3 Things You Need To Know Before Owning An Exotic Pet
There are a lot of exotic pets out there such as birds, reptiles, and rodents. They require special care, attention, and different food and living conditions.
Many people are trying to break out of the stereotype that says only mammals and domesticated breeds can be kept as pets. These animals include dogs, cats, horses, cows, etc. Most people living in your neighborhood have at least a cat or a dog. But some pet enthusiasts think that cats and dogs are too common. So, they look for more exotic ones.
There are a lot of exotic animals out there that can be kept as pets. But since they are unique, they also require specialized treatment.
Before understanding these special treatment methods for exotic pets, let us look at what exotic pets are.
What are Exotic Pets?
Exotic pet means a species of animal that is rarely kept as pets. Exotic pets are beautiful and varied. Since there are so many exotic animals out there, we will be focusing on three categories for easier classification.
1. Birds
Although you may have seen some people keep birds like pigeons, doves, or cockatiels as pets, there are exotic ones as well. Some of these exotic birds include macaws, parrots, parakeets, falcons, eagles, rainbow lorikeets, and so on.
Exotic birds are expensive and high maintenance. You must be dedicated and have a lot of spare time if you wish to keep these exotic birds as pets.
2. Reptiles
Reptiles are the second most common type of exotic pets. Reptiles are small, cold-blooded creatures that are easy to maintain. Exotic reptile pets include geckos, chameleons, bearded dragons, tortoises, and even snakes.
The best part about reptiles is that they are not very expensive. You do not need to worry about food because you can feed them insects you usually find in your house. For some extra nutritious treats, you can give them super worms, mealworms, or dubia roaches.
3. Rodents
Last, the most common type of exotic animals is rodents. Rodents are very common and almost all exotic pet keepers seek a rodent to keep. Rodents are also very easy to maintain.
Since they are technically mammals, they are also very fond of humans, just like other mammals. Some exotic rodents include guinea pigs, squirrels, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, and so on.
How to Take Care of These Exotic Pets
1. Food for Exotic Pets
Birds
Birds, unlike other animals, usually require special food. Their diet also depends on their species. Hunter birds will require a more protein-based diet, while herbivorous birds can do well with small leafy plants.
In general, for these birds, you can feed them green leafy plants, fruits that contain a lot of vitamins, and human food as their source of protein.
Reptiles
As we mentioned before, you do not need to worry about the food of reptiles. Since they are slow-moving and cold-blooded, you do not need to feed them too often.
Most reptiles are carnivorous, so feed them small insects. Their favorite insect is crickets. Feeding adult reptiles once per day is enough to keep them full.
Rodents
The food for rodents also depends heavily on their species. The age of the rodents also determines their diet. For example, a baby rabbit will require alfalfa hay, while adult rabbits will eat normal grass hay.
Guinea pigs, on the other hand, do not need hay. Feed them small leafy vegetables. They cannot produce vitamin C, so their diet should contain ample amounts of it.
2. Habitats of Exotic Pets
Birds
Most of the birds require cages. However, that does not mean they should be in the cage 24/7. Additionally, the size of the bird should determine the size of the birdcage. There should be a bar on the cage where the bird can rest. It should also have a cup from where the bird can drink water.
Reptiles
Reptiles do not need big cages. They can be kept in glass containers. Since they are cold-blooded, you need to keep them in a room with a heater.
Rodents
Rodents are also very easy to keep. Since they are tiny animals, they do not require you to have large pet cages. You can keep them in a small metal or glass container.
3. Taking Care of Their Mental Health
Birds
Since birds are social animals, you need to spend quite a lot of time with them. Birds are slow to trust other creatures, so spending generous amounts of time with them will cultivate a healthy bond.
If you leave them alone, they will remain afraid of you and they will not have the mentality to accept a human encounter.
Reptiles
Reptiles are not very social animals. If you are someone who is busy and cannot spend much time with your pet, you can get a reptile.
Since the brains of reptiles are not as developed as birds or rodents, they will not require much mental enrichment.
Rodents
Rodents, just like birds, also require mental enrichment. Since they are prey animals, they are afraid of almost everything. If you want them to grow accustomed to you and have proper mental growth in a human environment, you need to give them time.
There are a lot of toys you can install inside the rodent cage so that they can be playful and have a sound mentality.
Final Thoughts
Exotic pets will surely amaze anyone who looks at them. Some exotic animals are small and very cute, like rabbits. Other exotic animals are prideful and majestic. If you want an exotic pet, there are a lot of options for you. But no matter which one you choose, you need to properly take care of them. If you follow the tips listed in this article, you and your exotic pet will have a very beautiful bond.