Pets & Aquatics at Dunbar Garden Centre

26/08/2022

All bettas are beautiful but we have some stunners in right now 😍

Both male and female bettas are available but hurry I don’t think they’ll be around for long!

17/07/2022

Keeping cool in the heatwave ☀️
Even our reptiles could be affected so here are some handy tips...

Managing Temperatures During the Summer & Heat Waves ☀️

In the past few decades, we’ve been able to see that summers globally are getting warmer – and the UK is no exception. Sudden heat waves have been a part of the last several summers, lasting longer on average by a few days than they did in the early 21st century.

With most British homes not having access to cooling air conditioning, the sudden drastic change in heat can really mess with the carefully curated environments we manage for our exotic pets. Reptiles love to bask and keep warm, but even the most avid sun-worshipping basking animal has a thermal limit and needs to cool off – or heat stroke is a risk. Here are some tips to help maintain your temperatures in the peak of summer heat and make sure there’s still options for your animals to thermoregulate properly on an excessively hot day.

- Keep a close eye on thermostats and thermometers. Many modern digital thermostats come with a feature that will alert you if a pre-set critical maximum (or minimum) temperature has been reached.
- Turn off your light and heat sources at the peak of the day. If your animal really needs some light for a photoperiod, consider LED lighting which runs a lot cooler than halogens and fluorescent tubes.
- Increasing ventilation in your home and/or in the enclosure will help to shift hot air. Fans are a good way to achieve this – but beware of dehydrating amphibians. Most reptile enclosures will have some sort of ventilation port that a fan can be directed at to help move more warm air.
- Opening the doors and replacing them with a mesh to prevent your animal escaping while letting heat escape and air to circulate better could be an option. This won’t be a possibility for large reptiles that can pull down the mesh.
- Alternatively, you could allow heat to escape the enclosure while bringing your animal out for a handling session away from direct sun if your animal is handleable.
- Try iced (or very cold objects, since direct contact with ice can be dangerous for ectotherms). Ice packs from the freezer, frozen water bottles, and refrigerated slate/stones can be wrapped up and placed into an enclosure or in front of a fan to create cool air.
- If it’s appropriate to your species misting with cool water will help to remove excess heat via evaporation. A big, cold dish of water can also help.
- Deep substrates tend to be cool at the bottom, especially if they are kept damp. Reptiles and amphibians naturally dig down to seek humidity and lower temperatures. Topping up a drainage layer with cool water can exacerbate this effect.
- Make sure humid hides/microclimates are maintained – they may dry out much faster in summer weather and need re-dampening almost daily.

If you suspect your reptile may be suffering from heatstroke, please contact your exotic vet right away. Warning signs can include:
• Heavy/rapid breathing
• Refusal to eat
• Lethargy
• ‘Star gazing’ and corkscrewing in snakes
• Disorientation/loss of balance
• Seizures

09/07/2022

How cute is Honey!! She was in today with her owners for a harness fitting and of course a complimentary treat for being so well behaved.

We offer a free of charge harness and collar fitting service to ensure you get the best fit and style for your pup.

Plus it’s makes our day to meet all the lovely dogs that come in to visit us!

17/06/2022

He’s a little camera shy ☺️

It’s been a absolute delight watching this young chap grow and develop his colours!

16/06/2022

The hot weather is here 🥵

Here are some ways to help keep your pet cool this summer....

🌞 Scruffs Cool mats - come in a variety of sizes, self cooling, no freezing or refrigeration required
🌞 Zoon cooling bandana - for on the go cooling, simply activate in cold water
🌞 Deep, stone water bowls keep water cooler for longer
🌞 For small mammals, freeze bottles of water, pebbles or stone tiles and wrap them in towels to create safe cold packs.

15/06/2022

Chubby Frog - Koloula pulchra 🐸

No prizes on guessing why they call them that!

These hardy frogs have narrow mouths meaning they eat smaller prey items. They also love to burrow and expand like a balloon when they fell threatened!

15/06/2022

26/04/2022

How gorgeous are these two 😍

Tubbing the axolotls while we cleaning them out doesn't only give us a chance to give them a good health check but also lets us fully appreciate just how beautiful these animals are.

(Lights where only on for the duration of taking of the video. Using bright lighting is not recommend with axolotls)

24/04/2022

Pond plants are now back in stock!

Large variety available such as:

🌿 Marginal, deep water and bunched oxygenators
🌱 Iris
🌺 Water lilies - mixed colour and dwarf
And much more!

16/03/2022

We are now stockist of Exotic Keepers Magazine!!

Whether you're a keen reptile keeper or just interested in learning about extoic species, this coul be the magazine for you.

With information on a variety a species and progressing keeping methods, these magazines are packed with information. Not only that but EK now contribute monthly donations to worthwhile causes and hope to support conservation efforts in the future.

March edition includes information on:

🐸 Pacman Frog
🕷 Sun Spiders
🐟 Ethical fishkeeping
🐀 Gambian Pouched Rats
🦎 Gila Monster
💡 Keepers Basics: Lighting
🌱 Exotic's Enrichment Ideas
And more!

11/03/2022

This little European Eyed Lizard has only been with us a week and already is full of confidence!

They grow roughly to the size of a large bearded dragon and require a similar set up. Although these lizards love to burrow so require a deep substrate consisting of a sand/soil mix.

Any questions pop in store!

09/03/2022

We might be biased but this pair are the cutest 🥰🐭

01/03/2022

When a customer asked if we could source Dart Frogs how could we have said no. How cute are they! 🐸

If there are any reptiles you are after give us a shout, just because we don't stock them doesn't mean we can't source them 😁

28/02/2022

Did you know that in most fish foods the primary ingredient is fish meal which is created by taking 18 millions tonnes of fish from our oceans every year!

Feeding you fish shouldn't cost our earth and with the new range of Fit and Wild fish food it no longer has to.

This range is fish meal free and instead uses a range of insects and crustaceans, making it more suited to the fishes natural diet.

Available in:
🧡 Golfish Flake
🧡 Goldfish Pellets
🐟 Tropical Flake
🐟 Tropical Pellers
🌱 Veggie Wafer
🌱 Veggie Flake

06/02/2022

We are hiring! 🐶🐭🦎

Do you have a passion for pets, enjoy learning new things and working in retail? We would love to hear from you!

https://uk.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=70e200455281cf1f&from=serp&prevUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fuk.indeed.com%2Fm%2Fjobs%3Fq%3D%26l%3DDunbar

Dunbar Garden Centre

04/02/2022

Some of our newest arrivals, checking out the facilities 🐹🥰

02/02/2022

Back by popular demand... axolotls!

Wild, gold and Lucy all available.

Axolotls aren't as straight forward to keep as some other pets so here are a few points to consider:

🌸 they must be kept in a tank with filter similar to fish, this must be cycled prior to adding the axolotl. Do you have experience of keeping a fish tank or are happy to learn?

🌸 for an adult, the tank should be minimum 2-3 ft long and requires weekly maintenance such as water changes. Are you able to commit to this requirement?

🌸 their main diet should consists of dendrobaena worms which have to be cut up to the size of their head. Are you happy to house ans cut up worms?

Feel free to pop to speak to our staff if you have any questions 😁

22/12/2021

And the fly lives on... 😂

This orchid mantis might be teeny tiny but is full of personality.

Watching mantids grow from nymphs you adults is a fascinating process so it’s ideal to get them young, but act fast as they don’t stay tiny for long!

🌸

22/12/2021

Nosy Faly Panther chameleons 🌿

Male and female both in stock, they’re going to be stunning adults 😍

21/12/2021

Some of our new arrivals all ready for their new homes 🥰

Also available...

🐭 Fancy mice
🐀 Gerbils

05/12/2021

Lovely to see these boys gaining more confidence! They handle great and are joy to watch.

Gerbils are social animals, must be kept in groups and active during the day.

Pop In store for more info.

25/11/2021

Our little horsfield tortoise enjoying some courgette as a treat 🥰

These guys have bags of character 🐢

25/11/2021

New guidance and advice with regards to Avian Flu.

Guidance to poultry and bird keepers -
From Monday 29th of November poultry keepers must either house or net all poultry and captive birds to prevent them from coming into contact with wild birds. It is also recommend to follow good hygiene habits to prevent the spread off avian flu - such as regularly disinfecting housing, feeding equipment, boots, waterproofs and any other equipment.

Advice to general public - “Do not touch or pick up any dead or sick birds that you find. In Great Britain, if you find a single dead bird of prey, gull or wild waterfowl (particularly swans, geese or ducks) or find five or more birds of any other species in the same location and at the same time, you should report them to the national Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77 - please select option 7).”

https://www.gov.scot/news/new-housing-measures-to-protect-poultry-and-captive-birds-against-avian-flu-1/

Bird keepers should review biosecurity and house birds.

24/11/2021

NEW IN ⭐️

Mikki Doodles 🐩 - grooming for poodle cross breeds.

Specifically designed for poodle cross breed, who may not shed their coat but are still prone to knotting and matting. Follow the 3 step process for a fluffy looking pup!

Step 1: Slicker - removes dead hair and prevent knots.

Step 2: Comb - find and release tangles and knots

Step 3: De-matter - remove even the most stubborn knots and matts.

🐶

18/11/2021

Piggy cam 📷

Thankfully the greens taste better than the camera 😅

These cheeky chaps make great pets, are very interactive and highly social. They require fresh veg daily as they can’t store vitamin C.

Give us a shout if you would like more info ☺️

05/11/2021

⭐️ NEW IN ⭐️

Arkwright Complete Sensitive with Extra Chicken

Designed for working dogs with sensitive tums!

Made with no wheat, this has been specially formulated for those dogs that suffer digestive issues.

04/11/2021

Lovely to see our bumblebee millipedes our stretching all their 170 (ish) legs!

Did you know, most millipede have 2 pairs of legs per body segment and as they grow they add more segments. Therefore, the total number of legs depends on the individual millipede!

🐝

29/10/2021

Some of the beautiful snakes we have in at the moment!

🐍 Cornsnake

🐍 Royal Python

🐍 Colombian Rainbow Boa (the camera does not show off his amazing iridescences)

All feeding and handling very well 😊

26/10/2021

Only 5 sleeps until Halloween 😱

Have you got your costume sorted? Here are some of ours animals getting in the spooky spirt!

🎃 🕸 👻

15/10/2021

Gorgeous pair of peachfaced lovebirds ordered in on request by a customer!

These pair have been singing all morning as they wait to be collected ☺️🎶