Top ten exotic pets
The days of living in peaceful harmony only with domestic animals such as dogs, cats and rabbits are numbered. Exotic and wild animals are slowly but surely making their way as pets into peoples’ homes. If you are a supporter of ethical treatment for animals, you need to gain sufficient insight into these animals’ habitat, food habits and shelter, before you embark on getting one of these animals as exotic pets. Here’s a list of the top 10 exotic pets that have delightfully found an entry into the hearts and homes of animal lovers:
1. Sugar Glider
Sugar gliders are tiny itsy-bitsy marsupials that have cute and unique characteristics. They are found mostly in North East Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea and weigh as little as five ounces. They are very social and bright creatures who can be looked after with ease and a little extra care. However, they are quite emotionally attached and demand a lot of your attention. What’s more is that they are nocturnal creatures and may give you some sleepless nights. They are omnivorous animals and eat both plants and meat. Since they are very playful and social creatures they may not survive if you do not give them all the attention that is required. It may help if you get two of these endearing marsupials for better handling of the exotic sugar glider. They survive best in cages that have sufficient space and height.
Pet inconvenience- Sugar gliders have a habit of sucking whatever they need from the food and spitting out the rest causing a lot of food clutter all round their place of stay.
2. Bengal cat
This exotic pet is actually a cross hybrid of a domestic cat and the Asian Leopard cat. Even though it has a wid and ferocious look, it is a very gentle creature and makes for a good and exotic pet. Even though it is a little wild, it generally adapts to the home atmosphere quite admirably.
Pet inconvenience- Sometimes it may just tear your upholstery to shreds especially during its wild mood swings.
3. Hyacinth macaw
This avian pet from the family of parrots is a stunning beauty with a deep blue body and bright yellow patches around the eyes and beak. It primarily lives on fruits and nuts with good tolerance to vegetables. It can live up to 60 years and are very affectionate by nature. They are native to Central and Eastern South America.They can be well trained to live as pets but do demand a lot of attention. They are large, intelligent and very attractive and require plenty of room to exercise and play.
Pet inconvenience- They can snap metal with their beaks and so require very strong and large stainless steel cages.
4. White Lion
This spotlessly white wonder is a rare and exotic species and one of the costliest to be kept as pets. The white color is due to a recessive gene known as the color inhibitor gene. However this has not become a disadvantage for them in terms of prey hunting. Their numbers are gradually decreasing though and not many can afford to keep them as pets.
Pet inconvenience- They are man-eaters, so you need to be extremely cautious while handling them.
5. Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are the closest to human nature and need a lot of care and affection if you want to raise these as pets. They are not domestic animals and therefore have a wild side to them. In fact they are very clever and it could become an arduous task to look after a chimpanzee for 50-60 years. As it grows it becomes ten times stronger and heavier than man.
Pet inconvenience- If it wants something and you don’t give it, it may resort to force.
6. Fennec Fox:
This tiny little exotic pet also known as Vulpes zerda, is just 16-18” in length and weighs 2-4 pounds. Native to the desert of North Africa, they are very social and attention seeking creatures. They can give you the slip on many occasions if you are not smarter than them. It is important to keep them on a leash lest they escape within a blink. They are comfortable in kennels and eat almost everything.
Pet inconvenience: Litter training is very difficult.
7. Alligator
Alligators are very large and expensive pets that need to be taken care of constantly and diligently. Baby alligators are extremely cute and you are tempted to take them as pets. But one should keep in mind that the alligator grows one foot per year and lives for 50-60 years. They like to be left alone.
Pet inconvenience: They still consider man as their foe and there is a danger that they could simply gobble you up.
8. Burmese Python
Burmese pythons are one of the six biggest snakes you could find and rearing them as pets can prove to be handful. They can grow up to 20 feet and so require quite a lot of space and food. It is quite a passive animal and is generally unaffected by what is going around it. Truly an exotic pet to have, the Burmese python can swallow its prey after capturing it with its back curving teeth.
Pet inconvenience- if the snake wraps itself round you and constricts, it may prove fatal.
9. Tarantula:
Tarantulas are the most popular pets due to the ease of handling these tiny little creatures from the family of spiders. Though there are over 800 species of tarantulas, the Chilean Rose is the most sought after for rearing them as pets. They behave more or less like spiders and are wild creatures. They need to be treated with care since they can get hurt easily. Their bite is not dangerous but does give some allergic reaction such as redness and swelling in the bitten area.
Pet inconvenience- You can get a severe allergic reaction to tarantula hair.
10. Wallaroo:
Wallaroos are endearing animals that can be reared as pets very easily. Like kangaroos they arte quite affectionate and gel easily with the human race. They learn fast and can be trained with a firm and stern reprisal. You should however never hurt them physically. They are bulky and strong with lots of fur on their body and bare black snouts. They are naughty and playful and are herbivorous animals that can be fed on fresh and good quality hay. They need a vast grazing area which is properly fenced for hopping around.
Pet inconvenience- They can get you into trouble and need to be monitored, or properly fenced.
