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Reptiles, Rodents & Small Pets

Expert tips on reptiles, rodents and small pets will take the mystery out of caring for these little critters, whether you’re wondering what to feed a guinea pig or where to house a pet tarantula. All creatures need tender loving care, even pet turtles, snakes, lizards and scorpions. Need to research your pet python’s health condition? Want to know how to care for a baby rabbit? Advice from eHow's pet experts can make caring for your pets a breeze.

Categories in Reptiles, Rodents & Small Pets

Articles in Reptiles, Rodents & Small Pets

How to Hold a Pet Funeral

By eHow Pets Editor

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Losing a beloved family pet can be a devastating experience. Although you may not have given any consideration on how you wish to keep their memory alive once the pet is gone, you may wish to honor your pet by holding a pet funeral... more »

How to Identify a Poisonous Copperhead Snake

By eHow Pets Editor

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Agkistradon contortix, more commonly known as the Copperhead snake, bites more people in the United States than any other snake each year. If a person is bitten by a Copperhead snake and is able to identify it there is a better chance for proper ... more »

How to Identify Arachnids

By eHow Pets Editor

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There are 11 orders of arachnids, including scorpions, mites, ticks, harvestmen, pseudoscorpions, whipscorpions, solpugids and spiders. Evidence suggests that arachnids, a type of arthropod, were among the first animals to live on land, some 400 ... more »

How to Identify Loggerhead Sea Turtles

By eHow Pets Editor

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Sea turtles are fascinating members of the reptile family. There are several species of sea turtles. The loggerhead sea turtle is fairly easy to identify. Loggerhead sea turtles are most commonly seen in Florida. But they also nest in North ... more »

How to Introduce Your Rabbit to People

By eHow Pets Editor

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Rabbits are very sociable creatures. They enjoy interacting with their human companions once they learn to trust them (see the Bond With Your Rabbit eHow). Their social nature makes most rabbits happiest when they have a rabbit companion or ... more »

How to Keep a Guinea Pig Healthy

By sportchick707

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Even though guinea pigs are not actually classified as pigs, nor do they come from New Guinea, they are still one of the most popular household pets of our time. With a long body, short little ears, and excessive eating habits, guinea pigs have ... more »

How to Keep a Rabbit Cool in Summer

By eHow Pets Editor

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During the hot summer months people escape the heat by going into air conditioning, finding some shade or jumping into a pool. Your rabbit needs to escape the heat as well, but they require your help to do it. As a pet owner it's up to you to ... more »

How to Keep Gerbil Teeth From Getting Too Long

By jgharsha

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To keep gerbils healthy, their teeth can't be too long or too short. You can give them things to chew on and give them diet supplements to keep their teeth healthy. If their teeth break, give them extra calcium in their diets... more »

How to Keep Your Rabbit Healthy

By eHow Pets Editor

7 comments

Rabbits are delicate creatures and require a lot of care. It's important that you bond with your rabbit and get to know his habits and behavior, as well as the contours of his body, so you can recognize changes immediately. Rabbits generally hide ... more »

How to Know if a Pet Insect is Sick

By eHow Pets Editor

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Part of taking care of your pet is knowing if it is feeling well. With most animals this is relatively simple since they have physiology somewhat similar to a human. This isn't so with insects. Various species of insects can get different ... more »

How to Litter Train a Rabbit

By eHow Pets Editor

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Rabbits usually pick one area, such as a corner, to use as their toilet. With a little patience, you can train your pet to use a litter box... more »

How to Litterbox Train Your Rabbit

By eHow Pets Editor

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Rabbits are very intelligent. They make wonderful house pets for adult households. If you supply the litterbox and some gentle guidance, many rabbits will practically train themselves to use it. You can use a plastic Rubbermaid tub that is ... more »

How to Make a Bunny Box

By HeatherLynn

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Is your bunny chewing your furniture, digging up your carpet, and scratching at your floors? A bunny box might just be the answer! In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a simple toy for your rabbit that will keep her or him stimulated, ... more »

How to Make Nutritional Rabbit Treats

By eHow Pets Editor

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A pet rabbit needs variety in it's diet, just like any other pet, but ready-made treats are expensive. Make your own nutritional rabbit treats at home following these steps... more »

How to Pick up Guinea Pigs

By eHow Pets Editor

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Guinea pigs are charming and easy pets to care for. They are a nice alternative when space and schedules do not allow for dogs, cats or other larger animals. When caring for and socializing your guinea pig, it is often necessary to pick up the ... more »

How to Play With a Hamster

By eHow Pets Editor

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Playing with a hamster can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of owning one. Regularly play with your pet hamster so that you can bond with it and give it the love, attention, exercise and stimulation that it needs to remain happy and healthy... more »

How to Play With a Pet Lizard

By eHow Pets Editor

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Lizards aren't pets that enjoy much interactive play. Instead, most lizards find the most happiness in a solitary life and see playtime as something to be merely tolerated. When you follow a few guidelines, though, you can help your pet lizard ... more »

How to Play With a Pet Python

By eHow Pets Editor

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Pythons are beautiful and unusual pets to have, but owners must keep in mind that pythons won't play in the traditional sense like a cat or dog. Instead, you can play with your python by learning how to give it the specific care it needs and ... more »

How to Play with a Pet Snail

By eHow Pets Editor

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Snails are popular pets that are big hits with kids. However, snails are gentle and delicate creatures that need to be handled with care and respect, even during mutually enjoyable play. Have as much fun with snails as they have with you by ... more »

How to Play With Your Rabbit

By eHow Pets Editor

27 comments

The more you get on the floor and play with your rabbit, the more he will consider you his playmate, especially if he doesn't have a rabbit companion. This is a great bonding time, and you will see him do things you didn't think rabbits could do ... more »

How to Potty Train a Hamster

By eHow Pets Editor

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If you have doubts about potty training a hamster, don't worry. With a few simple steps and some persistence, you can train a hamster to go in a litter box. Hamsters do not like dirty bedding, and they have a natural instinct to relieve ... more »

How to Raise an Alligator in the Bathtub

By Jonathan F.

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Pets come in all shapes and sizes. Alligators, in particular, were very popular in the early portion of the 20th century, as entrepreneurial businessmen sold off eggs and babies to tourists and other eager reptile fans. Raising them, however, was ... more »

How to Raise Minks

By eHow Pets Editor

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Minks are beautiful creatures from the weasel family. They have long bodies, short legs and gorgeous dark brown or black fur. Minks have been trapped or raised for centuries for making fur coats. You may want to raise minks as a business or just ... more »

How to Raise Praying Mantises

By jbsnyder

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Praying mantises are great for your garden, and can make for an unusual pet. I will teach you how to obtain egg cases, hatch young mantises, and raise them as pets or as a natural and eco-friendly way to rid your garden of invasive insects... more »

How to Raise Snakes

By eHow Pets Editor

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Regardless of whether you raise snakes for profit or have them for a pet, the process is still the same. Raising a snake to sell can be profitable but depending on the state and the type of snake, you may need a permit to do both. If the snake is ... more »