Here in the Oasis dwells many creatures that I have worked really hard to research and understand. There are many people who choose to walk into their local pet store and trust the employees and brochures that offer information on animals without questioning any of it. That is not me. I have always prided myself on fully researching any animal that I wanted before going out to get one. When anyone takes in an animal, they are responsible for their comfort, health, and lively hood. Caring for animals such as mine are a full-time commitment and isn’t something that I take lightly. Through my research I have learned a lot about the animals that have stolen my heart, and dwell in my Oasis. I have two birds, two snakes, and two lizards. I don’t claim to be an expert on all of my animals because I never stop learning about them, but I hope that sharing this information encourages people to do their research before committing to taking one of these lives under their care. 

            Birds are such an enjoyable animal to have. They can be a lot of work though. A few years ago, I had been walking into my home and ended up spotting a baby bird sprawled out in a corner of my front porch. At the time I was concerned it had passed away. After waiting an appropriate time to see if his mom was going to come and feed him, even if he had fallen from the nest, I decided to intervene. Intervening in a case like this is not always the right thing to do, but I was determined that the little thing would live. I grabbed a paper towel, which is necessary because wild birds can have mites or parasites and scooped him up gently realizing he was alive. His yellow maw opened wide and released a stream of desperate chirps. I found a box to keep him in and layered a small plastic container with paper towels in order to make him a nest and keep him warm. I knew warmth was a priority. Taking my heated blanket, I had placed it under and over the box. This kept him warm as I began to research. I found that he was a European Starling, and that the best thing to do was call a wildlife rehabilitator. I called my vet and asked for local rehabbers and couldn’t get in touch with anyone. I Googled possible rehabbers, sending many emails and leaving even more voicemails. Time wasn’t this little bird’s friend though, so I researched what a baby would eat. European Starling’s that young needed protein, calcium and a varied number of other vitamins. I quickly learned that I could mix high protein cat food with, chicken feed, Tums tablets, and applesauce to create a stable diet for the begging ball of feathers. The first time he successfully ate was such an amazing moment for me. I knew at that point he would make it. Over many days of feeding him every 30-45 minutes during daytime hours, he grew strong. When he became a fledgling (or juvenile bird) I knew If I was to release him, I’d have to do it soon. My plans were halted though when I learned that raising a baby Starling from that age up meant that he had imprinted on me. Imprinting is a survival technique that animals have that causes them to identify with the animal that has raised them. My European Starling now saw himself as a part of my flock and would no longer identify other European Starlings as kin. This meant he would be mine. This was exciting and scary because he could grow to be a 15-20-year-old bird if he doesn’t have health problems later in life. I named him Euro and have been caring for him ever since. His care is demanding because I have to handmake his food, but he is amazing. Euro’s favorite things are crickets and mimicking my whistles. He is able to say short phrases like “I love you,” and, “Gimme kisses,” which is adorable. Luckily, within Georgia, European Starling’s are not illegal to own. The species of bird is actually an invasive species that was introduced to the country long ago. I feel lucky to have such an amazing animal. 

I do also have a budgie, more commonly known as a parakeet. He is green and yellow. His kind originates in Australia. Out of my two birds he is the easier one to care for. His name is Everett. Everett is very vocal during day time hours and his trill little melodies are beautiful. After a while, some caregivers become irritated by their near constant chirping, but I have become accustomed to it. This type of bird is also small and can be typically found in pet stores. The problem with being able to easily get them from pet stores is that people purchase them thinking they are getting a fun bird that will love them and sit on their shoulder immediately. The reality is that these birds have to be hand tamed before they are comfortable enough to form this kind of relationship with you. It took me nearly two years to gain Everett’s trust. If I was more consistent about working with him every day, I probably would have been able to cut that time in half, but it is a lot of work to hand tame a parakeet. They are naturally skittish and slow to trust, which adds a layer of difficulty to owning them. Everett, I feel, is a good example though that no one should give up on hand taming their birds. Their diets are simple and consist mostly of store-bought parakeet seed, and millet. What they do not tell you in the stores is that they should have a steady diet of veggies and fruits as well. Problem with this is that since they have never seen these food items before they end up being more scared of them. This is another battle because then you have to teach your parakeet to trust that the food is not going to hurt them. They are a lot of work, but they can also be very rewarding pets. 

For the snakes, I’ll talk mostly on one of them, but I do have two that I care for. I have Edwin who is my Ball Python, and a Kenyan Sand Boa called Keva. Although Edwin is special and unique to me, Ball Python’s are quite common in the reptile owning world. This is why I will focus on Keva who the Kenyan Sand Boa. Kenyan Sand Boas are from Africa and are one of the smaller breeds of snakes (Boyd, 2013). They reach around maybe 2-3ft max in length with females being much larger than males (Boyd, 2013). They are a very docile snake and are not particularly aggressive. This of course can vary from snake to snake, but I have never had an issue with Keva. I have Keva in a tub setup which is a controversial topic in the reptile keeping world but is an accepted housing method. Tub setups typically hold in the humidity, which is great for my Ball Python, but not so great for a Kenyan Sand Boa. I modified the plastic storage container to make sure there was proper air flow for the snake. Kenyan Sand Boas prefer a humidity of about 30- 40% and the temperatures should be around 90-95 degrees (Kenyan, n.d.). These percentages and temperatures mimic the environment that they are most comfortable in. Keva eats about once every seven days. Since Keva is only about 13-15 inches long, she eats frozen thawed rat pinkies. A snake can eat a prey item two times bigger than itself, but the size of the food must be appropriate for the snake. Keva gets all the nutrition she needs, as well as the hydration she needs, by eating once a week. This is even more frequent that a wild Kenyan Sand Boa would eat. Within her container she has aspen shavings. This allows her to burrow and create tunnels, which is what these snakes are known for. Keva’s head and mouth are shaped to resemble a shovel in order for her to be able to dig quickly. Another interesting physical trait of the Kenyan Sand Boa is their tail which is similarly shaped to their heads as they become adults. This is so that a predator may not figure out the difference between the head and the tail of the snake. These snakes are so interesting, and they make for some adorable little diggers.       

            Lastly, I also have two geckos. I have a Crested Gecko named Tallulah and a Leopard Gecko named Quavo. Leopard Geckos are gorgeous lizards that have a soft but bumpy textured skin. They also have a fat tail which is indication of good health but is awfully cute. They are one of my least difficult to care for animals. He requires a heat mat under his warm hide that is about 90 degrees (Leopard, n.d.). Leopard Geckos require a warm hide and a cool hide, so they are able to regulate their temperature themselves. They also require something called a moist hide. Overall Leopard geckos do not need a high humidity within their enclosure, but having the humid hide allows them to go into an area of higher humidity to shed their skin comfortably. It is interesting because Leopard Geckos will actually eat their shed skin because it has many different vitamins and minerals that they need within it. After a full and healthy shed, Quavo’s colors are always bright and magnificent. There are numerous different looking leopard geckos. The colors and pattern combinations of Leopard Geckos are seemingly endless. When it comes to diet, Quavo mostly eats mealworms. They are small and nutritious and are a staple diet for these geckos. I try to mix it up a little bit and also feed crickets occasionally. They can have other worms such as super worms, horn worms, and wax worms for treats because these are a little fattier than most. They only tricky thing about these reptiles are their supplements. They require 100%calcium powder accessible to them at all times within their enclosure, and they need their worms (or crickets) dusted with calcium that has vitamin D3. Lastly, they require a multivitamin powder. It seems like a lot but once you have a set schedule for your animal, it just becomes a normal routine. Leopard geckos are such a rewarding animal to own. They typically have great personalities and are definitely love their food. Many people love the leopard gecko because their faces look quite expressive, and unlike the crested gecko they have eyelids they close when they sleep. They are adorable when they are sleeping, and with the right care these animals can make incredible pets. 

Having as many pets as I do is not for everyone. I have only taken on the amount that I know I can handle. When people go to adopt animals, they forget that they may need vet care, they may have special needs down the road, they might have an expensive diet, or maybe they will never be able to be hand tamed. All of these are possibilities, especially with reptiles. If there is anything to remember it is to always do your research. Each and every animal I own has been heavily researched. I’m still constantly gathering more information on them. These animals add to the serenity of my oasis. They are wonderful, and always make me smile no matter what I’m going through. I really enjoy getting to know all of their needs and being able to provide for them. In the end, if you do your research your animals will thank you.