Caring for Your Box Turtle

Box turtles are one of the most popular amphibian pets, particularly for children. This is partly due to their reputation as an easy pet to care for. When treated well and housed properly, box turtles are very easy to care for, and easy to love. But as easy-going as they seem to be, box turtles do need proper and attentive care. Box turtles get their moniker from their unique hinged shell, which allows them to completely withdraw their head and limbs, closing their shell like a box. Read more...

Rose Hair Tarantulas or Chilean Rose Hair

Capable of calmly walking over the hands of screaming, squirrelly kids without being fazed, the Chilean rose hair or rose hair tarantula (Grammastola rosea) is one of the calmest and hardiest tarantulas in the pet trade. This particular spider can be a wonderful ambassador to introduce people to the wonderful world of invertebrates (animals without a backbone).

Leopard Geckos: Starter Herps for the Beginning Hobbyist

One of the easiest starter herps for beginning hobbyist is the Leopard gecko. One of the most primitive lizards alive today, the leopard geckos hails from western India, south-eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Will Constrictors be Added to the Lacey Act?

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing available biological and economic information on constrictor snakes in Python, Boa, and Eunectes (Latin for Anaconda) genera for possible addition to the list of injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. An injurious wildlife listing would prohibit the importation into, or transportation between, States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the Unites States by any means, without a permit.

The 2008 Presidential Candidates--And Their Pets

What does a person’s pets say about them? If you can figure anything out about someone by the pets they keep, you may want to take a look at the pets of all the presidential candidates. It may help you decide on your way to the ballot box! For the Democrats, Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich is the clear front-runner—at least in pet numbers.

Bites from Reptile Prey

Bite wounds most commonly occur in reptiles when live rodents are left in cages with a reptile that does not want to eat the rodent, regardless of the reason. The rodent will then often gnaw on the reptile.

Red-Eared Slider Turtles

In the 60’s and early 70’s turtles were the most popular reptile species kept by hobbyist. The red-eared slider, a native of the southern United States, was the most popular of all the turtles.

Metabolic Bone Disease in Lizards, Iguanas, and Other Reptiles

Bone is composed of a tough organic matrix that is greatly strengthened by deposits of calcium salts. The average compact bone contains approximately 30% matrix and 70% salts by weight.

Burns in Reptiles

The most common type of burns seen in captive reptiles are thermal and are usually attributed to an abnormally hot heat source, one from which the animal cannot escape. Captive reptiles should always be provided a basking spot, but the enclosure should be large enough that the reptile may retreat to cooler areas if and when the radiating heat becomes too intense.

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