Recently I took a vacation, and left someone in charge to take care of my critters. Unfortunately, when I returned it appeared that the person I left in charge had not done a very good job. In fact I suspect they had not done anything at all. This was evident from a few indicators in my critters cages.

First indicator: Water dishes were all bone dry. These dishes can hold water for 2-3 days with normal drinking and evaporation factor. As a daily practice though, I check to ensure that all water dishes are clean and full of water. Some of the dishes had substrate and fecal matter in them, so there was not anyway that any of them had been filled recently.
Second indicator: The substrate material inside the cages had no moisture at the bottom. Even when dry on top, the substrate in my critters cages has some moisture at the bottom. It was so dry that it would not even pack down. A light mist with a spray bottle keeps moisture in the cage, and humidity levels where they should be if applied properly. Note not all of my critters need a high degree of humidity, but a little bit of moisture in the substrate is nice.
Third indicator: The starvation response of my pets to food when placed in the cage. My critters eat crickets, and will jump at the opportunity to feast on one if they are hungry. I usually keep them pretty well fed, so a cricket has half a chance of survival for a little while; well, at least for a few seconds. These things just barely hit bottom, when suddenly…BAMM! Dinner was served.

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. The bottom line is that I failed to choose the right person for the job, and this got me thinking as to what could be done differently in the future:

1. Ensure that the person you choose is responsible and really is going to take care of your pets. Ask them, “Are you going to take care of them, or are you just saying that you are?” Maybe not in those words, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
2. Leave written instruction for care. Whether it be feeding or watering, your pet gets used to a certain pattern. If that pattern is interrupted or disturbed, then so is your pet. If they get fed in the morning, then leave instructions for the person to feed them in the morning.
   In the written instructions leave details for cleaning if it becomes necessary. I recommend ensuring that your pet has a clean cage before you leave anyway. This will create lesser of a burden for the person left to care for your pet.
3. Leave a contact number. It’s always a good idea to leave a number where the pet sitter can quickly get in contact with you, also with your pet’s veterinarian. Your pet may become ill and require immediate medical attention.
4. Call the person at least once during your time away. It does not hurt to check up on your pets to see how they are doing, and also to keep the person on their toes.
5. If you are the pet sitter, remember to take care of the pets as if they were your own. There is nothing worse than having someone else’s pet die while in your care.
6. Have plenty food on hand for the pet sitter to feed your critters. Also, leave some money to use in the event the critters run out of food. If your critters have a special diet or brand, let your sitter know where to buy it. As a courtesy, leave about $5.00 - $10.00 for the person’s gasoline.
7. Consider bringing a small gift back for the pet sitter. A souvenir t-shirt or some other trinket can usually be bought for under $10.00. It’s a nice way to show your appreciation, even if you pay the person to watch your pet. This is not necessary if the person is a professional pet sitter and does this on a full-time basis.

These are just a few general guidelines that anyone should consider when choosing a pet sitter. I am sure that there are several more. As far as the pet sitter that I used…
I was thankful that none of my critters died, and for the sake of the friendship, I never brought it up the incident. However, I will ask someone else to watch my critters in the future.