Exotic Pet Starter Tips

By Deeo Nyssa

Some people like animals, and some are especially fond of the real exotic ones. Exotic animals are those not usually made as a pet. They are usually found in jungles, forests, and the wild. Therefore, you have to consider it seriously before decided to have one at home. And now that you're sure that you want to be an exotic pet owner, the following tips might be really useful for you.

Choosing the Best Exotic Pets for You

The first thing you need to do is choosing what exotic pet is best for you. When choosing them, it is important to know the reasons for owning one and the responsibilities needed for keeping one. You should have a good knowledge of a particular kind of pet before buying, else, the purchase or adoption could end in disastrous results. You should also know what your motivation is to choose and exotic pet, because it involves a continuous commitment.

Don't forget to consider their adult size, and it is important to know the sociability of a particular exotic pet and to match it to your preference, whether you want a pet that needs much of your attention or one that would best live if left alone in its dwelling.

The point is, the best exotic pet for you is one that you can keep, find as much information as you can before you decide which best for you.

Best Places to Look for Exotic Pets

Now that you've decided which exotic pet is best for you, you need to find out where you can get it. Since they are special pets, you can't buy them in a common pet shop or similar place. These are some places where you can get one.

The easiest way is by checking out the internet. Many exotic pet shops put their store online to get more customers. But beside that, you can also scout the specialty pet shops or veterinarian within you area. They might have one or two. If, unfortunately they don't have what you're looking for, they might know someone else who does. Another interesting option to get an exotic pet is by joining on exotic pet auction. This could be a wise move, because for sure, you are going to see lots of wonderful species there.

Steps in Acquiring an Exotic Pet License

Suppose you've got yours now. What's next? Acquire a license for your exotic pet. It's optional, though, depends on the local government in your area. But some local governments require people, who intend to take care of these exotic pets within their yards or homes, to secure a license. For one, in Illinois, it is illegal to own and take care of an exotic animal. In Georgia, you can take certain species of a skunk as pet without a permit.

But as a precaution, here are the steps you should do the moment you intend to take them home.

First, you need to look for a listing of pets considered as exotic within your area, then check your local laws and see if there is a rule against owning exotic pets. If it's allowed to own exotic pets as long as they have an exotic pet license, then you have no choice but to comply and process the necessary papers. You should also see if there is any vaccines or removal of body parts like teeth is required because some exotic pets can be harmful, and some local state laws require owners to do something like these in order to protect the other people within the community. After making sure that you have all the papers and the requirements met and ready, you are now ready to make a trip to your local government office to file and secure the permit with them.

Good luck, and have fun with your exotic pet!

Use Tips When Considering Box Turtles as Exotic Pets

While many people find exotic pets to be cool, many pet owners are still quite reluctant to veer away from having dogs and cats as their animal companions. The thought of having exotic pets seems so out-of-this-world when one thinks of the special care needed for such unusual critters.

However, such isn't really true since not all exotic pets are hard to keep. Some may even be easier to maintain than typical pets. One example of easy-to-keep exotic pets are box turtles.

When buying box turtles it is best to avoid doing it during the cold seasons as box turtles hibernate during such times. Box turtles tend to be stressed during the winter due to the dehydration and starvation that comes with hibernation.

A good box turtle would feel solid and weighty when you pick it up. Check for its strong reflexes by gently tugging its hind leg and seeing if it quickly and strongly pulls its legs away. The face and limbs should have no swellings, the eyes should be alert and clear. There should be no discolorations or slime on the shell.

There should be no secretions coming from the mouth and nose. There should be no breaks, cracks, or overgrowths in the beak. Common sense would usually help one find the tell-tale signs of bad condition.

Boxed turtles live well both indoors and outdoors. They just need an enclosure that allows them enough space to live in. The enclosure should be at lest 36 by 12 inches and have a wall high enough to keep the turtle from climbing out.

Box turtles prefer living on slightly moistened potting soil that have no coarse substrates that may damage their shells. There should be enough water for the turtle to dip in and climb out as it wants. For cold areas, there should be a heat source such as a heating pad to regulate the temperature.

Box turtles need only to be fed once every morning for youngsters, and every other day for adults. Box turtles need a balanced diet that contains both animal and plant materials. Varied vegetables are good when combined with canned dog food are usually recommended for the turtles. Other owners feed box turtles with mashed chicken liver, earthworms, slugs and small insects.

Keeping box turtles as exotic pets may be a good decision for many. They are easy to live with and easy to maintain. It is also very enjoyable to witness these creatures grow and live.