Bad Things Happen to Good Fish

Bad Things Happen to Good Fish

Author: Tracie Hotchner July 7, 2025 Duration: 16:27
#312: Dr. Greg Lewbart returns to discuss koi ponds and how these ornamental fish (called “living art” by the Japanese) can need medical help from doctors who are members of the American Association of Fish Veterinarians, whether from chlorine toxicity or environmental disasters like the L.A. fires. [The world record price for a Grand Champion koi is $1.6 million, so clearly there is a need for vets specialized in pet/ornamental fish medicine!]

Ever wondered what it really takes to care for a chinchilla or create the perfect habitat for a chameleon? Exotic Pets™ is a deep dive into the fascinating world of animals that share our homes but aren't your typical cats and dogs. Host Tracie Hotchner, alongside world-renowned veterinarian and author Dr. Doug Mader, explores the unique needs of creatures that slither, hop, creep, fly, and swim. Each episode moves beyond simple fascination to deliver practical, vital information. You'll hear detailed discussions on creating the right environment, from temperature and lighting to enclosure design, and deciphering the often complex dietary essentials that are critical to an animal's long-term health and happiness. This podcast recognizes that caring for a rabbit, iguana, parrot, ferret, snake, or tortoise comes with a distinct set of challenges and rewards, offering guidance that prioritizes the animal's welfare above all. It's a resource for the whole family, designed to educate current owners and intrigue the curious, ensuring these special companions thrive. Tune in for conversations that are as informative as they are engaging, grounded in decades of hands-on experience and a genuine passion for animal well-being.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Exotic Pets™
Podcast Episodes
The Python Huntress in Naples, Florida [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:34
#337: Python Huntress on Instagram, Amy Siewe leads guided hunts to kill invasive Burmese pythons, her biggest kill being a 17 foot snake. A “herper” who loves snakes and used to breed small ones, Amy has eliminated over…
How About an African Emperor Scorpion as a Pet? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:22
#336: Dr. Doug explains that scorpions — which are over 200 million years old, the oldest living animal on earth, — are unusual as an exotic pet. African Emperor scorpions — "ominous looking, yet fairly gentle with grasp…
Play with Beaktivity (and Your Food!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:21
#335: Avian specialist and house call parrot veterinarian Dr. Ann Bourke talks about having helped Sue & John with the development of the Beaktivity hanging parrot toy, which makes parrots happy because they can destroy…
Reptile Got Mites? Give your snake a bath in olive oil! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:48
#334: Dr. Doug discusses mites on snakes — and the different mites that get on lizards — and how to treat them with an olive oil rub down, or the medication Provent-a-mite.
The Special Human-Animal Bond With Fish [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:09
#333: Dr. Doug Mader talks about his personal history with keeping fish as pets — feeling emotionally attached to them and their responsiveness to him as their caregiver. Another facet of the human-animal bond that is in…
Love Your Fish! (and they'll love you back) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:09
#332: Dr Doug Mader talks about "the atypical human-animal bond" and how statistics are showing a new generation of fish and reptile owners who are forming bonds and interactions with their exotic pets. Tracie explains h…
How Tiny is Tiny? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:55
#331: Exotic veterinarian Dr Jeff Jenkins in San Diego talks about doing surgery on "tiny things" like a Society Finch (that’s the species actual name, not an adjective!), spaying guinea pigs and neutering rats — all thr…
His Octopus Friend Who Lived With Him [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:49
#330: Dr Don Harris really did have an octopus as a pet — in fact a series of them, as they don’t live very long, but are fascinating “companions.” Note: Octopuses are not actually pets for sale. You'd have to dive and f…
The Clients Are Exotic, Too! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:31
#329: Dr. Jeff Jenkins in San Diego talks about his 40+ years running an Exotic Specialty Practice — the early pioneers of exotic animal medicine on whose shoulders he stands — and how he also enjoys the unusual humans w…