Baby Turtles
Baby turtles are about as cute as it gets, but they can also be difficult to keep because they require special lighting, food and housing. They also grow quickly and live for decades when provided with the right care.
Box Turtles
Box turtles are long-lived pets that are more challenging to care for than often assumed because they have particular diet, temperature, and lighting requirements. When provided with the correct captive conditions though they are hardy and fun to keep.
Turtle and Tortoise Pen Construction
Learn how to build an outdoor pen for your turtle or tortoise step-by-step.
Substrates for Amphibians & Reptiles
The substrate of an enclosure is one of the most important aspects of housing reptiles and amphibians. This is an overview of available substrates and their best uses.
Publications
Books Frogs and Toads: Complete Herp Care Series. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H., 2011. Salamanders and Newts: Complete Herp Care Series. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H., 2009. Tree Frogs: Complete Herp Care Series. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H., 2007. Peer-reviewed Edmonds, D., Dreslik, M.J., Lovic, J.E., Wilson, T.P., Ernst, C.H. 2021. Growing as slow as a turtle: unexpected maturational differences in a small, long-lived species. PLoS ONE 16(11): e0259978. PDF Edmonds, D. 2021. Poison frogs traded and maintained by U.S. private breeders. Herpetological Review 52(4): 779–786. PDF Cunningham, E.P., Edmonds, D., Stalter, L.,...read more
The Mixed Species Dilemma
Zoological institutions often recreate naturally occurring communities of reptiles and amphibians in large elaborate exhibits. Can a private hobbyist accomplish the same thing at home?