All About Rearing Exotic Pets
Most of us think of cats and dogs when the word pet is mentioned, but the world of pets extends much beyond the borders of the dog and cat kingdoms – people looking for a different experience are drive to experiment with exotic animals like different varieties of birds, rabbits, mice, hamsters, ferrets, snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, newts, frogs, spiders, scorpions and other reptiles. Some even take to rearing big cats like lions and tigers, a pastime which could turn out to be expensive and even dangerous as the animals grow larger and reach maturity. If you’re in the market for an exotic pet, here are a few questions you need to ask yourself before you join the fray:
• Are they legal? Some species of animals are on the endangered list, which means it’s illegal to own one of these. You don’t want to get into trouble with the law, certainly not over a pet animal. So check out your animal’s status before you buy, and make sure you patronize a store that does legitimate business. There are stores that flirt with the border of being shady and dealing in banned or contraband animals and you’d do well to steer clear of them.
• Are good vets available? Before you bring home your pet, make sure you know a good veterinarian who’s capable of handling your animal. Most vets are familiar with dogs, cats, horses, cows and other common household animals and are likely to freak out when you shove a snake into their faces. Exotic animals fall ill too, so ensure that you have help at hand to treat them when they do.
• Do you know how to care for them? You need to be informed about the behavior, diet and habitat of your new pet before you bring it home. Animals that are taken out of their comfort zones are prone to illness and even death. So make sure you know how to care for your pet before buying one, especially if it could be potentially dangerous, like snakes and scorpions. You also need to be familiar with the preventive measures to be taken to ensure that they don’t fall sick.
• Do others in your family feel comfortable with them? If you live alone, you don’t have to worry about what the rest of your family will say when you take home a lizard or a snake. But if you live with other people, they must share your love of your pet as much as you do if you don’t want to hear screams and curses as human meets pet in the dark and both scare each other. And if you live alone, it’s best to have a buddy who loves your pet and is willing to babysit when you have to be away from home.
• Are you aware of the dangers they pose? Most snakes are harmless, but there are some that could turn nasty if they are handled delicately. Poisonous insects and reptiles are dangerous, and salmonella from reptiles could cross over to you and your kids if you’re not careful. Pets carry germs and could bring illness to your home if you don’t take preventive measures right from the beginning.