Why should I choose an exotic pet?

As an exotic animal veterinarian, I am constantly asked why anyone would want an exotic pet (bird, rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, ferret, lizard, turtle, snake, hedgehog, sugar glider, or other unique creature) over a dog or cat. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with cats and dogs. I have several cats and dogs of my own, in addition to my exotic family members. It’s just that there are so many reasons to have an exotic pet that it’s hard to limit my answers to just a few. But here are a few simple reasons for choosing an exotic pet:

1. There are so many varied species that owning an exotic animal can be an incredible learning experience.

Exotic pets are fascinating. With their unique behaviors and incredible social interactions with each other and with us, they really can teach us all sorts of new information. But this is a Catch-22. Before you embark upon the journey into exotic pet ownership, be sure to learn enough about the social, nutritional, and environmental needs of the exotic pet species you are considering so that you don’t end up with a pet whose needs are more than you bargained for.

2. Many exotic species don’t take up much space.

For many city dwellers that live in cramped, tiny apartments, a pet such as a dog or cat that requires a lot of space just isn’t an option. A small mammal (such as a hamster, gerbil, guinea pig, chinchilla, or rat) or even a reptile or small bird that can live in a fairly small cage, might be a more feasible choice.  Ask anyone who owns one of these smaller exotic species, and they’ll tell you that these pets can provide the same love and companionship that a larger dog or cat can offer.

3. Some people are allergic to hairy pets.

Although many people would love to have a dog or cat as a pet, they often cannot because they or their family members have allergies to the dander that hairy pets carry on their fur.  These seemingly unfortunate people can still have a loving pet, however, if they choose a reptile (such as a lizard, turtle, tortoise, or snake) that has neither hair nor dander on its skin.  If they are not allergic to feathers, they might also choose a bird. So don’t despair if you’re allergic to hair!

4. Most exotic pets don’t need to be walked.

For many busy pet owners who work long hours, owning a dog that needs to be walked every few hours is not an option because they can’t get home to do it and don’t have the finances to pay a dog walker. The good news is that most exotic pets don’t need to be walked. While they do need time out of their cages to be socialized and to have a good quality of life, most birds, small mammals, and reptiles can adapt to our busy human schedules when it comes to “time out of cage.” In general, as long as we make some time to interact with them on a daily basis, the time we make available for most exotic pets can be flexible.

5. Some people only want pets that will live a long time.

People comment all the time that they could never own a pet because they’d get so attached to the pet that they couldn’t bear losing it. Of course, no pet – exotic or otherwise – lives forever. However, certain species, such as larger birds and some reptiles, can live for 20-40 years in captivity. Certainly, these animals must be taken care of properly: fed appropriate diets, housed according to species’ needs, and receive regular medical check-ups to live to their genetic potential. But for many people who have grieved over the loss of a relatively shorter lived pet such as a dog, cat, or small mammal or tiny bird, the prospect of having a potentially very long lived pet can be very appealing. Once again, this is a double-edged sword in that before you rush out to buy or adopt that reptile or large bird, you should seriously consider whether you have the lifestyle, finances, and future provisions available to support a pet that might outlive you!

Photo credit: amsccanton.com, blogginpet.com

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Multiple exotic pets: twice as nice or double trouble?

Let’s face it, pets can be addictive. This is especially true of exotic pets. Who can have just one parakeet or just one ferret? Perhaps more than dog and cat owners, exotic pet owners tend to have multiples of the same pet species and often more than one species. While it may seem like a good idea to pick up two guinea pigs at the pet store because they’re both so cute, who could possibly decide which one to take home? They’ll probably much happier if they’re not alone, right? Still, it should be noted that having multiple pets may not always be the best decision. While in some instances, it is true that having more than one of the same pet species (a small flock of birds, a herd of rabbits, a colony of chinchillas, etc.)  may seem to provide companionship and comfort to the animal, it is not always best for their human caretakers and may not actually be best for the animals, either. Here are a few points to think about if you’re considering purchasing or adopting more than one exotic pet of any species:

1. SPACE – Do you have the room to house more than exotic pet?

Many exotic pets have very specific requirements for housing, lighting, heat, and food that take up more space than that of the average cat or dog. The requirements for varying species can be radically different. Plus, different exotic species cannot usually be housed together because of the potential for fighting, injury, etc. Before you run out and purchase more than one exotic pet, be sure that you have the space to properly care for all these animals.

2. TIME – Do you have time to dedicate to more than one exotic animal?

To be properly socialized, many exotic pets (birds, reptiles, ferrets, rabbits, and rodents, alike) need to be handled and worked with daily, not only when they are first purchased or adopted, but also on an ongoing basis. Before you consider having more than one pet that will require socialization, be sure you have time available to dedicate to each of them. While some people think that getting a “playmate” for an exotic pet is the answer, not all pets necessarily want friends or roommates. Plus, the kind of socialization an exotic pet gets from being handled by a human cannot be substituted for by interaction with another un-socialized pet. To get a well-behaved, interactive animal, there is no substitution for regular human contact.

3. FINANCES – Do you have the money to care for more than one exotic pet?

Many people forget the fact that all pets (even exotic ones) need regular medical care, and veterinary care, especially on an emergency basis, can be costly. If you double the number of pets you own, you double the cost of care. And if one gets sick with something infectious (parasites, a virus, etc.), the likelihood is that both may get sick and require treatment. So, unless you are independently wealthy, you might want to think twice about doubling up on the number of exotic pets you have, or you may find yourself scrimping on basic medical care for each of them.

4. BREEDING CONTROL – How will you control unwanted breeding among your same-species pets?

There are 3 ways to ensure your same-species pets do not inbreed:

Separate them by sex, and house them separatelyOwn all only all males or all femalesSpay/neuter opposite sex pairs before housing them together

The problem is that not even same sex animals housed together are guaranteed to get along. Some same sex species will actually kill each other over territory, food, etc., when housed together. Be sure you think about this before buying that extra-large cage.

5. SPREAD OF DISEASE – Are the different exotic species suited to live in close quarters?

Even if you don’t house your different species of exotic pets together, there are some species that can potentially spread disease to each other if they are living in the same air space. Take guinea pigs and rabbits, for example. Each one carries a respiratory tract bacterium that does not affect the species that carries it but that can be spread to the other species through the air. Good reason not to house guinea pigs and rabbits in close proximity, don’t you think? Many pet owners aren’t aware of these little known facts until their pets are ill.

The point is, before you decide that since one exotic pet is fun, more than one will be even more fun, there are a lot of factors to consider. While we may like company, many exotic pets may not. And even if they are found in large groups in the wild, the same groupings may not be appropriate in captivity, because these pets have not necessarily been raised together. So, before you buy twice, be smart, and think twice.

Photo credit: tennesseeanimals.org, myhouserabbit.com

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