Exotic Pets

The giant green iguana as its name implies describes that indeed it is a large reptile and ideal for pet lovers who love to take care of large animals. They grow to about the length of 5 to 6 feet on growth rate faster than human growth. It can reach maximum size in only about 4 to 5 years. Its life span can reach to about 12 to 15 years. The cage for keeping giant green iguanas must be large enough to cover its size with allowance to provide freedom of movement. Ideal size must be twice its length in width and same length ... Read Full Story

Florida homes and swamps more used to dealing with dangerous critters like alligators now face a more foreign invader -- giant pet snakes escaped into the wild whose numbers are growing at an alarming rate. Several species of non-native snakes, such as the boa constrictor and the African python, are adapting so well to life in southern Florida's warm semi-tropical climate that they are posing a risk to wildlife and even humans. Already well camouflaged thanks to their natural coloring, the slippery customers can glide away into the undergrowth of the Florida Everglades easily evading capture. "Compounding their risk to native species and ecosystems ... Read Full Story

Boa Constrictor Boa constrictor Show Name: “Aztec, Boanita and Dennis.” Hisssstory: All of our boa constrictors were unwanted pets left at animal shelters and with animal rescue groups. Zoo Diet: Frozen, defrosted and warmed up jumbo sized dead rats. Yummmmmmmmmmm. Touchable in our shows: Yes. Range: Boa constrictors have an enormous range from Mexico to Argentina. Habitat: Boa constrictors live in many habitats: rain forests, dry tropical woodlands, grasslands, farms, and even urban regions. Natural Diet: Boa constrictors will consume birds, small mammals, and occasionally reptiles. Size: The boa constrictor grows to an average length of 9 feet. Record length was 13 feet 1 ... Read Full Story

MIAMI (Reuters) - Burmese pythons and other giant snakes imported as pets could endanger some of America's most important parks and wilderness areas if they are allowed to multiply, according to a report released on Tuesday. Wildlife experts say the Burmese python is distributed across thousands of square miles (kilometers) in south Florida. There could be tens of thousands in the Everglades, a wildlife refuge that is home to the Florida panther and other endangered species. The Burmese python and four other non-native snakes -- boa constrictors, yellow anacondas, northern and southern African pythons -- are considered "high-risk" threats to the health of U.S. ... Read Full Story

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - A small turtle might seem like the ideal pet but health officials are warning people that turtles can damage your health with two girls made sick from salmonella after swimming with their pets in a backyard pool. A report in the journal Pediatrics outlines the largest U.S. salmonella outbreak blamed on turtles that occurred between May 2007 and January 2008 and made 107 people in 34 states sick, including the two girls who swam with turtles. Despite a long-standing federal ban on the sale of small turtles, the reptiles continue to be sold in the United States and can ... Read Full Story

The most common iguana is the green iguana and is easily recognized with its bright green color. Like most iguanas it also contains the traditional spikes running down the centre of its back. Most of you will know that iguanas are masters of camouflage and have the ability to change color to fit their surroundings. This is their only defense against some of their predators and they use quite effectively. There are in fact 8 types of iguanas in total. They include the Galapagos marine iguana, the Fiji banded iguana, the land iguana, ground or rock iguanas, the desert iguana, the common green ... Read Full Story

The popularity of the traditional pets has received a backseat and the reptiles like the snakes and geckos are coming as sought after pets. New research has likewise determined this fact. Reptile fanciers have augmented in number to the measure that there are as many as 8,000,000 amphibians and reptiles that are held as pets in only U.K., the British Federation of Herpetologists (BFH) has reckoned. The popularity of reptiles as pets has elevated rapidly. They have moved into the mainstream from an insignificant position. The time favorable choice of the reptiles makes them tailored for the arduous modern life. Their easy care is ... Read Full Story