News

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...

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...