Find the perfect companion for you and your family
Snails, Slugs and Slime Snails and slugs are very successful members of the mollusc family. They have brown or grey, soft, unsegmented bodies and two pairs of retractable tentacles on their heads. Slugs have an obvious ‘saddle’ or mantle, while snails have...
Jamieson the Trick Horse Horse trainer Steve Jefferys wrote to Burke’s Backyard to tell us about his black stallion, Jamieson. Jamieson, aka ‘Spud’, is a 7 year old Australian Stock Horse. He has a huge repertoire of tricks including: counting...
Maurie Don introduced a new member of the Burke’s Backyard team Maurie, the Pug puppy. He spent his first night in a box beside Don’s bed, so whenever he felt lonely Don was right there to comfort him. Like all puppies, Maurie is a bundle of mischief. He...
Problem Dog Roger the Red Setter is a fun-loving dog, who is also headstrong, easily excited and frantic around guests. Roger rampages through the garden, breaks plants, digs holes, barks incessantly at parrots that visit his backyard, and will not respond to normal...
One of the issues that many people face when they are thinking about buying a pet is, ‘what do they cost?’. The question really only begins with the purchase price. Often there are hidden costs everywhere when you buy any pet, and new owners often have no idea of what...
Breed: Rattus norvegicus Temperament: inquisitive, bold and intelligent Cost: $10-$15 Lifespan: up to 3 years Maintenance: medium Recommended for: teenagers, small homes History Rat. The mere mention of the word would send shudders down most (but not all)...
Axolotls Pet Road Test: Axolotl Breed: Axolotl Temperament: placid but anti-social Cost: $20-$35 Lifespan: 12-15 years Maintenance: low-medium Recommended for: teenagers, those who want something different History Also known as the Mexican walking fish, the word...
Breed: Cavy (Guinea Pig) Temperament: quiet and manageable Cost: $5-$45 Lifespan: up to 11 years, average 4-5 years Maintenance: medium Recommended for: families, small residences History Very little is known about the domestic origins of the Guinea Pig, otherwise...
Pet Yabbies Breed: Yabby and Marron Temperament: territorial Cost: $9.95 – $21.95 Lifespan: up to 3 years Maintenance: low Recommended for: aquatic critter fanciers Crayfish Australia has over 100 species of crayfish. Crayfish are lobster-like freshwater...
Breed: Bearded Dragons Temperament: docile Cost: $60 – $400 Lifespan: 10 -15 years Maintenance: low Recommended for: Home units. Those wanting something different. Distribution There are three types of bearded dragons commonly kept by enthusiasts in Australia;...