What are unusual animals to keep as pets?
An
unusual pet is probably one which most people
would not want to keep. There are many animals
which you should not keep in captivity, indeed it
is illegal to keep some, but there are also many
animals which do very well in captivity but which
are not widely-available for one reason or
another.
Why keep an unusual pet?
There
are many good answers to this question. One good
reason is that they don't normally require a lot
of space, so even apartment dwellers can keep
them. Keeping such pets is also a function of
individuality. An interesting animal in someone's
home is an immediate conversation piece. But
probably the main reason for keeping such pets is
the sheer fascination.
What kind of unusual animals make good pets?
Firstly,
for the purposes of this article, the notion of a
'good' pet will be one which you can keep safely
and happily. Most of these animals are what one
would call 'ectotherms'. These are animals whose
internal body temperature is regulated by the
external environment. Mammals and birds for
example are different because they can regulate
their own body temperature.
Are there ethical or legal questions to address?
As
long as it is not illegal to keep a species, that
is if it is endangered, it is mostly up to you as
to whether or not you keep them. Ethically, it is
best to purchase those animals which have been
bred in captivity as apposed to those which have
been caught from the wild. However, with certain
species of scorpions for example, it is sometimes
impossible to breed such species in
captivity.
How do I decide what kind of animal to
have?
Your
choice of animal is a very important one. If you
are to be able to care for your pet to your
utmost ability you must not be afraid of it or
get bored with it. Despite the fact that your unusual
pet will not run and greet you when you come
home, or snuggle up to you when it is cold, it
is imperative that you can still see the merits
of keeping this animal for the entire duration
of its life.
Caring for your unusual animal
There
are three basic requirements for your animal.
The first requirement is food. You must know
what and how much your animal will require. The
second requirement is water. For some animals humidity
is a matter between life and death. You must
know exactly what your pet will require. The
final requirement is heat. Because your animal
will not be able to regulate its own body
temperature, it will require the provision of
heat via a heat pad or a light bulb.
What happens if an unusual animal has a health
problem?
They
should not be treated any differently to any
other kind of pet. There are in fact many
veterinary surgeons who will be happy to look at
your pet. However, finding a vet who has
specific knowledge and experience of your pet
type may be difficult and time consuming, so it
is important that you find a specialist as son
after you have got your animal as possible,
rather than waiting until something is
wrong.
What kind of animals are available?
There
is a huge variety of pets you could keep, far
greater than there are for any other class of
pets. Invertebrates include crickets,
millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, vinegarones,
tarantulas and mantids. Caecilians are worm-like
amphibians which are unfamiliar to most people.
Amphibians include salamanders, newts, frogs,
toads and axolotls. Unusual mammals include
porcupines, jirds hedgehogs. Molluscs include
snails and slugs. And finally, there are also thousands
of species of lizards, snakes, turtles,
terrapins, tortoises and insects. And this has
ignored the prospect of the literally millions
of varieties of marine animals you could keep.
What are the most common types of unusual animal
kept as pets?
Probably
the most common are the arachnids, such as
scorpions and tarantulas. If you are keen to
keep an exotic pet then this is a good place to
start, if only because of the vast amount of literature
available. Unusual mammals are becoming more
popular as well. If you are not sure if you want
an unusual pet, why not try keeping some garden
snails to begin with?
How much should I expect to pay?
The
price of your unusual animal will vary even more
greatly than it would for any other type of pet.
Some animals you may be able to obtain for free
if a breeder has surplus. For other types, such
as tarantulas and scorpions, you can expect to
pay between 20 dollars and many hundreds of
dollars. For the more unusual mammals and snakes
you might need to pay up to several thousand
dollars.
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