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A tiny, newly hatched turtle is sweet and charming, but it isn't necessarily the best pet for you or your family. Understanding turtles' needs and what it takes to be a successful turtle owner is essential before adopting one of these popular reptiles. 10 Things You Need to Know Before Adopting a Turtle Turtles Don't Stay Small A baby turtle might be as small as a quarter, but they don't stay tiny. Even the smallest pet turtle breeds will grow to be 6-12 inches long as adults, and some can grow much, much larger. If you plan to own a...

You've got your aquarium beautifully balanced to be a healthy environment for the fish you've carefully selected, but you check the tank one day and you notice a number of tiny fry (baby fish) swimming happily around. This will upset that delicate tank balance, disrupt your carefully planned aquatic art and make more work for feeding, cleaning and maintenance. But what can you do to prevent unwanted breeding? The Problems With Excess Fish It may seem like "the more the merrier" ought to be the motto in any aquarium – after all, breeding fish must be healthy, happy and comfortable,...

Mysterious and fanciful, seahorses are among the most unique members of any home aquarium. They're a bit like finding a mermaid-unicorn hybrid in your tank. It's no surprise that many hobbyists dream of adding one of these exotic fish, but shy away at the thought of caring for a pet seahorse. There's no need to tread water when it comes to proper upkeep for these aquatic beauties. Easy seahorse care is no myth. Check out these simple tips for keeping your very own fantasy creature. Dragons of the Sea Okay, so maybe seahorses are a bit closer to dragons than...

Hermit crabs – despite their less than friendly name – can be the perfect first pets for kids or companions for anyone interested in coming out of their shell and enjoying a new pet. But these crabs do need proper care or they may just get crabby with their new owners! What Hermit Crabs Need Before you bring a hermit crab home, you should know that it needs… Adequate Tank Size: These crabs may be small, but they do grow and they are active. A 10-20 gallon tank is good for 1-3 crabs, and larger tanks can accommodate bigger groups...

Keeping reptiles can be very rewarding and many different types of reptiles – snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, etc. – make great pets. They are not like cats and dogs, however, and it is important to understand reptiles' health needs in order to provide them a comfortable, safe home. If you can recognize the most common reptile diseases, you can easily take steps to keep your pets happy and healthy. Recognizing a Sick Reptile Many symptoms of common reptile diseases are similar, and while one or two symptoms may not allow you to properly diagnose what ails your pet, if you...