Avian & Exotics

Background Information on Hamsters Hamsters are peculiar little rodents with large cheek pouches and short stubby tails. They have gained popularity as pets and research animals since the 1930s. The Syrian hamster’s (golden hamster) wild habitat extends through the Middle East and Southeastern Europe. In 1930, a litter of eight baby hamsters was taken to Palestine and raised as research animals. Virtually all domesticated hamsters sold in the pet trade and research are descendants of…

Guinea Pigs Guinea pigs are lively, lovable pets that require relatively easy care. They make great family pets and get along well with other guinea pigs. Housing/Enclosure Guinea pigs are social, active creatures and should be housed in cages with a large surface area. The enclosure should include an area to hide and space to move around comfortably. Since guinea pigs are not able to climb or jump well, the sides of the enclosure do…

History of the Chinchilla The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger) is native to the mountains and foothills of the Andes in South America. These rodents are known for their large ears and soft, luxurious fur. Chinchilla fur has the highest density of any land animal with more than 20,000 hairs per square centimeter. Many mammals grow just one hair from each follicle, but the chinchilla has more than 50 hairs in a single follicle. The international…

Natural History of Box Turtles Box turtles are indigenous to North America. Free-ranging box turtles spend much of their time burrowing in the mud or hiding beneath rocks.  They are small to medium sized turtles, attaining a maximum length of about 8 inches and having a highly domed carapace. A key characteristic of box turtles is their hinged plastron (bottom of the shell) that can be shut completely to exclude predators. Box turtles in the…

Bearded Dragons Bearded dragons (beardies) are social animals, which is one of the reasons they are engaging and interesting pets. With proper husbandry and care, they can make wonderful pets for older children and adults. Housing/Enclosure Bearded dragon enclosures will need to grow with them as they get bigger. Hatchlings do well in 20 gallon tanks, but adults will require at least a 50 gallon tank. Since they are a terrestrial species, long, short tanks…