body but no real neck. The skin is usually smooth and moist. Frogs' legs are much longer than their arms and are a great delicacy. A frog cannot walk but can leap. A bullfrog holds the record for the longest leap of more than five feet per jump for three jumps. If you are looking for a pet with a big voice, you can't go wrong with a frog. Frogs are amphibious, which means they lead double lives. Their life starts in a pond or stream. At this stage, they look nothing like their parents. Young frogs are called tadpoles or polliwogs. As they grow older, many species move out of water onto land. At this time, they become air breathers, and lungs replace their gills. Frogs at a Glance Choosing a Pet Frog - Select from the tree frog, which is the smallest; bullfrog; green frog; and yellow-legged frog. Shelter - A large, covered aquarium. A cage with solid bottom, a glass front, and small mesh wire for sides. Size: 24 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 18 inches high. Equipment - Cake pan for water, rocks, etc. Training - Not easy to train. Should not be handled very much. Feeding - Thumb Rule - Feed only amount of insects or mealworms they will eat each day. Kind of Feed - Insects or mealworms Taking Care of Your Frog Common Ailments - Frogs have few diseases if you feed them properly and the cage is properly ventilated. Health Care - Change water when dirty. Keep excess food picked up. In case of sickness, turn frog loose in natural habitat. Immunization - None Period of Gestation - Eggs hatch from 4-15 days. Length of Life - Some frogs may live more than 15 years in captivity.

3 Toads Toads are familiar animals to young boys and girls. They find them in backyards and gardens feeding on insects, usually late in the afternoon. A toad is a kind of frog. He has dry skin, no teeth, or upper jaw. He spends most of his life on land but goes to ponds, rivers, or swamps to lay eggs. The young toad is called a tadpole. The old tale that toads cause warts is not true. Toads have a rough or warty skin. This warty skin secretes a substance that is irritating to the eyes and mouth of an enemy. This is why a dog or a cat quickly drops a toad it has picked up. After handling a toad, you should always wash your hands with plenty of soap and water. Toads at a Glance Choosing a Pet Toad - Select from plain brown to black, greenish, or red spots. Shelter - Aquarium with three inches of water at one end, sand and rocks at the other end. Or a cage 2 feet by 18 inches high with a glass front and small mesh wire on each side. Equipment - If you use a cage, include a cake pan with soft dirt and a pan with shallow water. Training - Should not be handled very much. Raising Toads - In the spring, look around the edge of ponds or streams for toad eggs. The eggs are long, jelly-looking strings. Fill a quart jar about one-half full of pond water. Hold jar in water and gently push some eggs into jar. Keep jar lid off. Put the jar in a warm, sunshiny place until eggs hatch. Then transfer the tadpoles to an aquarium. Eggs will hatch in from 2 to 12 days. Feeding - Toads drink water through their skin and not by mouth. This water comes from dew. Most toads stay buried in the soil during daytime and come out at night to feed on insects. Thumb Rule - Feed only the amount of insects or mealworms they will eat each day. Kind of Feed - Insects, earthworms, or mealworms. Taking Care of Your Toad Common Ailments - Toads have few diseases if properly fed and if cage is properly ventilated. Health care - Clean water when dirty. Keep excess food picked up. In case of sickness, turn toad loose in natural habitat. No immunization is necessary. Length of Life - Usually one to two years.

4 Turtles If you are looking for a pet to add to your 4-H Pet Care Project, why not get one that can tell time? If you feed turtles at the same time and same place each day, they will be there waiting. 4-H'ers and others buy many turtles each year. They are inexpensive and easy to care for. They don't smell or make a mess. You can entertain your friends with a first class turtle race. A turtle pet sounds like a winner. Turtles are reptiles that have existed for more than 250,000,000 years, during which they have changed little. There are more than 250 kinds of turtles. Three different names describe them: tortoise, turtle, and terrapin. Most of us think of the box turtle as a terrapin, a turtle that closes up completely. Generally speaking, there are two types of turtles: the cryptodira and the pleurodira. The cryptodira turtle can draw its head into his shell. The pleurodira turtle swings his head to one side along his shoulder. Your Health - Pet turtles can transmit intestinal disorders to people. Pet turtles can be a source of salmonella. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling. Turtles shipped from one state to another should be isolated until you are sure they are disease-free. Turtles in the Yard - Catch a turtle native to your area. Put it in a turtle yard where shade and sun are available. Include a mud wallow and a moist place. A low fence used to edge flowers is sufficient. Pile leaves in one corner of the pen for hibernation. You can keep a box tortoise through the winter by burying it in the ground below the frostline. Bury the terrapin about the middle of October when he becomes sluggish. Dig him up about the middle of April. Turtles at a Glance Choosing a Pet Turtle - Select turtles commonly sold at pet stores. Shelter and Equipment - Plastic or glass terrarium, Rocks, 40-watt bulb about 6 inches above the rocks Thermostatically controlled heater (75 to 80 degrees). Breeding - The ordinary home terrarium is not suitable for breeding. Most turtles raised for pets are born in a natural habitat. Feeding - Thumb Rule - Feed all the food he can eat. Remove food he hasn't eaten within a couple of hours. Kind of Feed - Raw table meat, fish, and earthworms. Small amount of tomatoes or lettuce. Taking Care of Your Turtle Common Ailments - Turtles have few diseases if you feed them properly and maintain proper temperature. Health Care - Need sunshine. Keep water clean. Feed properly. Length of Life - Usually three to four years in captivity.

5 Chameleons Now you can own a pet that changes its colors. This color change occurs through a combination of light, temperature, and mood of the animal. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? That's only the beginning. Your pet chameleon can look up with one eye and down with the other. Its tail is another unusual feature. It is brittle and easily broken. If this happens, don't worry; it will grow a new one. A chameleon is a reptile, a member of the lizard family. It has a body about three inches long, four legs, and long tail, short teeth, and a layer of scales. The male chameleon has a dewlap, an extra fold of skin on the throat. When meeting another male or when in danger, the chameleon will puff out its dewlap. The chameleon is sold in pet shops. Given proper care, these little animals do well in captivity and become quite tame. Chameleons at a Glance Choosing a Pet Chameleon - If you start with more than one chameleon, you may let females stay together, along with one male. Keep only those of the same size. Never put two males together. (To determine sex, place a mirror in front of the chameleon. The male will inflate his dewlap and try to attack the mirror.) Shelter - A large mouth gallon jug made into a terrarium or regular terrarium may be used. Equipment - Colored gravel along with artificial plants and a small rock. Easy To Train - Gain his confidence by leading him with a string around the room. Teach him to jump through a hoop, climb a ladder, and seesaw. Breeding - In June, July, or August, the female chameleon will lay two or more eggs. Eggs are light green or light brown. The female will move the eggs in a few days under a small pile of leaves or sand. The mother's job is now complete. After eggs hatch, the babies look after themselves. You can make an incubator from a quart jar. Fill the jar with two inches of sand, and cover sand with moist moss. Punch holes in jar top. Set the jar in the sunlight. Keep moss and sand moist. Eggs will hatch in four to eight weeks. Feed the baby chameleons sugar dissolved in water with an eyedropper and meat on a fine straw. After two weeks they will be able to catch insects. When the baby chameleons are the size of an adult, put them in a larger terrarium. Remember; never put two males in the same terrarium. Feeding - Thumb Rule - A chameleon eats little and can go without food for two weeks. During the summer, place a piece of fruit in the terrarium to draw insects. Water - Provide water by sprinkling lukewarm water on the plants in the terrarium each day. Feeding Time - Feed during daylight hours. Kind of Food - Feed insects in summer months. In winter you can buy grubs, mealworms, or fruit flies. Taking Care of Your Chameleon Common Ailments - Colds and larvae of a botfly. Relatively free of diseases. Health Care - Keep terrarium warm in winter with a light bulb. If you find a worm-like larva in the body, pull it straight out with tweezers. Length of Life - Up to five years Immunization - None