About Exotic Pets

A Skunk as a Pet?

2010-01-05T15:57:17Z

A skunk as a pet? You may be thinking this question if you have never had the opportunity to meet a pet skunk, but don't pass judgement too quickly.

Wild skunks are the same animals as the pets people litter box train and keep in their house, but do not try and pet a wild one! The majority of pet skunks are descented, for obvious reasons, while wild ones still have their scent glands intact, meaning they can spray you, and of course do some serious damage if they bite you.

Domestic pet skunks are cuddly and playful animals if handled often. They are descented so the only smell you get from them is similar to that of a ferret.

Skunks are gaining popularity as pets. There is even a large rescue organization in Ohio that hosts a "Skunkfest" each year where people from all over the world come to meet other skunk owners and compete in skunk beauty contests.

Photo � Flickr user Out at Bob's

A Skunk as a Pet? originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 at 15:57:17.

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Going with the Right Greens

2010-01-02T21:04:17Z

Green vegetables, like lettuces, are a major part of many exotic pet diets. Rabbits, tortoises, and guinea pigs all require substantial amounts of greens in their diets, but not all greens are created equal.

Romaine and iceberg lettuce are on the bottom of the list of greens to feed, regardless of your pet. They are mainly water, therefore they have very little nutritional value.

Raddichio, dandelion greens, collard greens, endive, and other dark leafy greens are better choices than romaine and iceberg for your pet. Check out your pet's specific nutritional requirements to be sure you choose the right greens for your exotic pet.

Photo � Flickr user Muffet

Going with the Right Greens originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 at 21:04:17.

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Spotlight on Degus

2009-12-30T15:54:18Z

Degus may look a lot like an overgrown gerbil, but they are not. They use exercise wheels, need things to chew on, and closely resemble it's smaller rodent cousin, but they are much more closely related to chinchillas and guinea pigs.

Degus take dust baths, are diurnal, and are natural burrowers making them very different from many other rodents.

They have a unique susceptibility to developing diabetes mellitus from the lack of free sugars available in their natural environment, have furry babies with their eyes open at birth (precocial), and are also extremely social animals, making an assortment of vocal calls to their community.

Perhaps a degu is the right pet for you!

Photo part of the About.com collection

Spotlight on Degus originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 15:54:18.

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Growth Rates and Tanks

2009-12-28T15:44:36Z

There is a common myth regarding iguana's and the size of their enclosure. Some people tend to think if they put their 6 inch baby iguana in a 10 gallon glass aqauarium, the iguana will only grow as big as that tank. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

The size of an enclosure will not restrict the adult size of your reptile, it will only inhibit it from exercising.

It is important to consider the adult size of your reptile before purchasing a permanent home for it. It is okay to upgrade to a larger sized tank as your reptile grows, but don't expect your reptile to change their adult size to accomodate the current space they are in.

Photo � Flickr User Llima

Growth Rates and Tanks originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Monday, December 28th, 2009 at 15:44:36.

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Name Game

2009-12-24T02:05:59Z

There are several name pages on this site, but I would love to know your pet's names, and perhaps a little about yourself or how you named your pet as well! Afterall, this is About.com.

I will begin. My pet's names are Lola, Ruby, Frankie, Ares, Calypso, Cleopatra, Dusty and Antoinette. If you haven't already checked out my bio, now would be a good time. In addition to what is mentioned there, besides the goldfish and betta fish, my first pet was a budgerigar named Sunny because, well, he was yellow like the sun (come on, I was just a kid).

I am looking forward to getting to know you better!

Name Game originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 02:05:59.

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Nails Need Trimming

2009-12-23T01:25:20Z

If your pet's nails are curled like elbow macaroni, they are well overdue for a trim. Guinea pig, rabbit, reptile, sugar glider, and other pet's nails need trimming if they are not worn down from climbing or walking naturally.

With the right tools and help, you can learn to trim your pet's nails. You can ask your local veterinarian to teach you, or you can teach yourself.

If you are ever uncomfortable or unable to trim the nails, don't just let them continue to grow. Take them to a groomer, your veterinarian, or a petstore to have them trimmed to prevent them from getting stuck on something and injuring your pet.

Happy trimming!

Nails Need Trimming originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 01:25:20.

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Shedding Reptiles

2009-12-21T14:47:47Z

Reptiles may shed their skin several times a year. Depending on the reptile, they may not eat, be very active, or appear much different than they normally do. It is important to recognize normal shedding behaviors in your pet to be able to spot any abnormalities.

Provide plenty of humidity in the form of water misting or shallow baths during shedding. The added moisture will help the old skin come off and prevent any shedding problems, like the loss of toes or eye caps remaining from dry environments.

Photo � Flickr user naturegirl 78

Shedding Reptiles originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 14:47:47.

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Blocked Bunnies

2009-12-18T15:14:35Z

If your rabbit isn't urinating, or is only leaking or dripping urine, you should seek medical attention for your long-eared friend as soon as possible.

Your rabbit could have bladder stones obstructing his or her urethra, or the path the urine takes to exit the body. This causes serious harm to the rabbit and will prove to be fatal if not addressed within a day.

Like dogs and cats, rabbits and other exotic pets can become blocked. The longer the animal sits blocked, the worse the prognosis is. So when in doubt, get it checked out!

Blocked Bunnies originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 15:14:35.

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Chinchilla Lumps

2009-12-16T15:37:04Z

Does your chinchilla have a lump? Did you just recently notice it? It may just be a fat deposit called a lipoma (means "fat tumor"), but there is a possibility it could be something more serious.

Anytime you feel something different on your chinchilla you should have it checked out by your exotics veterinarian as soon as possible. If it is indeed something more serious than a benign fatty tumor, or is a large fatty tumor impeding your chinchilla's movements, it may need to be removed.

The chances of it being cancerous may be small, but you'll never know if you just ignore it. By finding out what it is before it is too late to do anything about it, you are giving your chinchilla the best chance for having a long and healthy life. And who doesn't want that for their chinchilla?

Chinchilla Lumps originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 15:37:04.

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Possible Prolapse?

2009-12-15T15:38:37Z

Does your reptile have a red bulge or perhaps a long, red string-like object protruding from the rear end? Your reptile may have a prolapsed rectum.

This is an emergency situation, but can usually be corrected if attended to in a timely manner.

Be sure to keep the prolapse moist using saline, vaseline, or another basic lubricant. If the prolapse dries out, it may not be able to be salvaged. Your exotic veterinarian will hopefully be able to gently put the prolapse back into place, but sometimes, depending on how bad the prolapse is, it may require a small surgical operation to do so.

Possible Prolapse? originally appeared on About.com Exotic Pets on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 15:38:37.

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