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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 Keep a Pet Rat

By eHow Pets Editor

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Rats can make intelligent, affectionate pets. They are active and social so they require a devoted owner who will give them plenty of attention. Follow these steps to learn how to keep a pet rat... more »

How to Keep a Pet Spider

By eHow Pets Editor

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Many spiders are kept in captivity, even extremely poisonous ones. Most tarantulas and wolf spiders are suitable for beginners. They require little care after the enclosure is set up and need no socialization. Spiders are less expensive than ... 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

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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 Know If a Rabbit is Pregnant

By eHow Pets Editor

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Discovering if your rabbit is pregnant is much easier than people think. Even though a veterinarian can give you a definite answer about this question, there is a way that you can put your suspicions to rest as well. Follow the steps below to ... 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 a Hamster Bed

By eHow Pets Editor

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Hamsters like a nice, quiet area of their cage to use as a bed. They also enjoy making their own bed. As a hamster owner, it is your job to put the supplies that your hamster needs into his cage so he can make his bed... more »

How to name your hamster

By xhamstersx

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Choosing a perfect name for your pet hamster is quite hard, this is how to choose a name that will suit your hamster... 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 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 Potty Train Pet Rats

By eHow Pets Editor

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If you have a pet rat, you know that these intelligent animals are easy to train. Pet rats can be litter box trained fairly easily. While younger rats tend to catch on more quickly, you can usually potty train a rat of any age which will make ... 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 »

How to Raise Spiderlings

By eHow Pets Editor

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Spiders, particularly tarantulas, are becoming a popular pet. If you can get by their somewhat frightening appearance, spiders actually make good pets. To be a successful owner, you will need to learn how to raise spiderlings. It is recommended ... more »

How to Recognize Illness in Your Rabbit

By eHow Pets Editor

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The two most noticeable signs of sickness in a rabbit are lethargy and feces that are smaller than normal, very soft, very dry or nonexistent. Get to know your rabbit well so that you will also notice any sudden changes in behavior... more »