#307: Ethan Haber started the small mammal company https://happyhabitats.net/ and designed an array of amazing products to let you take your hamster or mouse with you anywhere — for exercise and a chance to see the world. Ethan was that kid who begged his father for a pocket pet, but only got Mookie the hamster when he was 19 — then took him to college as his ESA. Now he’s a hamster entrepreneur making delightful products for gerbils, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, etc.

#316: Avian specialist Dr. Julia Shakeri says that toys for parrots should be viewed as essential “medical devices,” because they fulfill vital natural instincts in what are basically wild, non-domesticated animals — so she was very happy to consult with the creators of Beaktivity activity toys to make sure they fulfill a bird’s natural drive and at the same time avoid “toy trauma” from poorly designed interactive toys.

#315: Dr. Madonna Livingstone in Glasgow talks about “descenting ferrets” which is routine in the U.S. but illegal in the UK and elsewhere. Spoiler alert: it doesn't make them odor free! Their skin emits a natural musky odor, too. Dr. Madonna has EIGHT ferrets of her own at home (recently there were 10 of them) so she knows a thing or two about the fragrance! Ferret tip: they need 8 hours a day of dark sleep to keep them well (and minimize the odor). 

 #314: Dr. Rick LeCouteur is not officially an arachnologist (spider expert) but he has always been fascinated by them and knows a wonderfully amazing amount about them (and it seems nearly every living creature on the planet!) Dr. Rick explains the charm of jumping spiders, which is why Zoo Med's new Jumping Spider Kit is such a success.

#311: Dr. Gregory Lewbart — Professor of Aquatic, Wildlife & Zoological Medicine at North Carolina State University — talks about his recent (30th!) trip to the Galapagos Islands and the work he has been doing there at the Wildlife Conservation & Research Institute — where they are happy for the controlled tourism but also committed to protecting the flora and fauna from those invading humans!

#310: Brooks Barrett is the senior aquarist at the Key West Aquarium where, amongst other things, she directs placing a prosthetic flipper on a turtle named Lola, who can live to 100 years old (and gets jellyfish as a treat). Brooks discusses the ways sea creatures can be harmed by human behavior — including building sand castles above the water line, which can keep turtles from getting to that part of the beach to lay their eggs.

#309: Sue Thibeault and her husband John — parrot lovers who foster parrots who need new homes — created their company Beaktivity that makes the award-winning “parrot-designed” hanging enrichment toy that safely and creatively meets the environmental needs of parrots — and that parrots cannot destroy. 

#308: Dr. Madonna Livingstone in Scotland, author of the textbook “Exotics Made Easy” explains how rabbits — who are prey animals — could literally be dying but projecting the message “I’m fine.” The subtle little changes in their habits are the tip off to how they really are feeling.

#306: Dr. Doug talks about geroscience, the study of the effects of aging. When does a pet become geriatric: at 70% of their expected lifespan. A ferret or rat will be geriatric at 7.

#305: Dr. Doug Mader talks about mites, which are common on rabbits and sometimes look like dandruff that seems to walk in their fur — or may appear as brown “goo” in their big ears or a crusty nose. All of these mean you need to get to the vet for swift treatment!