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Care
Selecting
an Exotic Pet
by About.com
Exotic pets are
capable of bringing tremendous joy into the lives of their owners.
They are often fascinating and beautiful to watch, and some are
loads of fun to play with. However, the decision to get an exotic
pet should never be taken lightly. People choose exotic pets for a
variety of reasons and it is important to carefully examine the
reasons, consider the reality of caring for the species chosen,
and learn as much as possible about the pet before bringing it
home!
The right exotic
pet will truly become a member of the family. In fact, this is
what every pet deserves. Sadly, many exotic pets are chosen on an
impulse basis, or without adequate prior research. Exotic animals
are rarely low maintenance or inexpensive to care for in the long
run. It is important to spend time learning about a potential pet
before bringing it home, and to have all the necessary equipment
and supplies on hand for the homecoming to make the transition to
a new home as easy as possible for the pet.
People become
interested in exotic pets for a variety of reasons. In some cases
it is a matter of "love at first sight," where an animal
has been seen in a pet store, in the media, or elsewhere and the
potential owner feels an immediate affinity for that particular
pet. Some owners simply want to have a pet that is out of the
ordinary. Others may want a pet that doesn't require a lot of
attention. In the end the decision to acquire an exotic pet must
be based on the owners resources - primarily the time and
attention available to give to a pet, and the ability to provide
adequate housing, space, and care.
But which pet to
get? The term "exotic pet" covers a tremendous variety
of species. The first decision will be between the following:
mammal (small caged pet or larger), reptile (lizard, snake,
turtle), amphibian (frog, salamander), bird, fish, or insect. Even
once this is decided, there are a huge number of choices to make.
The only recourse is research, research, and more research. Try to
make sure the pet selected will be a good fit into your household
and expectations. Here are some more things to consider when
making a choice:
- legality
- first and foremost, find out which kinds of pets are legal
in your area.
- size of the
pet - of course, the larger the pet the larger it's home
will have to be, and the more space and/or exercise it will
need.
- feeding
requirements - commercially prepared food are available
for several pet species, but others will require a variety of
fresh foods prepared daily, or even mice or insects as a
staple in their diets.
- housing
- consider what size and type of housing will be necessary, or
if the pet will run free in the home (or both). For pets that
need an enclosure, can an appropriate amount of space be
provided? For pets free in the home, some degree of pet
proofing will be necessary (for some species moreso than
others).
- compatibility
with children - some pets are ill-suited to live with
small children.
- single vs
multiple pets - some pets are happily independent, but
others will be much more content with a companion of the same
species. If multiple pets will be kept, though, same sex pairs
(often female) are often preferred to prevent reproduction. On
the other hand, some species are too territorial to be kept in
the same enclosure if multiple pets are desired.
- compatibility
with other pets in the home - will a new pet get along
with other pets in the home, or be stressed out by other pets
in close proximity to them?
- veterinarians
- it is a good idea to have a veterinarian lined up to care
for your pet. For some of the more unusual ones it may be
difficult to find one willing to see them.
- activity
level of the pet - some are very active and require lots
of exercise, others will be quieter.
- destructive
tendencies - the curious, active pet can wreak a lot of
havoc in a house.
- pet sitters
- consider if you have someone who will look after your pet if
you go away. Some of the more "unique" pets may be a
challenge when it comes to finding pet sitters.
- potential
danger posed by the pet - some pets can be aggressive or
downright dangerous, and some are potentially toxic.
- health
concerns - some animals carry diseases that can be
transmitted to humans. This is an important consideration if
there are household members with vulnerable immune systems -
young children, elderly people, or immunocompromised people.
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