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Explore expert articles on exotic pets with Vet Verified.
A snake refusing food isn't always ill. This guide covers when fasting can be normal, which husbandry checks to make first (temperature, lighting, stress, prey size), and which signs mean a prompt or urgent visit to a reptile-experienced vet.
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How to find a UK vet who sees snakes, what to ask before booking and what to take to the appointment.
Finding an exotic vet starts with checking that a practice treats your pet’s exact species, as birds, reptiles, fish and small mammals can need very different care. Use the RCVS Find a Vet service, then phone the practice to ask about species experience, emergency cover, fees and referral options. Your local vet is usually the first person to contact, while referral hospitals can help with complex cases. Before an appointment, gather your pet’s records, ask for travel advice and request clear cost estimates. If your pet is ill or injured, phone a vet straight away.
Porcelain Crabs are small, peaceful marine animals that look like crabs but are related to squat lobsters. They need a mature reef aquarium of at least 60 litres, with clean, stable saltwater, plenty of live rock, safe hiding places and moderate to strong water flow. They feed by fanning tiny food from the water, so they need regular meals of plankton and fine reef foods. They are safe with corals and peaceful fish, but aggressive tank mates can harm them. With steady care, good food and safe places to moult, they can live for two to four years.
The Reticulated Python is the world’s longest snake and needs expert, long-term care. Native to Southeast Asia, it is a strong, clever constrictor that can grow 4 to 6 metres long. Adults need very large, locked housing, warm temperatures, high humidity, large water bowls and sturdy furnishings. They eat rodents, rabbits or large poultry at suitable intervals, and must never be overfed. Large snakes should only be handled by experienced people, with more than one person present. With proper care, they can live for 20 to 30 years, but they are not suitable for beginners.
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Emerald Crabs are small, green marine crabs from the Caribbean that can help control some nuisance algae in reef tanks. They need a mature saltwater aquarium with stable water, live rock, hiding places and regular food when algae is limited. They are usually peaceful, but hungry or larger crabs may nip corals or eat small tank mates. Keep one crab in a suitably sized tank, feed it after dark, and give it space to hide while it moults.
Mould in a terrarium with live animals can cause serious health problems, especially for amphibians, humid-climate reptiles and sensitive invertebrates. Remove mouldy food, substrate and decor carefully, avoid household chemicals, and move the animal to a safe enclosure if growth is widespread or smells musty. Long-term control comes from proper airflow, damp rather than soaked substrate, prompt food removal, regular checks of hides and decor, and active springtails and isopods in bioactive setups. Watch for breathing problems, low appetite, tiredness or skin changes, and correct poor conditions quickly.
The Common Snapping Turtle is a large, powerful freshwater reptile from North America. It needs a huge, secure pond, strong water filters, careful feeding and very little handling. These turtles can bite badly, live for 40 to 50 years or more, and are only suitable for experienced keepers who understand local laws and can meet their long-term needs.
Red-Tailed Boa care guide covering Boa constrictor imperator and Boa constrictor constrictor. Learn about their Central and South American habitat, adult size, calm temperament, vivarium setup, heating, humidity, lighting, feeding, handling, health issues and 20–30 year lifespan. These large, powerful snakes need secure housing, careful feeding and a committed keeper.
Halloween Moon Crab care guide for Gecarcinus quadratus, covering enclosure size, deep moist substrate, temperature, humidity, freshwater and saltwater, feeding, behaviour, moulting and common health issues. These colourful semi-terrestrial crabs need a secure 60 x 45 cm or larger vivarium, with 70–80% land, 20–30% shallow water, and 15–20 cm of burrowing substrate. Keep temperatures at 24–28°C and humidity at 70–85%, feed a varied omnivorous diet with calcium, and avoid handling or overcrowding. With proper care, Halloween Crabs can live for 5–10 years.
Learn how to care for Müller’s Sand Boa, also called Eryx muelleri, a small burrowing snake from West and Central Africa. This guide covers its habitat, size, calm nature, vivarium setup, deep sandy substrate, temperatures, feeding, handling, health concerns, lifespan and breeding. Müller’s Sand Boas need a secure arid enclosure with plenty of loose substrate, low to moderate humidity, fresh water and minimal disturbance.
Fiddler Crabs care summary. Small semi-terrestrial crabs kept in a brackish paludarium (a tank with both land and slightly salty water). Use at least 60 litres for 3–5 crabs. Make 70–80% land and 20–30% shallow water no deeper than 5–8 cm. Provide 8–10 cm of fine sand or a sand–soil mix for burrows. Salinity (salt level) 1.005–1.015, temperature 22–28°C, pH 7.5–8.5. Humidity 70–90% and air temperature 24–28°C, use a tight lid and mist the land daily. Feed algae wafers, spirulina pellets, sinking crustacean pellets, vegetables and occasional protein. Keep at least 3 crabs with 1 male to 2–3 females and use a species-only tank. Do weekly 20–30% water changes, use a gentle sponge filter and provide hides and climbing decor. Support moulting with calcium and steady conditions. Lifespan about 2–3 years. Not suitable for simple freshwater tanks; they do well with a proper brackish setup.
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