How can I control egg laying in my parrots? Although aviculturists want their birds to lay eggs, pet bird owners face a dilemma that is the exact opposite –...
How should I groom my bird? Many bird owners like to groom their birds, i.e., trim their wings, nails, and beaks. This has to be done...
How do I bond with my companion bird? One of the main reasons for having a pet is to bond with them in some fashion. Ideally, birds and...
How do I socialise my new bird with other birds? Birds gather together in a flock which serve primarily as a protective unit for the birds. The relationship the birds...
What should I feed my birds? Advances in recent years have shown us that feeding an all-seed diet is not just a bad diet, but one...
Does my bird have external parasites (e.g. lice, mites, ticks, fleas)? Birds can carry a large number of external parasites (ectoparasites) – fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. This isn’t as common...
Why do birds chew and pull out their feathers? Feather damaging behaviour (FDB) is damage to, or destruction of, a bird’s feathering by the birds themselves. It can include...
Do I need a licence to keep a reptile in Australia? If you’re thinking of owning a reptile, there are a few things you need to be aware of to ensure...
Can my reptile make me sick? Most, if not all, reptiles carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestinal tract and intermittently or continuously shed these bacteria in...
Should I feed live insects to my reptile? The potential impacts on both reptiles and insects should be considered when making the difficult choice of whether you should...
How do I keep my turtle’s tank healthy? Water quality Turtles live in an aquatic environment. This simple statement reflects the importance of water quality to the health...
How can I tell if my reptile is sick? As many of you with reptilian pets would know, they can be challenging to read sometimes! Signs of illness can...
How do I safely handle my reptile? No form of handling of your reptile should ever be taken lightly, as each restraint has some effect on their...
How should I care for my reptile? Are reptiles the right pet for me? Reptiles are fascinating and wonderful animals, but they are not ‘low maintenance’ pets....
Are reptiles cold-blooded? In contrast to birds and mammals, reptiles have evolved as ectotherms – animals who regulate their body temperature to suit...
Why does my reptile need sunlight? It is commonly said that pet reptiles should get a few hours (at least) outside in the sun. Artificial lighting...
How often should I worm my reptiles? Intestinal parasites can be a serious problem for all reptiles, as they can become infected through contact with other reptiles,...
How can I keep my reptiles safe from household hazards? Although it is not always a good idea, some reptile owners allow their reptiles to roam through the house, or...
Are reptiles the right pet for me? Although keeping reptiles (such as turtles, lizards, and snakes) is common in many parts of the world, relatively little is...
How should I care for my blue tongue skink? The most common reptile species kept as pets are typically medium-sized, non-threatened, captive-bred, and easily obtained. The Eastern Blue Tongue...