Exotic Pets

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...

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...

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,...

Many of the world's wildlife suffer from dwindling populations. Scientists call these species "endangered," meaning that without human protections, they may become extinct. Tigers, giant pandas,...

The national symbol of Australia is also the largest of all marsupials ... the Kangaroo. This amazing animal is both friend and foe to Australians as it is their symbol and also source of food,...

The butterfly is a symbol of rebirth, transformation and good fortune. This recognition as an icon of resurrection and good fortune has made the release of live butterflies a very popular...

Bats are the world's only flying mammals, and they fly by echolocation. Bats belong to two suborders, fruit bats that are larger and generally found in Asia and Africa, and the smaller...

Hermit crabs can be kept as pets and are unlike other crabs because they do not grow their own shells. They must move from one shell to another as they grow. In the wild, they can be found from...

Unlike many animals, raccoon populations have grown the past 50 years. The raccoon can adapt to just about any surrounding, mostly because much of its natural habitat has been removed and replaced...

The giant panda is a member of the bear family found living in the mountains of Southwest China. The species has become one of the world's most threatened animals with less than 2,500 alive in the...

Having an iguana for a pet will require knowing the right type of habitat to provide. In order to keep him safe and healthy, there are certain aspects of his home that are essential. The home for...

Their name implies seclusion and solidarity, but in reality, the hermit crab is anything but reclusive; choosing to live in large groups and colonies. Hermit crabs are decapods, meaning they have...

The Glasswing butterfly, or species name Greta oto, thrives only in Central America. Its distribution ranges from the country of Panama up into parts of Mexico. They are common butterflies but...

The term "poison arrow frog" can actually refer to a variety of frogs including the poison dart frog, dendrobatid frog, phantasmal poison frog and the poison frog. There are an estimated 116...

As in much of the world, India faces diminishing populations of many of its native species. Illegal hunting, habitat loss and other factors of modern life encroach on wildlife and threaten their...

Grizzly bears are a subspecies of brown bear. They are often mistaken for black bears. Grizzly bears are mostly solitary animals, hibernating anywhere from five to eight months out of the year....

The king crab is a large species that prefers to live in cold water. There are several varieties of king crab, including the popular Alaska king crab, red king crab, blue king crab and golden king...

The American bullfrog, or Rana catesbeiana, is a large frog. The amphibian is native to eastern North America and is known for its deep, baritone call.

The goliath tarantula, also known as the giant bird eating spider due to it's eating habits, is thought to be the largest species of spider in the world. Ordinarily these spiders grow to about 8...

Phytoplankton are organisms commonly found in oceans throughout the world. They often serve as a food source for larger organisms, and generally possess photosynthetic qualities that make them...

Koalas, often mistakenly referred to as bears, are marsupials indigenous to Australia. Marsupials are animals whose young are birthed prematurely, then develop further in the mother's pouch. The...

Black bears are natural to North America, even though 60 percent of their natural habitat is now gone. Because of this, bears are living closer to humans. Black bears are larger than traditional...

Dermestid beetles are also known as carrion or flesh-eating beetles. In nature, they can generally be found happily living on animals that have been dead for several days. Indoors, they are used...

Hatching and raising butterflies can be a fantastic way to observe the complete metamorphosis of a living creature. When you begin with the eggs, you can follow the development from newly hatched...

A natural chinchilla habitat is in high elevations, cool weather and a dry climate where they have access to fruits and vegetables that make up the majority of their diet. Explore the habitat...

A good babysitter, one that is asked to return, is respectful of the parents, or in this case, the owner's wishes and schedule of the "baby." An orangutan, depending on the age, requires about as...

Recently my 19 year old daughter acquired (read-mom got stuck with) a new pet Iguana. She had been talking about it for a while but as she was only working part time I knew she could not afford...

The natural habitat for a chinchilla is in South America in the Andes mountains, so providing a cave-like atmosphere complete with sand baths is a great way to make a chinchilla comfortable....

Chinchillas originate in South America, where they are avid climbers and live in caves. Understand a chinchilla's natural habitat in order to care for it adequately with advice from the manager of...

Tigers are magnificent wildcats that are extremely popular, especially when they're in the limelight for a good reason, such as the work done by Siegfried and Roy and their special white tigers....

Caring for a Senegal chameleon can seem challenging, especially to the pet owner who has never cared for a chameleon before. However, this type of chameleon has very basic needs, and if cared for...

Spider monkeys are small primates that weigh about 20 lbs. and stand about 3 feet high. These monkeys are playful, social, friendly and oftentimes destructive. Though cute, they require as much...

Frogs require humid habitats, so their vivarium bedding and substrate will need frequent changing to prevent mold. Most frog caretakers will change their frogs vivarium bedding every 2-3 weeks,...

Gorillas normally live in the rainforest or in the mountains where there is an abundant amount of trees and plants. They spend the majority of their time munching on and searching for food. Their...

Cheetahs are one of the fastest land animals, because they can run up to 70 mph. These big cats are usually found in Africa and India where there is grasslands and savannahs, so it's ideal to...

Learn how to maintain the level of humidity using a damp wet sponge in the habitat of pet hermit crabs in this free instructional video.

Learn what supplies are needed to create and set up a habitat for pet hermit crabs in this free instructional how-to video.

Learn about the perfect habitat for tiger salamanders in this free video clip about caring for salamanders.

Learn tips for building an enclosure for a salamander in this free video clip about caring for tiger salamanders.

Hermit crabs are one of the most inexpensive exotic pets a person can own. For years, hermit crabs were considered to be a "throw-away" pet that would only live for a few months. This is...

Hermit crabs make wonderful pets for young and old alike. There are many places to purchase them and a good many online vendors now carry an excellent selection of crabs.

Hermit crabs are one of the most inexpensive exotic pets one can own. Like every pet that is taken out of its habitat, the hermit crab has a chance of dying while in captivity. It is often...

Praying mantis, which are also known as praying mantids, are harmless to humans. In fact, they are garden helpers that thrive on a diet of moths, crickets, fruit flies, aphids, and other insects. ...

Keeping a Praying Mantis as a pet is both fun and educational. The most difficult part of keeping a Praying Mantis is finding a sufficient number of insects to satisfy your Mantis' almost...

Making a praying-mantis habitat is extremely simple. There are no hard-and-fast shapes for your mantis habitat, but keep in mind that the height of your mantis's home should be at least three...

Because a lion's natural habitat is found in Africa, Iran, Europe and India, they prefer grassy landscapes, tropical deserts and forests. Lions are social so they live in prides made up of females...

When creating a habitat for a wild animal, it's important to make the surroundings as natural as possible so the animal does not feel like it's in captivity. White tigers need plenty of space,...

Earthworms are the unsung heroes of fertilization. Through the hard work of billions of these underground creatures, countless acres of soil are tilled naturally. Luckily, watching these...

Most people prefer to leave snails in their garden, to go on their slimy way. But snails can also be wonderful pets--and they're low-maintenance to boot. But to ensure your snails good health and...

If one has a pet reptile or amphibian, it is very important to set up the terrarium cage correctly. Terrariums are not an appropriate home for larger reptiles and amphibians, but the smaller...