Planning to get a new pet is an exciting time, but it’s also an important choice. Pets live for many years and become additional family members, which means choosing the right exotic pet is important to make sure that you and your new companion can live happily together.
The Most Common Exotic Pets
Exotic pets, like any other, come in many shapes and sizes, which means lots of choices for you. The most common and popular choices can be:
Bearded dragon
Parrot
Other exotic bird
Chinchilla
Snake
Rodents, like hamsters and gerbils
Frogs or toads
Tarantulas
Which Exotic Pet is Right for You? All Things to Consider
Impulse Purchases
Exotic pets are renowned for looking cool and interesting, which means a lot of purchases can be made impulsively without proper long-term consideration. So be sure to avoid any impulse decisions when it comes to an exotic animal, no matter how cool you think it would be to own one.
Your Budget
It’s always important to know that you can afford the pet you want. This means not only the initial purchase price but the upkeep cost too. Most exotic pets will require a tank and cage, which means a lot of items to buy upfront, so you need to make sure your budget covers that.
Setting a clear budget first (both initial price and ongoing) means you can only browse for those exotic pets within your price range, so you don’t risk being disappointed in one you can’t afford.
You should also take into account how much vet bills and health checks will be for your pet. You can find an exotic animal vet, like Colonialblvdanimalhospital.com, to double-check costs.
What Do You Want from a Pet?
Do you want to be able to hold your exotic pet, sit with it, and interact with it? Or would you be happy with a pet content to sit in its cage and avoid much human interaction? Certain animals would prefer to be left alone, so for the health and safety of both of you, make sure you decide which animal suits your wants in terms of sociability.
How Much Space You Have
Some exotics can have demanding housing requirements. They may require a huge cage or tank, a lot of space, a certain amount of light, and other necessities. Being sure where you can house your exotic pet at home and how much space you have will help you decide what kind of exotic pet best fits with the space you have.
This space includes any space needed for your pet to come out of its cage or tank and move around. Parrots, for example, will be happy out of their cage, and it’s important to have enough room for your pet to explore too.
Final Thought
Exotic pets are rewarding animals to have, but extensive research is always needed. It’s always appealing to think you can say you have a dragon, snake, or giant spider at home if you want to wow your friends, but you may find with proper research that they are difficult animals to keep. The variety of exotic pets available, however, will always mean you can find one that is perfect for you.