Do reptiles pee? Is my reptile’s poop and waste normal? Buckle up – you’re about to read an entire article devoted to reptile waste elimination! If you’re new to herpetology, you might be wondering what normal waste looks like. Should it be white? Solid or liquid? How often should you be cleaning it up? The truth is that poop consistency and frequency will vary depending upon the species, but there are some general guidelines to normal-looking waste and things to watch out for that might indicate a problem with your pet’s health. Do reptiles pee? Reptiles “drink” water differently than mammals ..read more

Do reptiles pee? Is my reptile’s poop and waste normal? Buckle up – you’re about to read an entire article devoted to reptile waste elimination! If you’re new to herpetology, you might be wondering what normal waste looks like. Should it be white? Solid or liquid? How often should you be cleaning it up? The truth is that poop consistency and frequency will vary depending upon the species, but there are some general guidelines to normal-looking waste and things to watch out for that might indicate a problem with your pet’s health. Do reptiles pee? Reptiles “drink” water differently than mammals ..read more

Part of the fun of Halloween involves dressing up all family members, pets included. But is it safe to dress up your herp for this holiday? While it’s highly appealing to dress your reptile, amphibian or even tarantula in a cute costume for Halloween, it might not be the best idea to do so. Whether or not your pet is suited for playing dress up depends upon your pet’s species, individual personality, and consistent level of human interaction. It’s ultimately a matter of personal discretion and judgement. What species are good to dress up for Halloween? There are some species that will tolerate ..read more

What are the most unique pet reptiles and amphibians? Reptiles and amphibians are considered somewhat unconventional pets on their own. But because there are so many different species to choose from, we wanted to take the time to outline our top five most unique species. In our estimation, Budgett’s Frogs, Red-Eye Crocodile Skinks, Western Hognose Snakes, Sirens, and Surinam Toads are the most unique reptiles and amphibians that are commonly kept as pets. What makes Budgett’s Frogs (Lepidobatrachus laevis) unique? Budgett’s frogs take the cake when it comes to uniqueness. They have an unmistak ..read more

Do I need a mister or a fogger for my pet reptile or amphibian? If you have a pet reptile or amphibian, then you probably understand that some species require more humidity than others. In order to maintain proper humidity levels, many owners rely on misters or foggers. So, which machine is better suited for your pet? What is the difference between a mister and a fogger? Both misters and foggers operate by using water. They each disperse water through different methods with the end goal of raising the humidity level within your pet’s enclosure. A mister is a machine that essentially creates ra ..read more

Spiders come in all shapes and sizes. This might get you wondering – what are the most colorful pet tarantulas? There are many species of tarantula available that are safe to keep as pets. Some are larger than others, some are more docile than others and – you guessed it – some are more colorful than others. In this article, we’ll discuss the most colorful species of tarantula commonly kept as pets and give some useful care tips for each kind. Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) One of the main things that gets us excited about keeping this beautiful spider is that they ..read more

Are you considering getting a White’s tree frog for a pet, but you’re unsure what to feed it? White’s tree frogs eat insects. In captivity, this means they will eat a wide variety of feeder insects including crickets, roaches, worms and other bugs. Ultimately, the insects you choose to feed your White’s tree frog is up to you. What type of insects should I feed my White’s tree frog? White’s tree frogs, AKA Dumpy tree frogs, are insectivores. They only eat living insects. This means that you as an owner are free to choose from a variety of feeder insects to fulfill your frog’s dietary needs. Th ..read more

What mistakes do people commonly make when it comes to reptile husbandry? Reptiles are considered exotic pets and as such they do have specific and special care requirements. Although most pet owners do want to take the best care possible of their reptile, there are many common mistakes that are made when trying to do so. This article will touch upon the most common mistakes we see at Backwater Reptiles and what you should be doing instead. Temperature and Humidity Did you know that temperature and humidity are one of the toughest environmental factors to get right when it comes to captive con ..read more

How do I know what gender my pet tarantula is? It’s very easy to determine the gender of a cat, dog or other mammal commonly kept as a pet. However, arachnids don’t have discernible external markers that clearly determine their gender. It takes a bit more detective work to find out what the sex of your tarantula is. Here’s a hint: you’ll need to keep your spider’s molted exoskeleton! What traits can I use to help identify the gender of my tarantula? While it’s really only useful to very experienced tarantula keepers, it is possible to examine the underside of a tarantula’s abdomen to help asse ..read more

What do snakes eat? Do they all eat the same thing? What should I feed my own pet snake? Unlike other reptiles, snakes as a whole tend to eat the same types of things – other living creatures. No snake species is vegetarian. The types of food that snakes eat varies but primarily includes: rodents, fish, small reptiles and amphibians, and insects. What do constrictors eat? The group of snakes dubbed constrictors are the species that squeeze their prey to death before eating. The snake first wraps its coils around its prey and then each time the prey exhales, it tightens its grip, causing its pr ..read more