Exotic Pets

Chimpanzees are omnivores. This means that a chimpanzee's diet consists of both plants and animals, just like humans. Chimps are also diurnal, meaning they eat and play during the day and sleep at...

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,...

Foxes aren't just clever---they're also potentially dangerous. Foxes, by and large, are wild animals whose natural instincts compel them to hunt an forage. But for those brave enough to keep them...

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...

This engaging little fellow is certainly more welcome than his cousins, the tunneling ground squirrels, which include prairie dogs and woodchucks, and which can be quite a bit more destructive to...

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...

Highly intelligent and very social, pot belly pigs can make extraordinarily entertaining and lovable pets. They do need space to roam, routine veterinary care, a proper diet, and a certain amount...

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...

Learn how to feed tiger cubs.

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...

Chimpanzees are an endangered species, currently living in 21 African countries. According to the Jane Goodall Institute, 1 million chimpanzees existed 100 years ago. The number of chimpanzees in...

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.

Land hermit crabs are a small home pet that some people adore because they are loveable, small, cute, and funny to watch. Not only are they cute, but land hermit crabs take little room and are...

Jungle Cats are a relative of the Domestic Cat, and are used in the creation of the Chausie, a breed of Domestic Cat. However, many people find purebred Jungle Cats to make excellent pets. They...

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.

Wild saltwater hermit crabs live in the ocean or on the shore, but some species can be kept as pets. These nocturnal crustaceans feed on mussels, worms and dead plants. They carry a large shell on...

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...

Getting rid of ants in an apartment can be more difficult than killing them off permanently in a residential home. You can control the environment in your own apartment, but you cannot do much...

Have trouble teaching your pet rock new tricks, or don't know what to teach it? Get help with this helpful article!

If you have noticed your pet ferret scratching his ears or rubbing his head against hard surfaces, he may have ear mites. Ear mites are tiny insects that crawl into, breed in and feed inside an...

Pot bellied pigs have short, perky ears that stand up from their head in one direction. Because their ears don't move, pigs must move their whole head to catch the direction of a sound. Your pot...

Meningitis is a disease that is hallmarked by inflammation, or swelling, of the brain's mucous membranes such as the meninges, which are the three special membranes that encase the brain and...

Anybody can have a duck as a pet. You just have to make sure that you have what he needs in order to be comfortable. Some people would look at me like I was crazy but a duck will make a loyal...

Sugar gliders are small marsupials commonly kept as pets throughout the world. They are nocturnal animals native to parts of Australia and New Guinea. Sugar gliders are not an endangered species...

If you've ever tried to catch grasshoppers, you know it can be quite challenging. To catch a grasshopper you must be fast, but it can be a fun pastime when you know how to do it. All grasshoppers...

If you have breeding birds, you will quickly realize the need for parrot nest boxes. Nest boxes sometimes only last one season, and getting the appropriate size and specification for your species...

Mealworms are the pupa stage of darkling beetles. These worms are raised commercially as food for lizards and birds. Mealworm habitats are easy to create and to maintain. For a reptile owner,...

Telling them apart is easier than not being eaten by them!

Although they subsist from fruits and flower nectars, fruit bats are still potentially dangerous to humans because they can serve as reservoirs of certain diseases, such as rabies, the Australian...

A common misconception is that flying geckos fly. Actually, these small lizards, also known as parachute geckos, instead rely on flaps of skin to help them glide from tree to tree. Experts at...

Commonly kept as pets all over the world, king quail are the smallest of the Coturnix quails. King quail go by many names, such as Chinese quail, Chinese painted quail, and Australian quail....

No insect has brought as much joy, color and folklore to the world as the ladybug. The presence of a ladybug is said to forecast good weather, good crops, marriage, children, money and more....