INTRODUCTION

Why is vitamin A important?

Vitamin A is an essential, fat-soluble vitamin that is produced from carotenoids such as beta carotene. This vitamin plays an important role in the body including skin health, red blood cell production, antibody production, and immune responses to pathogens.

The Emperor scorpion, Pandinus imperatoris, is gaining popularity as a pet. Originating in African forests, Emperor scorpions are relatively docile and typically do no show signs of aggression unless threatened. 

Tegus are intelligent and curious lizards that can be tamed and trained with regular handling and interaction.The Salvator species are the most commonly kept Tegus in captivity and include the Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) and the Red tegu (Salvator refescens).

Most people never lose their fascination with and enjoy keeping insects, spiders, scorpions, and millipedes as pets. Atthough these are not cuddly pets, they can certainly be entertaining and educational. Before deciding on your new invertebrate pet, it is important to educate yourself on their captive care requirements as there are some critical factors you should consider before choosing.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches are known for the hissing sound they make by forcing air through spiracles, or respiratory openings, on their abdomen. This hiss can be made because of different situations: disturbance, mating, and fighting, but only males use the latter two. Another distinction between the two genders is the thicker antennae found on males. Unlike most cockroaches, these are wingless. Despite this, they are very good at climbing and can even climb up smooth glass.

Chilean rose hair tarantulas (Grammostola rosea and Grammostola portier), also referred to as Chilean fire tarantulas or just Chilean rose tarantulas are large spiders that reach a leg span of 5-6 inches. Their relatively long life spans, hardy nature, and reluctance to bite make them among the most common arachnid pets. These spiders are native to the deserts and scrubland of western South America, and are relatively recent to the pet trade, only becoming widely available in the 90s.  Males generally live 4-5 years, but females can live 15-20 years.

Here are some tips and tricks for getting your fish to the veterinarian and being prepared for the appointment when you arrive.

Enrichment is a continuously growing and evolving concept in animal care which centers around the idea of keeping captive animals stimulated in their environments by allowing them to engage in as many natural behaviors as possible and giving options on how to interact with their environment (essentially giving them choices). Enrichment is widely utilized in zoos and most commonly with large mammals; however, many other species including birds, reptiles, and small mammals are often overlooked.

Poison dart frogs are relatively difficult to care for and are not recommended for beginners. Moreover, the term "poison dart frog" encompasses many species and subspecies, which will each have their own individual needs. Please read trustworthy guidelines for your species and subspecies of frog for more specific guidelines.