[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/pet-care.jpg” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ title_text=”pet care” align=”center”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_cta title=”Do Your Research” button_text=”Click Here” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The inclusion of an animal in this resource is not a recommendation of this animal as a pet.<\/p>\n
These care guides should provide the basic information you need to care for an animal, but we always encourage you to do your own research.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/laws.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ alt=”Many of the animals in these care guides are banned in certain countries, states, and provinces. Check your local laws and regulations.” title_text=”laws”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Select the type of animal you are looking for information on.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_4″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon2.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ title_text=”icon2″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/small-animal-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Small Mammals<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon11.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ title_text=”icon11″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/lizard-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Lizards<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon9.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”icon9″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/freshwater-fish-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Freshwater Fish<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_4″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon1.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ title_text=”icon1″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/large-animal-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Large Mammals<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon12.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”icon12″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/snake-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Snakes<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon8.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”icon8″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/saltwater-fish-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Saltwater Fish<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_4″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon7.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ title_text=”icon7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Exotic Birds<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon10.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”icon10″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/turtle-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Turtles<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon4.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”icon4″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/aquatic-invertebrate-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Aquatic Invertebrates<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_4″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon5.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”icon5″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Domestic Birds<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon6.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”icon6″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/amphibian-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Amphibians<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1768\/2025\/04\/icon3.png” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”icon3″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/terrestrial-invertebrate-care-guides\/”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1em” text_font_size=”20px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Terrestrial Invertebrates<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ text_font_size=”21px”]<\/p>\n
How Do We Choose Care Guides?<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
We pick our care guides based on a few criteria. All of the care guides that we list are evaluated based on these criteria.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_tabs _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_tab title=”Accuracy” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
We evaluate each care guide for it’s general accuracy of information. We do not include care guides that spread misinformation, even if the majority of the care guide is correct. We try to pick care guides that show a solid understanding of the animal.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Fullness” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
We pick care care guides based on their fullness of information. All animals are complex and a few paragraphs of information simply cannot provide you with all the information you need in order to care for them.<\/p>\n
This is also why we provide multiple care guides for each species.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Motivation” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
When selecting care guides, we always pay attention to who is writing this care guide and for what purpose. We avoid care guides that might have motivation to be misleading. For example, care guides that are written by companies that sell animals would be motivated to present their care as easy and appealing, even if it is not.<\/p>\n
We also try to pick care guides from a variety of sources and presented in a variety of mediums.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_tab][\/et_pb_tabs][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ text_font_size=”18px”]<\/p>\n
Can’t find information on the animal you’re looking for?<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_text=”Submit a Question” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ button_alignment=”center” button_url=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/oddduckpond\/ask-a-question\/”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
I found a care guide from somewhere else. How do I know if it’s a good one?<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
We have a guide on how to evaluate any care guide for any type of animal. Check it out!<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_text=”Click Here” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ button_alignment=”center”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The inclusion of an animal in this resource is not a recommendation of this animal as a pet. These care guides should provide the basic information you need to care for an animal, but we always encourage you to do your own research.Select the type of animal you are looking for information on.Small MammalsLizardsFreshwater FishLarge […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5169,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n
This list is a compilation of care guides on common pets from hamsters to snakes to parakeets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just click the link for the type of animal you are looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These care guides have been carefully chosen based on a few criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These guides come from a variety of sources and mediums. We highly recommend that you look at a variety of sources when you are researching pet care and encourage you to use sources other than what we have linked. However, the resources provided should be enough for you to provide basic care for your pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are care guides available for most animals that are commonly kept as pets, but that does not necessarily mean that we recommend all of these animals as pets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don't see the animal you're looking for? Submit a question<\/a> to let us know and we'll add it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: Small Animal is a category that refers specifically to mammals that are commonly kept as household pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Small Animal Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Large Animal Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This includes frogs and salamanders<\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Amphibian Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Snake Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Lizard Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Turtle Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Poultry\/Domesticated Bird Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Exotic Bird Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Freshwater Fish Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Link to Saltwater Fish Care Guides<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSmall Animals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Large Animals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Amphibians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reptiles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Snakes<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Lizards<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Turtles<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Birds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Poultry\/Domesticated Birds<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Exotic Birds<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Freshwater Fish<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Saltwater Fish<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Invertebrates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Terrestrial Invertebrates<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n