Reptiles, Rodents & Small Pets

Water turtles are among the world's most popular pets. These readily available aquatic reptiles come in a variety of shapes and sizes and appeal to children and adults alike. However, they can be...

Hermit crabs are built with two legs and a soft, long abdomen that they can insert in any shell they find and decide to live in. While not exactly cuddly creatures, they like to be held and to...

If a small outdoor space limits your ability to start a compost heap, you can easily create an indoor composting bin with the help of redworms. These natural composters are easy to care for with...

Many people want to keep turtles as pets, and many choose wood turtles. The problem is that these owners often do not know how difficult it can be to care for a turtle and to provide a proper and...

In order to keep a Madagascar Day Gecko healthy and happy, owners must provide them with a proper habitat. The best way to do this is to create a habitat that closely mimics their native region....

Pet salamanders are some of the easiest pets to take care of, and are great starter pets for children. One of the first things you have to think about when buying a pet salamander is where you’re...

Setting up a pet leopard gecko's habitat properly is essential to ensuring its good health. This involves emulating the natural habitat of the leopard gecko so that its basic needs are met....

Geckos are widely distributed lizards, especially prevalent in the tropics and subtropics of both the New World and Old World. A number of species are popular in captivity, and knowledge of their...

The common musk turtle exists in large numbers throughout many states in the U.S., in part because it does well in many types of aquatic environments. This small turtle has an oval-shaped shell...

The Mexican walking fish, or axolotl, is one of the most bizarre creatures. And there's a lot more than just its appearance that's strange, not the least of which is its ability to regrow limbs.

Pet turtles may seem like an easy pet to keep, but they require a significant amount of care and attention. If properly cared for, pet turtles can live for 20 years or more.

The day gecko is a member of the lizard family. There are about 25 known species of day gecko, which are unlike other geckos in that they are active during the day, not the night.

Painted turtles are beautiful and popular animals. People often adopt them, however, before realizing how much work is involved in providing a painted turtle with a healthy and adequate habitat....

Turtles make interesting and pleasing pets. One of the most well-known aquatic reptiles, they've been making their way into homes for decades. When setting up a turtle habitat, however, many...

The earthworm is known and recognized by most people. That familiarity can be linked to the fact that earthworms are found worldwide, with the only exceptions being deserts, polar regions and...

Iguanas are small reptiles that are becoming more popular as pets. In their native environment, reptiles spend time in a great deal of heat and humidity, so it is important to replicate their...

Hamsters are fuzzy little creatures that belong to the rodent family. The hamster can be as tame as a dog or cat and can become a loving pet. Hamsters come in various colors with different lengths...

Syrian hamsters are, by nature, solitary animals and should always be housed alone. Dwarf hamsters, which include the Campbells Russian, Winter White Russian, Chinese and Roborovski breeds, are...

When it comes to pets, turtles are great starter pets and great for those that are looking for a low-maintenance companion. They don't make a whole bunch of noise, there is no mess to clean up,...

Hamsters groom themselves many times a day and can often be seen wiping down their faces. But they have to rely on their owner to keep their habitat clean. Regular maintenance goes a long way...

A tadpole is the name for the earliest stage in a frog's life cycle after it's born. Tadpoles initially bare little resemblance to frogs. It isn't until later in their development that they...

Domesticated Egyptian Spiny Mice are personable and curious critters that need to live in a stimulating environment in order to maintain optimal health. They are social creatures that live in...

The red-eyed tree frog, sometimes called the red-eyed leaf frog, is a delicate, slender frog with a bright-green body with neon blue or yellow accents. The most notable feature about this...

The California King Snake, called "king" because it eats other snakes, is an American constrictor with alternating bands of black and cream, reddish-brown and cream and red and cream scale color.

The nature of friendly little hamsters has helped make these rodents among the most popular domestic small pets in America. Hamster owners should know some of the important information and details...

Iguanas make excellent pets, and they bond to their owners with the proper care taken. The most important part about caring for an iguana is its cage and habitat. They require special care...

A terrarium is a closed ecosystem, usually in a glass case or bottle, that houses various plants. Building a lizard terrarium is similar, but special care must also be taken to satisfy the needs...

Stick insects can be a fascinating species to study, although are obviously hard to observe in the wild due to their camouflage. Keeping some as pets is often a lot easier than finding them in the...

Many animals require a heat lamp to be happy and healthy. Reptiles require a steady output of heat their whole lives, whereas baby animals may require heat only while they are young. It is...

When it comes to feeding your pet reptile, one of the best forms of food is the cricket. You can easily find crickets in any pet store. They provide both the nutrition and stimulation needed to...

Caring for a gray tree frog is simple by misting the substrate bedding every day, keeping the habitat humid and feeding it a small cricket every two or three days. Take care of a gray tree frog,...

To make a habitat for a tree frog, drill ventilation holes into a plastic display box, fill the base with moist substrate and add a leafy plant before introducing the frog to its new home. Create...

A hermit crab's habitat should include cocoa bedding, cork bark and plenty of humidity to keep their gills moist. Create a perfect hermit crab habitat by including a suction tray and a water bowl...

When keeping a snake in captivity, there are several different types of enclosures to use, such as aquariums and commercial housing units; however, make sure the snake's environmental needs are...

Mini turtles don't need a large habitat, but they may require a good combination of mixed greens. Find out about the differences in mini-turtles from a reptile specialist in this free video on...

A turtle tank setup should include heat lamps, rocks, cacti and a basking area. Set up a turtle tank and try to recreate its natural habitat with tips from a reptile specialist in this free video...

Frogs enjoy a habitat where they can hide, swim in water and burrow in soil. Mke a frog habitat with these expert tips from a reptile specialist in this free video about pet care.

That adorable mouse you just bought from the pet store will likely make a loving pet in just a few weeks, but if you try to pick it up today, you may get bitten and it will likely jump out of your...

All reptiles need a place where they can hide and feel safe. A rock cave is a wonderful addition to your reptile's habitat --- but real rock can be heavy and dangerous and ones in the pet store...

Hermit crabs are appealing pets. They take up little room, are fairly inexpensive and don't need to be taken for a walk when it's pouring down rain. Their habitats mimic the tropical environments...

Ants are interesting insects to observe, especially when they are in captivity, such as in an ant farm or an insect habitat. Though they are strong insects, their colonies will not last without a...

You might want to learn how to identify whether there are snakes in your immediate area. Where animals travel, they leave behind signs--and one of these is feces, also known as "scat." Can you...

Hamsters make wonderful new pets. Children, as well as adults, will get hours of entertainment from watching and playing with these little guys. They're energetic and animated with personalities...

Here's some handy tips to remember when getting a Gerbil as someone's pet.

When you have decided to make your next pet a bearded dragon, you should already have the knowledge of what they eat and the habitat they need. By now, you should have the pets habitat set up....

Praying mantises are often referred to as "mantids." There are more than 2,000 known species of mantids with probably more species yet to be discovered. A few of them make gentle,...

If you have decided to keep a snake as a pet, then you will need to make a snake cage. It is interesting to watch a snake, so you will want to make sure that the cage you are making offers a good...

Turtles are a common household pet for children. Their inquisitive nature and eating habits can be fun for the whole family to admire. When keeping a turtle for a pet, be aware they have specific...

Hamsters are rodents that make excellent pets. However, hamsters do require a pretty decent amount of maintenance to keep them happy, healthy and comfortable. These things consist of keeping a...

Originally from the Andes Mountains in South America, chinchillas have been domesticated and can now be purchased as family pets. Since chinchillas are about the size of a rabbit and can be housed...