Exotic Pets™
sponsored by Zoo Med, ZuPreem, and Oxbow Animal Health.
The show for people interested in pets that slither, hop, creep, fly or swim: from bunnies to iguanas, parrots to ferrets, snakes to tortoises. Information on the physical requirements of these exotic pets and how to manage the often challenging environment and correct diet essential to their welfare.
Sponsored by:
Geckos Will Steal Your Heart
#262: Dr. Doug Mader extols the virtues of geckos as perfect first reptiles because they can be as cute in real life as the Geico gecko on TV, with expressive faces (with eyelids) and charming personalities. Plus they can live 10 to 20 years!
Bunny Bonding Tips & Tricks
#261: Dr. Micah Kohles talks about how to add a 2nd bunny to your home. Slowly! Go to a shelter for a “bunny speed dating event” but still expect to spend months introducing them slowly. Once they are ready for a face-to-face introduction, the bathtub works great as a neutral territory [and it’s too slippery to get good traction to beat up the other bunny!]
Meet Dayyan the YouTube Reptiliatus Star!
#260: Starting with a love for dinosaurs as a child, Dayyan evolved into one of the most watched entertaining educators about “herp culture,” explaining fascinating phenomena like “obligate egg eater frogs!”
Gastrointestinal Stasis: What Every Bunny Owner Should Know
#259: Dr. Micah Kohles talks about the importance of “keeping things moving along in your bunny’s G.I. tract” by feeding a variety of fibers, like different hay and grasses and dark leafy greens to avoid shutting down the G.I. tract and causing a serious problem.
Decisions, Decisions. How to Choose a Snake?
#258: Dr. Karen talks about how to choose a pet snake. Corn, King, Milk, and Ball Pythons are all docile snakes costing from $50 to $200. Dr. Karen recommends going to a “reptile expo” to learn about good breeders, veterinary needs, and to join a reptile enthusiast club to learn from those who are passionate.
Small Pets in the Classroom
#256: Annie Petersen speaks about her fascination and love for guinea pigs and how she founded the Association for Human-Animal Bond Studies particularly to promote small animals in classrooms (and in homes like her own!)
Exotics Need Vaccinations, Too!
#255: Dr. Doug Mader talks about the value of vaccinations for exotic pets, urging people not to be afraid of vaccines, especially rabies which all mammals can get. Ferrets can also get canine distemper which can be deadly — but it is essential that it be the killed vaccine for them, never the live distemper vaccine.
The Turtle Passionate Couple Behind Garden State Tortoise
#257: Chris Leone of Garden State Tortoise on the South Shore of New Jersey, tells how he and his wife Casey bonded over a shared love of turtles and now create social media content every day to educate and delight over 2 millions followers, while raising and selling tortoises to pre-approved homes.
Ferrets are Like Kittens That Never Grow Up
#254: Dr. Karen Rosenthal gives an overview of Ferrets as pets — the highly friendly, social, playful little pets who remain kittenish and will give you years of loving companionship. They use a litter box immediately: just put a litter box in a corner (their preferred location to relieve themselves) and cover the bottom with Dr. Elsey’s Touch of the Outdoors litter.
Did Tracie’s Childhood Rabbit Need Orthodontics?
#253: Dr. Doug Mader explains how important dental care is for all rabbits and what happens when it is neglected. He answers Tracie’s question about whether her childhood veterinarian really did suggest braces for one of her rabbits with buck teeth.