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A starfish can be an intriguing addition to your saltwater aquarium, but they do require proper care to thrive and have long, healthy lives. Knowing how to care for your starfish can help you provide the best environment for a diverse, happy aquarium. About Starfish Starfish aren’t actually fish, and are more accurately called sea stars. They are most closely related to sand dollars, sea urchins, sea lilies, and sea cucumbers. Starfish have tiny tube feet on their undersides and can move as fast as three feet per minute, and while they don’t have blood, they use a water vascular...

A trusting relationship with your iguana begins with patience, respect, and a willingness to let the reptile come to you on their terms. With many "hands-on" approaches that involve forced handling and interaction too early, the unfortunate end result is an unhappy reptile that only seems tame. As naturally cautious and intelligent creatures, they have learned that anything grabbing at them or invading their space is a threat. The resulting lethargic, skittish, or timid behaviors they display following repeated forced handling is a sign that your iguana has grown numb to the constant fear of being unexpectedly handled! Instead, we're...

Ammonia is a silent, invisible killer in aquariums. Because it is clear and dissolves easily in water, even a clean, beautiful tank could be full of ammonia, and even low levels of this toxic byproduct are harmful, even fatal to fish. Unfortunately, by the time signs of ammonia stress are noticeable in fish – lethargy, appetite loss, gasping, inflammation of the gills, eyes or fins – it may be too late to take corrective action that can save the fish. So how can you safely monitor the ammonia levels in your tank to keep fish healthy? Sources of Ammonia Understanding...

All pets deserve a clean place to live, free of rotting food, feces buildup and dangerous bacteria. At the same time, however, cleaning a cage or tank can be stressful and unnerving for a pet reptile, so it is important to limit cleaning frequency to minimize that stress. But how often is too often or not often enough for your reptile's habitat? The Importance of Good Cleanliness In the wild, nature gradually cleanses itself with rain showers, changing seasons, air circulation and the natural life cycles of plants and animals. A pet reptile, however, cannot rinse itself in a flowing...

The increasing popularity of pet reptiles means one can find them all over the world—finding homes in environments they would never survive in naturally. As the owner of a reptile, it is your responsibility to construct a substitute environment that still meets all of your reptiles' needs. Be careful to not underestimate this cost: reptiles are relatively cheap on the market (sometimes just a few dollars), but the cost of building and maintaining a suitable environment with proper heating can run into the hundreds. Meet with a veterinarian to discuss the specific needs of the reptile you are looking to...