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Rule: Don't feel obligated to explain a character or alien's entire life history and racial background when you first meet them. Your character's having a pet Targ at age nine probably has nothing to do with the story, and is just extraneous filler. Save it for when NBC knocks on your door and wants to turn your book into a TV series.
Work on character-establishing scenes: Scenes where some word or act, early on, does a good job of defining your basic character. Think of Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park movie: We learned in two minor scenes that he thinks he's a tech jinx, and he improvises quickly on his feet.
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