Darwin swims in our pool 7-12-2009

Our 8 month olde Bennett Wallaby LOVES swimming in our pool! When he decided to take a jump into our Koi pond on Father's Day, 2009 (4 weeks ago today), we realized we needed to make SURE he knew how to swim... which is GREAT, as he LOVES being in the water!

Wallabies in the wild WILL swim to escape a predator, or to cool off, but their bodies are not designed to swim for hours at a time. (Many humans cannot swim for too many minutes at a time, either!)

Since I taught my son Eric how to swim when he was 6 months old (he's now 30), and Anna - who will be 28 yrs old this week - how to swim at 2 weeks old... I felt very comfortable teaching Darwin how to swim!

FYI: Darwin is ALSO potty trained, and has been, since we first got him! I credit his amazing personality (quiet, loving and intelligent), to Debbie & Dan at Phoenix Herpetological Society... where we purchased him! For more information on PHS, you can go to their website: www.phoenixherp.com
or call Info/Hotline: 602-550-1090 Tours/Adoptions: 602-550-7029

Be aware that PHS only has a couple of Wallabies for sale each year, and they are VERY selective about who are allowed to purchase... because a Wallaby is a very special exotic pet. PHS also does education and research with schools, universities and hospitals.

Susie T, proud momma of Darwin

{And no, I have not started coloring my hair blonde... I think I'm actually going WHITE like Grandma was @ 104 yrs old last year... but I'm just 52 yrs old, now}

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Darwin;
• PHS;
• wallaby;
• swim

[susiet2000]

16x32 with 2/3 at walking height, about 6'6" in deep end

[susiet2000]

BTW: we live in Arizona: it was over 100 dgrees outside, with water temp of 88 degrees, so it's like bath water to swim in Summer. Darwin had his own "kids pool" that he played in daily. He only swam in "the big pool" with us, as was appropriate for any "kid".

[ubreakitubuyit420]

the fact that you actually had to take him into the water and he immediately got out and ran or rather hopped away from you leads me to believe he doesn't actually "LOVE" swimming as you so promote.

[susiet2000]

@ubreakitubuyit420 Hey, there... Guess you didn't see the video of Darwin jumping into the Koi pond on Father's Day? Darwin actually LOVED to swim! This was only one time out of many that he went into the pond and pool. Like any pet or child, you don't always have the video or camera going on a daily basis, to capture those special moments.

[susiet2000]

@ubreakitubuyit420 Hey, there... Guess you didn't see the video of Darwin jumping into the Koi pond on Father's Day? Darwin actually LOVED to swim! This was only one time out of many that he went into the pond and pool. Like any pet or child, you don't always have the video or camera going on a daily basis, to capture those special moments.

[kvnyng]

male or female? I heard females are easier to take care of, but they're more expensive? Why so?

[susiet2000]

A female of any animal species can be bred and babies sold: males can provide stud fees. Neutered males are less aggressive and protective of their herd. Females are nuturing, and a bit smaller than males. Bottom line: every animal is different. A lot depends on early bonding, training and care. See comment below with contact info, if you are seriously interested in getting one.

[Splashstorm04]

Really cute!

[ionutcelgroaznic]

How big is your swimming pool?and its depth?

[xoClaireAliceox]

Get him a life jacket. You can probably alter one that's normally made for a dog or something. He might like the swimming experience more if he's able to float a little.

[Gaz10t]

What's it like living it Arizona? Is it cheap? Do you enjoy it? Is it too hot though(I live in Ireland so I am not at all used to extreme heat), I want to move somewhere that has laws that allow exotic animal ownership.

Kindest regards,

Gary

[hufn336]

wow. it took me longer to learn how to swim than it did for the wallaby.