| How to Care for Turtles Posted: 04 Nov 2018 01:00 AM PDT Turtles might not be as cuddly as cats or dogs, but they make great pets. Since they can live for decades, be sure you're ready to make a long-term commitment before purchasing a turtle. To keep your pet happy and healthy, provide proper housing, nutrition, and good hygiene. Specific requirements vary by species, so ask the breeder or pet store about exact care instructions for your turtle. EditProviding the Right Shelter - House your turtle in the largest possible enclosure. Keep your turtle in a large glass aquarium. As a rule of thumb, the enclosure's volume should be per of your turtle's shell length. Keep in mind your pet's exact space requirements depend on its species.[1]
- If you have a juvenile turtle, be sure to find out how large it'll be when it's an adult. Suppose you buy your juvenile turtle a tank. If the turtle eventually grows to , that tank will be way too small.
- The tank should also have a secure cover to prevent your turtle from escaping.
- Additionally, aquatic turtles need water deep enough to swim. The water's depth should be at least twice the turtle's length.
- Cover the bottom of the tank with peat moss or soil. Mix together equal parts of wood chips and peat moss or sand and soil. Line the bottom of the tank with about of the mixture.[2]
- Avoid lining the bottom of the tank with gravel. Your turtle could eat the small rocks and choke.
- Make a basking area for your turtle. Make the layer of sand and soil or peat moss and wood chips higher on 1 side of the tank. Build up smooth, wide river rocks or driftwood onto the elevated side of the bedding. This side of the tank should stay dry and rise up out of the water.[3]
- Gently slope the peat moss or soil and river rocks so the incline won't be too steep for your turtle to climb.
- Get a hiding box at the pet supply store and place it in the basking area. Your turtle will appreciate having a cozy spot to hide.
- Keep in mind the water in the tank will need to be deeper if you have an aquatic turtle. Make the basking area's height more than twice the turtle's length to ensure it'll be above water.
- Add water to the tank. You can fill the tank with tap water, provided your water doesn't have high chlorine levels. If you have a box turtle, the water should be shallow enough that the turtle can lift its chin above the surface when it's submerged.[4]
- Box turtles can drown in deeper water. If you have an aquatic species, such as a pond terrapin, remember that the water should be at least twice as deep as the turtle's length.[5]
- Find a chlorine test kit online, at a pet supply store, or at a home improvement store. If your tap water's chlorine level is above 0, fill the tank with bottled water or purchase a dechlorinating agent at the pet supply store.
- Use a reptile lamp to heat the basking zone. Creating a temperature gradient with a hot side and cooler side is an important part of raising reptiles. Purchase a reptile lamp with a reflector at the pet store; make sure it's labeled for reptiles. Keep a thermometer in the tank, and make sure the basking zone's temperature stays between .[6]
- If your reptile lamp uses an incandescent bulb, you'll also need to buy a UVA/UVB fluorescent lamp. UV light provides your turtle with vitamin D, which helps it absorb calcium.
- You'll need to turn the lamp off at night, but the tank cannot cool to less than . If the tank's air and water temperatures get too cool at night, place the the tank on a heating pad and purchase a water heater at the pet store.[7]
- It's wise to set up the tank at least 2 weeks before getting your turtle so you can perfect the temperature and other environmental conditions.
- Install a filter to help keep the water clean. Invest in a filter labeled for a volume of water at least twice that of your tank. Suppose you have an aquatic turtle, you house it in a tank, and half of the tank is filled with water. Since the tank contains about of water, go with a filter labeled for .[8]
- When you're at the pet supply store, ask an employee for advice about purchasing a filter.
- Even though you're using a water filter, you'll still need to remove feces and other debris from the tank with a net every day. To keep the water cleaner, feed your turtle in a separate tank.
- Invest in a smaller backup tank. A back-up tank will come in handy if you need to transport your turtle. Additionally, you'll have to clean the main tank regularly, and you'll need a place to store your turtle in the meantime.[9]
- Since it's only for temporary use, the backup tank doesn't have to be big. Just make sure your turtle has some room to crawl around. To keep your turtle warm, transfer the heat lamp to the backup tank when it's in use.
EditFeeding Your Turtle - Purchase turtle food labeled for your pet's species. Purchase pellets or canned turtle food at your pet supply store. Most turtles kept as pets need both animal protein and veggies. Store-bought food will provide most your turtle's nutrition, but you should also supplement its diet to ensure it stays healthy.[10]
- Supplement your turtle's diet with fish, invertebrates, and veggies. Buy frozen and live guppies or minnows, worms, grasshoppers, and crickets. Additionally, chop up veggies, such as kale, lettuce, dandelion, and carrots, and add them to your turtle's food.[11]
- Swap up what you feed your turtle to keep its meals interesting. You could feed it store-bought food 1 to 2 times a week and homemade meals another 1 to 2 times per week.
- Live fish and insects can provide mental stimulation.
- To prevent choking, cut up veggies into bite-size pieces smaller than your turtle's beak.
- Feed your turtle 3 to 4 times per week. Most turtle species commonly kept as pets need to be feed every other day, but check with the breeder or pet store to be sure. Mornings are good feeding times, since turtles are more active earlier in the day. Determining the right amount of food is a little tricky and isn't an exact science.[12]
- As a rule of thumb, give your turtle the amount of food that it can eat in 5 minutes. Observe it when you first feed it to gauge the right amount. Turtles are opportunistic eaters, and they're prone to overeating if they have an unlimited supply of food.[13]
- If you have an aquatic turtle, put its food directly in the water. Aquatic turtles can't swallow food unless it's in the water. After 5 minutes, scoop out any extra food with a net to help keep the water clean.[14]
- Feed a box turtle with a food bowl, and remove the bowl after about 5 minutes.
- Add calcium to your turtle's food every other feeding. You can find powdered calcium carbonate online and at pet stores. Sprinkle a pinch onto your turtle's food 1 to 2 times a week to ensure it meets its calcium requirement.[15]
- Turtles need lots of calcium to keep their bony shells strong.
- If have an aquatic turtle, you can also keep a block of calcium carbonate in the water for it to chew.[16]
EditKeeping Your Turtle Healthy - Check your turtle for signs of illness regularly. Give your turtle a quick inspection every 1 or 2 days, such as when you feed it. Make sure your turtle's skin and shell are smooth and free of any marks, blisters, or blemishes. Check its eyes, nose, and beak for discharges or discoloration, and notice any unusual changes in behavior.[17]
- Turtles are generally healthy, but they are prone to infections, malnutrition, and eye problems. If you spot concerning signs, such as a soft, leathery shell, cloudy eyes, or skin blisters, bring it to an exotic pet vet who's experienced with treating turtles.
- Search online for an experienced local vet, or ask the breeder or pet store for referral.
- Use a net to remove droppings from the tank every day. To keep the water as clean as possible, scoop out droppings, leftover food, and other debris daily. Be sure to wash your hands after touching the inside of the tank or handling your turtle.[18]
- Turtles carry salmonella, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
- Test the water's pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels every few days. Get an aquarium water test kit at the pet supply store or online. Make sure the pH is between 6.0 and 8.0, or roughly pH neutral. Ammonia levels should be 0, nitrite levels should be less than 0.5 ppm (parts per million), and nitrate levels should be less than 40 ppm.[19]
- Your turtle will drink the water, so it's important to test it and keep it clean. If the pH is off, amend the water with a store-bought agent, which you can find at the pet supply store. If ammonia, nitrate, or nitrate levels are high, change the water and consider upgrading your filter.
- Change 25% of the aquarium's water weekly. Using a bucket or siphon, drain and discard about 1/4 of the tank's water. Then replace it with an equal amount of new water.[20]
- The water contains beneficial bacteria; whenever possible, avoid changing it entirely.
- Clean the tank every 3 weeks. Transfer your turtle to the backup tank so you can clean the main enclosure. Save 1/4 to 1/2 of the water, and discard the rest along with the old peat moss or soil. Then scrub the rocks, hide box, and inside of the tank with a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts warm water.[21]
- Rinse the tank and accessories thoroughly, and be sure to wash away all traces of the bleach solution. After thoroughly rinsing the tank and accessories, put the habitat back together and refill it with water.
- Be sure to wash your hands and sanitize the sink or tub with bleach after washing the tank. Remember that turtles carry germs that can make people sick.
- Remember to always wash your hands after handling your turtle, touching inside of the tank, or cleaning the tank.
- Specific care instructions depend on your turtle's species, so check with the breeder or pet store for your pet's exact requirements.
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| How to Feel Awake After Changing to Daylight Savings Time Posted: 03 Nov 2018 05:00 PM PDT Daylight savings time is used to save energy and have more daylight during the summer months. During this time, the clocks are set forward in the Spring and moved back in the Fall. It can drastically alter your sleep schedule, making you feel groggy during the day and can make it difficult for you to be productive at work or school. However, if you avoid common mistakes, and adjust your sleep schedule and lifestyle, you can adapt to the time change. EditKeeping Energized Throughout Your Day - Take a power nap. Take 20 minute power naps to energize and invigorate you. These can be particularly helpful during the afternoon. If you have a long lunch break at work or a break between classes, utilize that time to recharge.[1]
- Naps that are longer than 20 minutes will cause you to enter into deep sleep and you will feel groggy rather than awake afterwards. Avoid these kinds of naps.
- Get as much daylight as possible. One of the quickest ways to adjust to the new time change is to get as much exposure to sunlight as you can. In the morning when you wake up, open the blinds or go outside for a brief walk. During your day, take a break to go for a walk outdoors or go sit by a window for lunch.[2]
- Sunlight helps to calibrate your mind to the new time change.
- The lack of sunlight may reduce the amount of Vitamin D you receive from the sun. This may increase your risk of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and depression.
- Exercise in the mornings. Exercise in general is helpful to assist your body in feeling awake after the time change, but doing so in the morning is particularly beneficial. While still committing to getting eight hours of sleep, wake up a bit early to workout. You will feel energized and ready to begin your day.[3]
- Consider exercising with friends or taking a group fitness class.
- Walk around your neighborhood for 30 minutes or so. Doing this will also give you the necessary exposure to sunlight that you need.
- Try a cold/hot/cold shower. One surefire way to wake yourself up in the mornings it to take a shower of varying temperatures to shock yourself awake. Begin by using cold water for a minute or two, then hot water, and then finishing off with cold water. Though a warm shower might soothe you, it can also make you feel more sleepy, so try this method instead to be alert.[4]
- If you cannot handle the water being cold or hot, try it as cool and warm, instead.
- Listen to music. Music can be a great way to pump yourself up in the mornings and even during work. Create a playlist filled with upbeat fun songs that are sure to motivate and invigorate you. Listen to it as you get ready, while you commute, and during your day.[5]
- Don't listen to music in class, however.
- Keep your music at a respectful level so that you don't disturb your coworkers or peers.
EditAdjusting Your Lifestyle - Practice clean, healthy eating. Another way to give yourself energy after the time change is to eat better. Avoid heavy and fatty foods that are fried or filling but not nutritious. Fill up instead on fruits, vegetables, lean meat and whole grains. These foods will give you the vitamins that you need to have as productive and alert day as possible.[6]
- Make eight hours of sleep a priority. You may find it difficult at times to get a full eight hours, but begin making this a habit. You will feel much more well rested and will be able to adjust to the time change more readily.[7]
- Allot 8.5 hours for sleep each night, with the .5 hour being the time it might take you to fall asleep.
- Create calming rituals before bed. In order to get the best sleep possible pre- and post-daylight savings time, make sure that you properly wind down before bed. Consistent rituals at night can help tell your body that it you should sleep, no matter what time it is.[8]
- Avoid watching television an hour before bed and being on your smartphone.
- You can try to take a warm bath or have a warm glass of milk.
- Create a relaxing environment in your bedroom. Meditate for fifteen or twenty minutes, listen to soothing music, or practice deep breathing.
- If you already have rituals that help you sleep at night, continue to follow these as normal. For example, if you read before bed every night, keep doing this. This will signal to your brain that you are ready to go to bed.
- Go to bed and awaken at the same time each day. As much as possible, try to go to bed at the same time every night, even on the weekends. Establishing a steady routine of sleep will be very useful in combating the sleepiness that often comes with the time change.[9]
- Utilize eye masks or ear plugs. Make small adjustments to your environment to ensure that you get the best sleep possible during this time. Use eye masks to prevent light from keeping you awake and ear plugs if you live in a noisy environment or have a partner who snores.[10]
- You can also purchase light cancelling drapes or blinds to keep light out of your room.
- Consider playing sleep sounds, like rain or the ocean, to help soothe you to sleep.
EditAvoiding Common Mistakes - Get ready a few days in advance. You will feel more able to cope with the time change if you prepare for it. Begin adjusting your sleep schedule in advance depending on if the clock is springing forward or falling back. If the former, begin going to bed 15 minutes earlier for three days prior to the time change and then another 15 minutes earlier on the day of. If falling back, do the opposite by going to bed 15 minutes later for a few days.[11]
- Making small adjustments early will help to ease the transition of the time change.
- Start making small adjustments to your mealtimes in the days leading up to the time change. Perhaps adjust the start time by ten minutes each day to help your body adjust to the change.
- Limit caffeine, nicotine and alcohol until your body is adjusted. During both the days leading up to and after the time change, avoid soda, smoking and drinking. All of these substances can keep you up at night and disrupt your sleep. Once your body has readjusted, you can resume your normal usage of these items, but you might find that you sleep sounder without them.[12]
- Don't underestimate "falling back." When the time is set back, people often overestimate the amount of time they have. You might stay up an extra hour to watch a movie, and that extra hour might turn into two or three. You might even use that extra time to go out on the town, but you will often suffer for it in the morning and in the days that follow. Though your body needs a certain amount of rest, it also typically needs to keep on the same sleep pattern or rhythm in order to achieve the best and most restful sleep.[13]
- Don't stay up an extra hour. Go to bed 15 minutes later at a maximum.
- Avoid long naps. After returning home after a long day, you might be tempted to take a nap. A nap is fine, but taking one that is longer than 20 minutes will cause your sleep later to suffer. Set a timer on your phone to prevent yourself from oversleeping.[14]
- Practice safe driving. Car crashes tend to escalate by a significant percentage when daylight savings time changes occur. During this time, you will need to be particularly vigilant, awake and aware. If you are feeling tired, blast your music or roll down your window to wake yourself up. Consider carpooling with friends, as well.[15]
- Avoid texting and driving.
- If you have bluetooth, call a friend or loved one to chat during your drive.
- Don't overdo it at work. During the days following daylight savings time changes, avoid taking on any big projects at work or scheduling long or stressful meetings during this time. You might not be feeling at your best, so wait until a few days have passed before doing important tasks.
- Utilize your full lunch break to recharge.
- Get out of your cubicle and take a walk.
- Plan your schedule out ahead of the daylight savings time change.
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| How to Boil Carrots Posted: 03 Nov 2018 09:00 AM PDT Carrots are delicious and nutritious root vegetables. Their many great health benefits include helping with weight loss, lowering cholesterol, and improving vision, since they are packed with Vitamin A.[1] You can eat carrots raw, but they are also extremely easy to cook. Boiling carrots is a quick and simple way to bring out new textures and flavors in them. EditPreparing the Carrots - Choose your carrots. Stores usually sell carrots either in bunches with their green tops still on, loose with no greens, or in bags with no greens. Carrots with greens intact tend to be more expensive than carrots without their tops.[2] Try to choose the freshest vegetables that you can.
- Look for carrots that have a deep orange color. Carrot pigment fades with time, so paler vegetables tend to be older.
- Avoid carrots with withered green tops, since they are no longer fresh.
- Carrots with lots of cracks and little hairy rootlets growing out of them are old.[3]
- Wash your carrots. Scrub them with a vegetable brush under running water. Make sure you remove all the dirt.[4]
- Peel the carrots, depending on your tastes. Removing the tough outer layer of the carrot with a vegetable peeler makes it more tender, but it also takes away some of the carrot's nutrients and flavor. If you choose not to peel, make sure that your carrots are very thoroughly cleaned. [5]
- Cut the carrots. If your carrots still have their green tops, chop them off.You can then either boil the carrots whole, or cut them into pieces of any size.
- Carrots cut into smaller pieces will cook faster. If you are pressed for time, cut your carrots into very small, evenly-sized pieces so that they all boil at the same rate.
- On the other hand, the boiling process leeches some of the nutrients and flavor out of the carrots through their exposed surface area. Chopped up carrots have a larger exposed surface area, and lose more flavor and nutrients in the boiling process than uncut carrots. Cooking carrots whole helps to retain both the taste and the nutrient levels.[6]
EditCooking the Carrots - Bring water to boil. Fill a pot with just enough water to cover the carrots. Avoid using too much water in order to minimize nutrient loss.
- You can put some salt in the water if you want, which raises the water's boiling point and helps the carrots to cook faster while also adding more flavor.[7]
- Put the carrots in the water. Once your water has begun boiling, add the carrots and cover them with the pot lid.
- Cook the carrots until they are done to your satisfaction. The cooking time depends on how big the pieces of carrot are, and how soft you want them to be. Check after five to ten minutes and continue boiling for longer, even up to half an hour, if the carrots are still too firm for your liking.
- You can test doneness by spearing a piece of carrot with a fork. The tines should slide easily into the carrot.[8]
- Drain the carrots. You can either pour the carrots out of the pot into a colander, or hold the lid firmly over the pot, leaving just a small crack at the edge, and drain the water out into the sink while keeping the carrots inside.
- You might want to wear oven mitts to protect your hands from the hot steam.
EditServing the Carrots - Serve them hot. Your carrots will taste better if you eat them as soon as they are done cooking.
- If you are not planning on eating your carrots immediately, try blanching them - just boiling them quickly for two to three minutes - and then quickly cooling them in ice. After you dry them off, you can store them in the freezer in freezer bags. This quick boiling will improve the texture when you thaw them.[9]
- Cut the carrots into smaller pieces. If you have boiled your carrots whole or in large chunks, you might want to chop them, dice them, or julienne them for serving.
- You can cut your carrots baton-style into sticks of any length you want.
- Dice your carrots by cutting your batons into small cubes. Make sure all the pieces are equal sizes.
- To do a julienne cut, take a whole carrot and cut a thin slice off one side to make a flat surface. This will keep the carrot steady. Put the carrot flat-side down and then cut it length-wise into very thin slices, no more than 1/8th of an inch thick. Pile all of your slices on top of each other and slice through them again to create thin pieces roughly the size of matchsticks.[10]
- Season your carrots with herbs or spices. These add extra flavor to your dish. Salt, pepper, and garlic are all reliable seasonings for carrots and good standby options.[11]
- Thyme and parsley both pair very well with carrots.[12]
- Seasoning options are almost endless. Experiment with different flavors, such as tarragon.[13]
- Flavor your carrots with some liquid fats or acids. This gives them another pop of flavor and prevents them from getting too dry. Drizzle the carrots with extra virgin olive oil or melt butter on them after they are cooked.
- Try drizzling your carrots with a bit of balsamic vinegar. The tartness of the vinegar brings out the sweetness of the carrots.[14]
- Add a glaze. This is a flavorful, usually sweet, coating on food. It is a great way to give carrots more flavor, and can tempt even picky eaters into trying your dish.
- For a simple glaze, melt butter in a sauce pan and stir in sugar and a pinch of salt until they have dissolved. Put the cooked carrots into the mixture and cook them in it for about five minutes until they are covered in the glaze.[15]
- Experiment with different ingredients in your glaze. Try replacing sugar with maple syrup, for instance. Add some herbs, ginger, or citrus zest to give the glaze an extra pop of flavor.[16]
- Store your carrots until you are ready to cook them. If you buy your carrots but don't want to boil them right away, put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, since they lose their crisp texture and sweet taste at room temperature.[17]
- Cut the green tops off your carrots when you store them, because the greens draw moisture out of the root and spoil the texture.[18]
- Make sure that the carrots are very soft and cut into very small pieces if you are preparing them for an infant or toddler. Harder carrots and bigger chunks are difficult for small children to chew and present a choking hazard. Pieces should be no bigger than 1/2 an inch in any direction. If you have any doubts, cut them even smaller.[19]
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