The Blue Pearl Shrimp is quickly becoming popular in the American Dwarf Shrimp hobby. This shrimp is a blue color variant of the Neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis, the same variety that the Snowball Shrimp is selectively breed from. Some of the reasons they are gaining popularity is because of their ease of care, simple food requirements and their prolific breeding habits.

Blue Pearl Shrimp are rather undemanding when it comes to their care requirements. They require a well-established aquarium that has 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and less than 20 nitrates. Read the rest of this entry »

According to the dictionary, the only thing that a pet requires to be considered an exotic pet is to be something that is not indigenous to a particular region. However, according to that definition, any poodle or even a little Cairn Terrier or even Siamese exotic cats would technically qualify as an exotic pet. So there must be something else that defines the parameters regarding what does and does not make a pet an exotic pet.

Further research indicates that exotic can also include anything that is considered to be “exotic in nature” or have to be something that is unique and in some instances, often misunderstood. This would certainly seem to be a much more applicable definition when it comes to exotic pets. Read the rest of this entry »

A popular exotic pet for many people today is the chinchilla. Chinchillas can be very good pets for some individuals, but less than optimum for others. Lets look a little more at the animal and the care of the chinchilla to see if it is the right exotic pet for you.

Chinchillas are small rabbit-sized crepuscular rodents who are native to the Andes in South America. The name literally means “little Chinca” and the animals are named after the Chinca who were known for wearing the soft dense fur of the rodent. Read the rest of this entry »

Scorpions are becoming a popular choice for pets, in particular the emperor scorpion. They are relatively easy to care for, can grow up to six inches long, and have a lifespan of about six to eight years.

The invertebrate animal is not especially dangerous in comparison with other scorpion species. Their sting can be likened to a bee sting and not usually requiring medical attention. However, like bee stings, there are people who may be allergic to the venom. The emperor scorpion may also pinch owners. Handling of pet scorpions is not recommended, due to these reasons, but also because it can cause stress to the pet. Forceps with foam are recommended for picking up the scorpion when necessary. Read the rest of this entry »