Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictor Order: Squamata Family: Boidae Related species: Boa constrictor constrictor (red-tailed boa), Boa imperator (Columbian boa) There is some debate as to whether Boa imperator (the Central American population) is a subspecies of Boa constrictor or it’s own species. See ITIS, CABI, and Wikipedia. Natural History Information Range and Habitat Boa constrictors are found…

Marine (Cane) Toad

Rhinella marina, or Bufo marinus Order: Anura Family: Bufonidae Natural History Information Range and Habitat The native range of the marine toad (also known as the cane toad) is from the Rio Grande valley of Texas south to the Central Amazon and southeastern Peru. They have also been introduced into other areas, such as the…

Brazilian Black Tarantula

Grammostola pulchra Order: Araneae Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Diet Requirements Wild Diet: they eat a variety of invertebrates, including insects. May also eat small mammals, reptiles and other spiders. Zoo/Aquarium Diet: insects (crickets, dubias, butterworms, etc). After a molt, we do not feed or handle for 2 weeks. Our adults are fed 1 cricket or…

Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus didactylus or Choloepus hoffmanni Order: Pilosa Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Needs branches to hang from. Needs to be able to access the ground via a branch or enclosure side to defecate. For easier husbandry, place the tree branch to the ground on top of a litter box. Can use aspen shavings for litter.Also needs…

Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata Order: Rodentia Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Likes to have hide box to feel secure Lots of enrichment to keep busy, food scatter, browse, scents, dirt pans to dig in, large water pools to play in. Diet Requirements Variety of fruits (apple, coconut, mango, pineapple, pear, grape, orange), vegetables(cucumber, zuccini, brocoli, sweet potato, celery,…

Guinea Pig

Guinea Pig Latin Name Cavia porcellus Order: Rodentia Family:  Overview A common pet, Guinea pigs are familiar to most guests. They’re surprised, however, how trainable they are. They are easily presented in hand, on tables, or even trained to do A-Bs across stages (which is always a hit!). This is also a great, entry-level animal…

Degu

Octodon degus Order: Rodentia Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Must have stout metal housing – degus will quickly chew through anything plastic. Degus are very active; a running wheel is a must, and a decent level of rotational enrichment will also keep them from chewing everything apart. Ideally, use a mesh running wheel or “flying saucer…

Chinchilla

Chinchilla lanigera Order: Rodentia Family: Chinchillidae “Chinchilla”’ means “little chincha.” Chincha is the South American Indian tribe for which the animal is named. “Lanigera” in latin means “woolly,” although the thick fur of chinchillas is not wool. They are closely related to viscachas, rodents that look very similar to rabbits. Overview With proper rearing and…

Prehensile-tailed Porcupine

Coendou prehensilis Order: Rodentia Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Provide ample space for climbing with lots of climbing structures/perching. Although the animal seems to be inactive and sleeping during the day and may lead to the assumption that they are not active, they are more active at night so provide an enclosure and enrichment to satisfy…

Short-tailed opossum

Mondelphia domestica Order: Didelphimorphia Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Must be housed alone unless you are trying to breed. Single animals can be kept in 30-gallon aquariums with at least one hide provided. Keep a luggage strap around the tank to secure the lid because this species is known to push on lids and escape. Wood shavings…