Exotic animals have long been said to make great pets. The idea of owning an exotic pet can seem exciting just because of how unique and unconventional they are. After all, most of your friends own puppies, kittens, and maybe the occasional bird, but none of them have exotic animals as pets. However, the truth is that buying any pet, whether it’s a puppy, kitten, or bearded dragon, on an impulse could end badly for the pet owner and the poor pet.
With cats and dogs, it’s usually possible to find another forever home for them pretty quickly, but it’s not quite as easy for exotic pets. Plus, exotic pets require special care that many pet owners don’t realize they need, and soon the pet owners find that they can’t take care of them. For example, if you’re considering adopting a bearded dragon, you need to know that they have to have special bedding, substrate, and food such as dubia roaches and crickets that you might not want to feed them and might not be able to afford. If you think you’re ready to take on the responsibility of an exotic pet, consider the things in this article first before making your final decision.
Time Commitment
Different types of exotic pets are good for different people. For example, if you’re a senior, you don’t want an exotic pet such as a ferret that could get up under your feet and trip you. While it has been said that getting a pet as an aging senior is good for you, that doesn’t mean that exotic is the way to go.
For example, if you’ve done your retirement planning in such a way that you’ll be traveling as a retiree, then an exotic pet might not fit into the grand scheme of things. Some exotic pets require quite a bit more maintenance than other pets do. If you’re constantly traveling from one state to another, you might not have the time to commit to taking care of an exotic pet, and they’ll end up having to be rehomed. In other words, if you don’t even have time to take care of the indoor hanging plants, such as the green English Ivy and other house plants you own, then you’re not going to have time to take care of an exotic pet.
Food
Feeding an exotic animal isn’t the same as opening a can of food for a cat or a dog. Many exotic animals, such as a bearded dragon, other types of lizards, or a snake, require live food, and that’s something many pet owners aren’t comfortable with. For example, you can feed your bearded dragon a mixture of dubia roaches and crickets, and he will be happy. Other reptiles can be fed dubia roaches as well. However, that can get expensive. You can breed your own dubia roaches and find a dubia roach colony with nymphs, and everything else you need to start your own dubia roach colony online for low prices, if that’s what you choose to do.
There are even instructions on how to breed dubia roaches that you can follow, and then you’ll have plenty of food for your bearded dragon and any other reptile you choose to adopt. You can also get feeder insects and egg crates on these sites as well.
Vet Care
Don’t let anyone tell you that an exotic animal doesn’t require vet care because it’s just not true. An exotic pet needs a wellness plan and wellness exam just as a puppy or kitten would if you were to have those as a pet. Wellness care for pets is just as important as it is for the humans in your life, and that includes any exotic pets you might decide to adopt. Your exotic pet will need to see a veterinarian when he’s sick or to keep up with his wellness exams, just as your kitten or puppy would.
The thing is that exotic pet veterinarians can be hard to find, just as roaches to feed your bearded dragon can be hard to find if you don’t know where to look. It’s best to call around to local veterinarians to see if they take exotic animals before you adopt a lizard, bearded dragon, or other exotic animals. Exotic pets might even need vaccines that you aren’t aware of.
Pet Sitters
While it may not be that hard to get a pet sitter for your new kitten or puppy when you have to go out of town or to the doctor, it’s a little harder to find a pet sitter for a bearded dragon or a snake. You’re inevitably going to have to leave your home for vacation, an extended business trip, or to go to families for the holidays. Is there someone you can trust, that has the time to train in how to take care of an exotic pet? For example, how many friends do you have who would be willing to feed your snake a live mouse or feed your bearded dragon dubia roaches, or even take care of your dubia roach colony while you’re gone?
Taking care of your puppy, kitten, or even your indoor hanging plants and planters filled with spider plants is slightly different from feeding dubia roaches to your reptile. If you don’t think you can find a pet sitter for your reptile when you have to be away, then you need to reconsider adopting an exotic pet.
Laws
If none of the above puts you off adopting an exotic pet, then make sure that you check the laws in your state ahead of time. Different states have different laws regarding whether you can own an exotic pet or what type of exotic pet you can have. Some states require a special license, while others have banned exotic pets from their states completely. Make sure you find out the laws before you make your final decision.
These are just a few ways to tell if you’re ready to adopt an exotic pet. Remember, exotic pets are a lot of work, so you need to be prepared.