When I first got my rats, I splurged on some fabric play tunnels and hammocks, knowing they would probably get chewed up in fairly short order. The hammock has lasted very well, though the same can't be said for the the hanging play tent and tunnel. However, the rats have loved every one of their fabric hide outs. I remembered reading about making play tunnels by cutting off sweatshirt sleeves, and also about using a ring cut from a plastic pop bottle to hold one end open. This was a couple of years ago so unfortunately I can't recall where I read these tips, but I decided to try it out for my boys. The verdict? They love this cozy play tunnel! It is very simple to make and is a great hide out and play tunnel for pet rats. Photos showing how I made it (and of course, one of my boys testing it out) can be found here in How to Make a Play Tunnel for Your Pet Rat out of a Sweatshirt.

In our continuing series on pet names, let's talk about gerbil names. There are quite a few great gerbil names in the gerbil names list I started before, but I'm always interested in how people chose their names. Did you have names picked out before you got your gerbils? Or did you wait to see what your gerbils were like before settling on a name? Please share your gerbils' names by adding them to the comments section below. Feel free to note how you chose names too! I hope to compile all these names to update the master list of gerbil names, as well.

Image © Kendyl Reis

It's hard to believe how quickly the holiday season is sneaking up on us! If you are shopping for someone who keeps pet reptiles and amphibians, here are some ideas for gift items that are sure to be a hit with the herpetoculturists on your list:
  -Lizard-Themed Gift Ideas
  -Snake-Themed Gift Ideas
  -Turtle-Themed Gift Ideas
  -Frog-Themed Gift Ideas

If someone on your holiday gift list is a big fan of guinea pigs, you might want to have a peek at this list of gift ideas available from a variety of online retailers. There are some items here that are really fun as well as practical.
Also See: Top Books About Guinea Pigs
Guinea Pigs as Pets: Care Guide