Don't forget about our cold-blooded friends this holiday season...

I get so many things about dogs and cats that I sometimes forget that reptiles also exist in the pet world. In fact our family has a gecko (well he/she is actually a salamander). But he's more of an amphibian. The following is something you can give to your reptile-loving friends.

photo of the Rock Outcrop

Don't Leave Cold-Blooded Pets Out In The Cold This Holiday Season:

Exo Terra Offers New Gifts For Reptiles

MANSFIELD, MA--Americans lavish lots of love on their dogs and cats every year during the holidays. A 2008 survey by the Pet Supplies "Plus" chain found that the average customer plans to spend $54.00 on his or her pet this Yuletide season. But what about American's 13 million turtles, lizards, snakes and other pet reptiles?

Confined to a terrarium placed in a corner far from the tree, reptiles may feel left out of holiday festivities. That's about to change, thanks to the exciting line of reptile products from Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp.'s Exo Terra division. The innovative products from Exo Terra are specifically designed to replicate their natural habitats, and take reptile care to a new level while making their care easier and less time consuming for owners.

Exo Terra should find a growing market for its gifts this holiday season. In recent years, reptiles have crawled and slithered their way into our hearts, doubling in pet population since 1996 to 4.8 million households. Across the Atlantic, reptiles are even tipping the scales against felines for second spot behind dogs in pet popularity in the United Kingdom. There are now some 6 million reptile pets in the UK versus 7 million cats. Here's a list of products from Exo Terra by Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. that are sure to make any lizard's holiday a little more merry.

Water Well--An attractive rock formation hides a bottle that feeds a small basin with water. The bottle holds much more water than the standard water dish in a lot less horizontal space, and isolates the majority of it from contamination and humidity, dramatically reducing the frequency of fill-ups.

Feeding Rock--An all-in-one solution to feeding, the Feeding Rock can be filled with supplement and insects and then shaken to coat the insects. Excess powder is stored in the rock, where it is protected from substrate and can be used again. Insects will gradually escape from a small hole with removable plug.

Rock Outcrop (first photo)-- The Rock Outcrop helps create a more 3 dimensional terrarium, while also providing ample shelter with multiple entrances. The vertical orientation of the Rock Outcrop maximizes space in a terrarium, while the hideout can help reduce stress. The realistic faux-rock finish is also easy to clean.

Snake Cave--The two-part design of the Snake Cave makes it easy to clean completely and even access an inhabitant if necessary. Dampening the included moss makes the Snake Cave a moist hideout required for nesting or shedding skin that even desert reptiles require.

Waterfall--Able to be installed anywhere in the terrarium, the Exo Terra Waterfalls helps stimulate natural drinking behavior in some lizards and increase a terrarium's humidity level. Stable and durable, the design of the Waterfall keeps the water tank and pump encased, but breaks down for thorough cleaning. An Exo Terra Repti Flo Pump is included.

Worm Dish--The inner overhanging lip of the Exo Terra Worm Dish prevents the escape of mealworms into the substrate where they can decompose and harbor bacteria or turn into an inedible beetle, while still allowing reptiles a clear view of their prey. The lip is also removable to clean easily and completely

For more information, or other great reptile gifts, visit exo-terra.com