Other Exotic Pets

Dungeness crabs are crustaceans, meaning that they have a hard exoskeleton in place of an internal skeletal support system. The average lifespan of a Dungeness crab is approximately 8 years.

Also named Myliobatis californica, Bat rays were discovered in the late 1800's. Bat rays are a special kind of underwater ray with a distinguishing light brown or black body and a white...

Krill are small, shrimplike invertebrates that serve as integral part of water ecosystems because krill are the primary food source for many fish and marine mammals. According to National...

Despite overwhelming opposition, shark feeding has become an increasingly popular pastime for many shark enthusiasts. Provided you like extreme adventure, an episode of shark feeding would...

Hummingbirds are tiny birds that are constantly in motion. While they will perch on objects, they spend much of their time and energy in flight. Because of all the energy they expend, they require...

Skunks are known for their foul odors and striking black and white fur. What is perhaps less known about them is that they can make good pets, if cared for by a loving and knowledgeable owner....

Unless you see a millipede in the process of laying eggs, which is nearly impossible since they lay eggs buried under the soil, you're going to have to do more than just look at them to determine...

The chimpanzee---man's closest genetic relative---lives in Western and Central Africa in humid forest, deciduous woodland and mixed savannah. In the wild, chimps have a maximum life span of 60 years.

King crabs live all over the world, including places such as Alaska, Korea, Russia, New Zealand and Africa. They are generally large and have been known to reach more than 20 pounds in weight....

Training a rodeo bull can be very complex as well as costly, but can be a profitable adventure in the long run. This is a not an adventure for someone who has not raised animals before. Someone...

This will give you the basics on how to take care of and what to expect when you have a pet raccoon. Each step will coordinate with the 'Things You'll Need' list

An endangered animal is one that is facing extinction. Extinct animals cannot be repopulated through artificial or natural means. Extinct animals are gone forever.

Did you know it was possible to put a bumble bee on a leash and "walk" it around? This is a neat trick I learned as a young teen and it's a really cool thing to show your friends that...

Ever want to start a backyard zoo? Here are some easy ways to catch your first elephant.

Did you know the Aardvark is an African Mammal? They use their strong sense of smell and long, sticky tongue for feeding on large quantities of ants and termites. They are nocturnal...

Crocodiles (members of the family Crocodylidae, including alligators and caimans) are some of the most interesting species in the world. They feed primarily on animals near water, which is where...

Blue crabs are omnivorous crustaceans that inhabit a wide range of waters around the world. Saltwater animals by nature, they can also be found in brackish water, a mix of saltwater and...

Whether you have a long-haired or a short-haired rabbit, preventing hairballs will be a key component of caring for your pet. When they groom themselves, bunnies can ingest large quantities of...

The desert tree frog is a small amphibian native to New Guinea and Australia. It is also known as the "little red tree frog" and falls prey to a great many predators.

Let me guess.. you found a baby squirrel without a mother, or perhaps it is injured? You can nurse it to recovery or if it adapts to your home easily, keep your new friend as a pet.

Raising a bearded dragon as your pet can be rewarding and you may learn a thing or two about reptiles. Most bearded dragons are just like other pets, they may be strange, however – with the proper...

There are only two living species in the family Alligatoridae. The American alligator is considered a threatened species, native only to freshwater wetlands of the southeastern United States. The...

Glowing sea cucumbers are ocean dwellers and live on the ocean floor and are sometimes partially buried beneath it. There are 1,250 known species of glowing sea cucumbers. They are echinoderms...

Fishermen and backyard compost keepers might recognize the European nightcrawler, which is also known as Eisenia hortensis. It is a pale pink-colored earthworm with a midsection that appears gray...

Raising termites is a project not many people consider undertaking, yet people who are raising termite-eating creatures--among which are armadillos, some frogs and toads, some birds, lizards,...

Copepods are tiny crustaceans found in either fresh or salt water lakes and seas. Under a microscope, they may appear somewhat like shrimp and less than 1 mm in length. While some are...

Parrots are active creatures that thrive on being in the middle of attention. A great way to keep them visually and mentally stimulated is to allow them a place to perch and play outside of their...

The white-tailed deer is the most commonly found in North America. While they are herbivores, they have a widely varied diet, so it is easy to find something tasty for them to enjoy, whether you...

Sugar gliders can make wonderful, loving pets. Earning their trust, however, can be quite a challenge.

Bee pollen has been hailed since ancient times as a wonder food and was even prescribed by Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine. It is estimated that without bee pollination, over 100,000...

Cuttlefish are cephalopods, relatives of squid and octopi. These dynamic invertebrates, broadly distributed in coastal waters as a family, can shift color depending on mood and intent, spew ink to...

There are more than 40,000 known spider species, but only a small fraction of them can cause enough pain to a human that they should be avoided entirely.

Jellyfish are marine invertebrates which float through the ocean. Jellyfish eat small animals and plants that stick to its tentacles, including plankton, larvae of other animals, small...

One of the first questions an expecting couple thinks about is 'Is it a a boy or girl?' Learning the sex of your future child can be a thrilling experience. Knowing makes it possible to decide on...

Lice are small parasites that can infect a variety of animals including dogs, cats, and wild and caged birds. Once these nasty critters invade your home, they spread rapidly and are extremely...

The heron diet includes invertebrates and vertebrates. Some subspecies also eat plant matter. After teaching themselves to hunt as young birds, heron live mostly on fish. Their other food sources...

Wolf spiders belong to the Lycosidae family. Wolf spiders live on the ground and like to hide, so they are often difficult to find and tough to catch. Wolf spiders vary in size, from a half an...

There are more sandhill cranes in the world than any other kind of crane and their range is wide. The tall gray birds with the distinctive red caps are found as far north as Alaska, Siberia and...

The ruby throated hummingbird is the most common North American hummingbird. Ruby throated hummingbirds are solitary. They are also aggressive, territorial and will defend a food source, such as a...

The giant panda is an endangered species that is native to bamboo forests in the mountainous areas of western China. According to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF), the giant panda habitat was...

Shrimp, like lobsters and crabs, are crustaceans in the Decapoda order, Decapoda referring to 10 legs. Shrimp are further classified as Caridea, of which there are over 2,500 known species. Most...

Birds, and parrots in particular, need access to full spectrum light in order to keep in top feather condition. Full spectrum light allows parrots to absorb Vitamin D, which is vital to their...

Growing tadpoles and watching them go through metamorphosis is a fun and exciting science activity for children. Most tadpoles are herbivores and do well when fed fish flakes or boiled lettuce....

Honey bee colonies are exotic pets, raised and maintained for the purpose of honey production and for pollination of local food-producing crops. You may be one of the many bee farmers who uses a...

Birds are happiest free in nature as opposed to being confined to a cage. The decision to set a bird free, however, must be contingent on the circumstances of the animal. Pet birds will have...

When purchasing bird supplies, evaluate all facets of your purchase. Be sure that what you are investing in will be of use to your bird, and not just an extra item that will be thrown in the...

Owning a tiger, parrot or monkey might be appealing, but exotic pets come with a price. You must consider environmental, legal and domestic issues before you purchase any type of rare pet.

The sea cucumber is a marine animal with a long body and leathery skin that dwells in the seabed of all ocean bodies. Sea cucumbers belong to the phylum Echinodermata. They are found in abundance...

The blue morpho butterfly, native to Central and South America, is fascinating for its metallic blue color. Spreading from 5 to 8 inches, it is one of the largest butterflies on the planet.

A wildlife control specialist is a licensed expert charged with capturing and removing wild animals from homes and businesses. They also help people with some of the lingering effects of a wild...