Ben is a life-long environmental educator who writes about the natural world. He’s kept and bred a diverse array of reptiles and amphibians over the last three decades, but he’s always been particularly fond of snakes in the genus Morelia and monitor lizards. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his beautiful wife and spoiled-rotten Rottweiler.
Before becoming a wildlife educator and eventually a writer, I spent a lot of time working in the retail pet industry. Despite the obvious differences
Snakes are unique animals: They require very specific housing, They eat strange foods, They interact with humans much differently than warm-and-fuzzy pets do. And while
Each ball python is an individual that looks slightly different from the others. Your ball python will not look exactly like your friend’s ball python.
Ball pythons are a bit notorious for refusing food. This isn’t as common in the modern world, given that most ball pythons on the market
It’s a good thing scale rot produces obvious symptoms, as it is a very serious illness. Without rapid care, most snakes that suffer from severe
A significant part of the appeal of ball pythons is the incredible colors and patterns some individuals exhibit. You may have to spend a pretty
I’d had this particular ball python for nearly six months, and he’d yet to eat voluntarily. These days, given that most ball pythons on the
Captive-bred ball pythons were occasionally available at that time, but the vast majority of specimens on sale were of the wild-caught, imported variety. These snakes
There isn’t really a “wrong” way to name your pet. We were kidding around before about calling your snake by name, but in actuality, your
Nobody cleans up natural habitats. Animals poop, shed their skins, and eventually die, leaving their lifeless corpses behind. But these biological materials don’t stick around
A lot of owners are nervous that their pet snake may eventually bite them. But don’t worry, it is usually not a big deal –
Corn snakes were either named for their tendency to hang out in cornfields (where rodents are abundant), or for the maize-like pattern on their ventral
Providing the proper habitat for your new pet corn snake is one of the most important things you’ll do as a keeper. Your snake’s habitat
Although I’ve always been slightly more partial to Indo-Australian pythons, I’ve maintained a handful of corn snakes over the years, primarily as ambassadors to the
In our introductory article to crested geckos, I mentioned the first time I encountered one of these lizards at a reptile expo in the late
Crested geckos are popular pets for a number of reasons. It’s easy to see why: They’re easy to feed, they have endearing personalities, and they
One of the reasons crested gecko husbandry is relatively simple is their diet: Crested geckos are one of the easiest reptile species to feed. They
I spent a lot of time selling reptiles to beginning keepers in the late 90s. I usually encouraged fledgling keepers to select species that were
Because ball pythons have a reputation for being difficult to feed, many new keepers are anxious to begin feeding trials. But don’t worry, I have
The typical health and behavior of a species are important considerations for anyone seeking a pet reptile. Species that commonly experience serious health issues or
Ball pythons make fantastic pets, as they are relatively small, easy to maintain and typically have docile temperaments. They’re also attractive animals, who are available
I still remember my first ball python (Python regius). I had already kept a few snakes, but they were all quite nippy. So, I was
Plants draw carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen, while animals breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This means that it is theoretically
Wouldn’t it be great if your vivarium was as beautiful as functional? While it is always important to address the functional aspects of a vivarium first,
Substrate selection is a topic of considerable discussion and debate. As the art and science of vivarium design have matured, reptile and amphibian keepers have
Most reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded animals. They depend on external sources of heat to drive their metabolisms and keep their bodies within the proper
There are A LOT of things to think about when setting up a vivarium. You have to decide what animals you’d like to keep, determine
Most plants and captive reptiles and amphibians require drinking water, but some also require water for soaking or swimming. Once you’ve decided on the best
The first thing you’ll need when constructing a vivarium is some type of enclosure. There are a number of different vivarium tank options available, and
Mention the word terrarium to a bunch of reptile keepers and they’ll likely envision a rainforest-style enclosure. But rainforests aren’t the only type of habitat
Providing your pet with an appropriate habitat requires that you not only understand his or her needs but that you also understand the needs of
Have you ever found yourself wondering if your favorite pet is living in the best possible conditions? Reptiles and amphibians are often challenging animals to
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