Choosing an Exotic Pet
From About.com
Choosing an exotic pet is takes a bit of background research and should never be done on impulse. Choosing the right exotic pet for you specific circumstances is the best way to ensure a happy experience with your exotic pet. There are many things you need to consider and this is the place to find information about specific needs of different kinds of pets, considerations when choosing a pet, legal and ethical issues, as well as advice on finding a source for your pet and choosing a healthy pet.
Choosing a Pet
Starting with the basic items you need to consider before choosing a pet, this section will help you sort out the characteristics and needs of the different pet you might be considering.
- Choosing an Exotic Pet
- Comparing Common Pet Rodents
- Reptiles for Beginners
- Choosing a Snake
- Choosing a Pet Frog
- Choosing an Insect or Spider as a Pet
- Best Exotic Pets for Kids
- Exotic Pets for Small Spaces
- Exotic Pets for Apartment Living
Exotic Pet Laws
One of the first steps when choosing a pet is finding out if you are even allowed to keep your pet. You need to check laws both locally, then on the state/province and federal level. While you can get a starting point online, it is best to check each of these in person. Checking laws is further complicated because regulations can fall under public health departments, agriculture departments, natural resources, or general legislation. Here's advice on where to start checking.
- Exotic Pets and Legal Issues
- Finding Out if a Pet is Legal Where You Live
- Monkey Pox, Prairie Dogs and African Rodents
- Sale of Turtles Under 4 Inches Long Banned In U.S.
Human Health Concerns
Unfortunately pets can carry infections that can be passed onto humans. Owners and potential owners of exotic pets need to be aware of the risks that might be carried by their pets, and what precautions to take to prevent the spread of infections.
- Zoonoses - Diseases of Animals that Affect People Too
- Can Exotic Pets Make Kids Sick?
- Salmonella and Pet Reptiles
- Salmonella and Pet Rodents
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM or LCMV) and Pet Rodents
- Monkeypox, Prairie Dogs, and Gambian Rats
Ethical Issues About Exotic Pets
There are many issues involved in exotic pet ownersship and some are really ethical decisions. The term exotic pets encompasses a wide range of species, some of which are domesticated and some of which are wild animals. The keeping of wild animals as pets is perhaps the biggest ethical issue, but there are other things that exotic pet owners need to keep in mind.
- Responsible Exotic Pet Ownership
- Never Release Exotic Pets
- Wildlife as Pets
- Easter and Rabbits
- Giant African Land Snails - Pet or Pest
Getting Your Pet
So you've settled on the kind of pet you want. Now you need to consider where to get your pet, though depending on the type of pet you have chosen, this choice might be limited. You will also want to have a checklist of things to look for when choosing your pet to help you pick out a healthy pet. And remember, as tempting as it is to take home an animal that has been poorly cared for or seems ill and in need of help, you will end up with the vet bills and possibly even the heartbreak of losing your new pet prematurely.