Sloth – Pet Sloths

Every since my daughter’s early years she has wanted a sloth. It all started when she received a plush animal sloth whose arms wrapped around her neck. I wasn’t usually one to turn down pet or exotic pet requests. I suggested we learn about sloths and meet a few up close and personal.

I’m not real sure if the actual sloth and the plushy sloth got in a race who would be the winner. I think I’d wager on the plushy.

Now, put aside for now everything I have taught you about exotic pets –it probably doesn’t apply to the sloth. Except for the last article Exotic Pets – Be Realistic

They are so slow moving they can get a greenish bluish cast because algae will grow on their fur. If algae can catch up, that is S L O W. The alga gives them the perfect camouflage to blend into the trees. It is also the perfect symbiotic relationships because the sloth can absorb the nutrients of the algae. Normally they are tan/brownish/gray in color, with long arms, and a slight bandit look to their flattish face.

There are two different species of sloths; two- toed (choloepus hoffmanni, and three- toed (bradypus variegates). It is believed the two different species came from two different lineages. The two-toed from the extinct Giant Ground Sloths. They are from Central America and South America. Most sloths live in the rainforests. Two toed sloths are normally a bit larger than the three-toed sloths. Two toed sloths have longer arms than three-toed sloths. Read the rest of the article Sloth – Pet Sloths