At Critter Crib, we believe good pet care starts with good information.
There is an enormous amount of animal-care advice available online, but not every source has the same level of expertise, research, or reliability. When researching our guides, we aim to prioritize credible sources and compare information when appropriate rather than relying on a single website or opinion.
This page explains the types of resources we consider when researching animal care and husbandry topics.
Veterinary Resources
Veterinary organizations, veterinary hospitals, and veterinary educational resources can provide valuable information about animal health, nutrition, behavior, preventative care, and common medical concerns.
Veterinary sources are especially important when researching topics involving:
- Signs of illness
- Nutrition
- Toxic or potentially harmful substances
- Parasites and disease
- Injury prevention
- Preventative care
- Environmental health concerns
Critter Crib provides educational information and does not replace professional veterinary care. If your pet is sick or injured, contact a qualified veterinarian.
Universities and Educational Institutions
Universities, veterinary schools, extension programs, and other educational institutions can be useful sources of research-based information.
Depending on the animal and subject, these resources may provide information about:
- Animal biology
- Nutrition
- Behavior
- Environmental requirements
- Disease
- Species identification
- Animal welfare
- Husbandry practices
Educational institutions can be particularly helpful when researching subjects where simplified pet-care advice doesn’t provide enough context.
Government Agencies
Government agencies may publish information related to animal health, wildlife, disease prevention, animal transportation, invasive species, environmental safety, and responsible animal ownership.
Government resources can also be important when researching regulations or health concerns that vary by location.
Readers should remember that laws concerning the ownership, transportation, sale, or collection of certain animals can differ between countries, states, and local jurisdictions.
Always check the rules that apply where you live.
Zoos, Aquariums, and Animal Institutions
Established zoos, aquariums, museums, conservation organizations, and similar institutions can provide useful information about animal biology, natural habitats, behavior, diets, environmental conditions, and species-specific needs.
These resources can be particularly helpful for understanding the natural history of reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and invertebrates.
Understanding how an animal lives in nature can provide useful context when determining how to support natural behaviors in captivity.
Scientific Research
When appropriate, scientific publications and research can provide additional context for topics involving animal behavior, biology, nutrition, environmental conditions, and health.
Scientific research can be valuable, but individual studies need to be interpreted carefully.
One study doesn’t necessarily establish a universal husbandry rule, and research conducted under specific conditions may not always translate directly to everyday pet care.
For that reason, scientific information may be considered alongside other reliable sources when developing practical guidance.
Animal Welfare Organizations
Established animal welfare and animal-care organizations can provide useful information about responsible ownership, housing, enrichment, adoption, handling, and general welfare.
These sources can be especially helpful when evaluating whether common husbandry practices adequately support an animal’s physical and behavioral needs.
Species-Specific Resources
Some animals require specialized care that isn’t thoroughly covered by general pet resources.
Species-specific organizations and established husbandry resources may provide valuable information about animals such as:
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Aquarium fish
- Freshwater invertebrates
- Birds
- Small mammals
- Tarantulas
- Praying mantises
- Stick insects
- Isopods
- Millipedes
- Land snails
- Hermit crabs
We consider the reputation, expertise, supporting evidence, and consistency of these resources before relying on their recommendations.
Manufacturer Information
When discussing equipment or products, manufacturer documentation may sometimes be useful for factual information such as:
- Product dimensions
- Equipment specifications
- Operating instructions
- Replacement schedules
- Installation requirements
- Safety instructions
Manufacturer information is most useful for understanding the product itself.
It isn’t automatically treated as independent evidence that a particular product is necessary or better than competing options.
Examples of Established Resources
Depending on the subject being researched, useful sources may include organizations and institutions such as:
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
- Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV)
- Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV)
- Merck Veterinary Manual
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Universities and veterinary schools
- Accredited zoos and aquariums
- Peer-reviewed scientific journals
This isn’t an exhaustive list, and inclusion here doesn’t mean that any organization endorses, sponsors, reviews, or is affiliated with Critter Crib.
Different topics require different sources.
How We Choose Sources
When evaluating a source, we may consider questions such as:
- Who produced the information?
- Does the author or organization have relevant expertise?
- Is the information current?
- Is supporting evidence provided?
- Does the information agree with other credible sources?
- Is the advice specific to the species being discussed?
- Is the source primarily educational or primarily trying to sell something?
- Have husbandry recommendations changed since the information was published?
No source is automatically accepted simply because it appears professional.
When recommendations differ, we aim to consider the available information and avoid presenting uncertain or disputed advice as established fact.
Sources We Treat With Caution
Personal experiences can sometimes provide useful context, but anecdotes aren’t the same as reliable evidence.
We therefore use caution with information originating primarily from:
- Anonymous forum posts
- Social media posts
- Unverified personal blogs
- Product reviews
- Retailer marketing claims
- Automatically generated summaries
- Sources that don’t explain where their information comes from
This doesn’t mean information from these sources is always incorrect. It means important animal-care recommendations should ideally be supported by stronger evidence.
Information Changes
Animal husbandry continues to develop.
Practices that were commonly recommended years ago may later be reconsidered as new information becomes available and standards of care improve.
For this reason, Critter Crib may update existing articles when better information becomes available.
You can learn more about this process in our Editorial Policy.
Use Multiple Reliable Resources
Even a detailed Critter Crib guide shouldn’t necessarily be the last thing you ever read about an animal.
We encourage pet owners to continue learning, particularly before bringing home an unfamiliar species.
Compare reputable resources, understand the animal’s natural history, learn its environmental requirements, and establish appropriate veterinary care when applicable.
The more you understand an animal’s needs, the better prepared you’ll be to provide appropriate long-term care.
Questions or Corrections
If you believe one of our articles contains outdated or inaccurate information, we want to know about it.
Please use our Contact page to identify the article and explain the information you believe should be reviewed.
We consider reasonable corrections and may update content when appropriate.
For additional information about how Critter Crib creates and maintains its content, please read our Editorial Policy.