Small Pets

Green Iguanas 101

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Mar 11th 2010 @ 10:00AM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Reptiles, Small Pets

Name: Green Iguana

Personality: In the wild, the green iguana is social, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. However, males can be territorial and aggressive, making it difficult to keep them in social groups in captivity.

Care: In addition to specific housing requirements (including the enclosure, heating, lighting and humidity), you'll need to trim your iguana's nails regularly, bathe them occasionally and monitor their poop and appearance, says the Iguana Pages.

Common Health Issues: According to ReptileChannel.com, green iguanas can live up to 20 years or so in captivity with proper care, though it's more common for them to live closer to nine or 10 years. Green iguanas are susceptible to parasites (both internal and external), tail loss (not serious -- it's designed to break off, but you still should never grab it), burns (if an improper heat or light source is used), nose abrasions (from repeatedly trying to get out of the enclosure) and other wounds and abscesses from being active, reports The Iguana Pages.

The same source lists common health issues as bladder stones, egg binding, mites, burns and

Training Tips: If your green iguana isn't properly tamed and trained, it can be aggressive and very dangerous, says the Green Iguana Society. The source outlines a number of steps in making your lizard comfortable and stress-free -- both very important when training it to be handled. With patience and consistency, you should be able to train your iguana to be handled and even give it some freedom outside its enclosure!

Funny Bunny Picture: Bumface

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts): Mar 4th 2010 @ 9:30AM Filed Under: Small Pets

Queen of the Universe, Flickr

This rabbit doesn't look happy.

Green Anoles 101

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Mar 3rd 2010 @ 10:00AM Filed Under: Reptiles, Small Pets

green anole Clicksy, Flickr

Name: Green Anole

Personality: Skittish, not terribly social (though small groups of females with no more than one male can work well). Males can be territorial.

Care: This is a fairly low-maintenance reptile according to About.com Exotic Pets, which also states that an aquarium of proper size (at least 10 gallons, larger for groups) is required, and the daytime temperature should remain around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with 70 percent humidity. You'll need to mist their enclosures a couple of times a day in order for the green anoles to hydrate. They lap water from their surroundings rather than drink from a dish. Plants and branches should be provided. A diet of live crickets (gut loaded and supplemented) will keep them healthy.

Common Health Issues: Green anoles are hardy, so they don't have many health problems, says allpetinc.com. Providing proper full-spectrum lighting and branches for basking will keep your lizard unstressed and healthy. However, green anoles are susceptible to metabolic bone disease, mouth rot, respiratory ailments and shedding.

Training Tips: This isn't the friendliest pet out there, but with consistent, calm attention, you might have luck with training your green anole to be handled. Don't be heartbroken if it doesn't happen, though.

Best For: This is a great "beginner" reptile because it doesn't require a huge commitment in terms of time or money. Of course, you still need to be prepared to care for the green anole for its full life, which will likely span around four years but can be longer than eight years with proper care according to About.com Exotic Pets.

What Green Anole Owners Say: Nick Brown of Portsmouth, R.I. tells Paw Nation, "I bought green anoles as a Christmas present for my son two years ago and we have enjoyed having them as pets. Our favorite part is feeding them live crickets because of the excitement seeing them hunt and eat a cricket when it is still alive. It's also cool to see them puff out their red throat sacs in the summertime."

Rabbit Fever -- A Behind the Scenes Look at a Bunny Competition

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Feb 26th 2010 @ 5:00PM Filed Under: Small Pets

We probably don't need to tell you that 2010 marks the 100-year anniversary of the American Rabbit Breeders Association. And what better way to celebrate than by watching the brand-spanking-new, hot-off-the-presses official trailer for "Rabbit Fever." This fascinating, educational, and often hilarious documentary follows some of the competitors at the National American Rabbit Convention, which is sort of like the Westminster Dog Show, but of course, for rabbits. (Check out our interview with "Rabbit Fever" filmmaker Amy Do to learn more about this "hare-raising" documentary.)

40-Pound Bunny May Be World's Largest

by Jeanne Sager (Subscribe to Jeanne Sager's posts): Feb 26th 2010 @ 1:00PM Filed Under: Pets News, Small Pets

Mike Walker, M&Y News Agency

Weighing in at over forty pounds, this English rabbit might just be the biggest bunny the world has ever seen.

Ralph, a Continental Giant rabbit, eats about $15 worth of food a day, says his owner Pauline Grant. The bunny consumes Weetabix cereal, crackers, apples, carrots, cabbages, toast, sweetcorn and huge bowls of rabbit food. Grant told the U.K's Sky News that she's still awaiting official confirmation of his stats, but she's hoping he will make it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

If his size is confirmed at 42 pounds and 4 feet in length, he'll knock his own mother out of the record books. According to the folks at Guinness, Ralph's dam, Amy, was listed in 2008 as the world's longest rabbit" at 2 feet, 8 inches.

Known for being a larger breed than most, Continental Giants typically weigh between 12 and 16 pounds. The minimum length of a show rabbit is 25.5 inches.

As long as Ralph continues with his voracious appetite, Grant says she'll keep feeding him. How long do you think this record will last?

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Camouflage Animals

Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be between four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

Getty Images

Camouflage Animals

Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

Camouflage Animals

Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While they normally stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

Camouflage Animals

Dwarf Puff Adder
Found in Nambia, the venomous Dwarf Puff Adder hides from the hot desert sun by burying itself in the sand, where only its eyes show.

Camouflage Animals

Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

Camouflage Animals

Chameleons
Chameleons, the quintessential color-changers, can transform their skin color when their mood, temperature or the amount of light around them is altered. Their hue, which can vary from yellow and pink to brown and black, is also altered when they communicate.

Camouflage Animals

Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the Southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

Camouflage Animals

The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark black patch from its eye to the base of its front limb that can change colors.

Camouflage Animals