What Exotic Pet Do You Choose?

Domestic Skunk

The domestic skunk can be an ideal pet. While they are not legal yet in all states mostly because of misconceptions about the skunk and the fact that there is not a legal rabies vaccination approved as of yet. Many states will require a permit before you purchase a pet skunk. Also, your county laws and local laws before purchasing a skunk. Domestic/Pen Raised skunks are at no more risk of contracting rabies than any other domestic animal. Skunks can be stubborn, strong for their size, intelligent, friendly, and highly curious.

A skunk as a pet is usually a striped skunk though some people have a spotted skunk. The striped skunk doesn't climb (much - they can climb up a baby gate or playpen.) Spotted skunks are much better climbers.

It takes a patient person to own a skunk. They have their scent glands removed before they are sold. However, they have not spayed or neutered, and this is a necessary procedure. They are very quiet animals. They require both cat and dog vaccinations. They can never be caged and must have free range of most of the house. The skunk's diet is highly specialized, and they can never be fed cat food. The skunk requires the same healthy diet that we do. Most of us that have skunks end up eating much healthier because we have skunks in the house.

Skunks are highly sensitive to fumes, pesticides, cleaning agents, and deodorizers. Skunks love to play and are very loving. Skunks can be very destructive. The skunk is a very different and unique animal. It is certainly not a pet for everyone. Did I mention skunks are stubborn?

Sugar Glider

What are sugar gliders? The sugar glider is a marsupial from Southern Australia. The pet sugar glider makes a sweet, affectionate little pet. They love human attention and love to play. They sleep in the daytime and play at night, so this may make an excellent pet for a nocturnal human. These little sweeties require a healthy specialized diet.

They cannot consume fat. The majority of their diet is fruit and vegetables (75%). They should receive protein (25%).

It is unsafe for the sugar glider to roam free in your home. It is also unsafe for your home. They do chew on drapes and furniture. Keep the sugar glider out of the sunlight. Bright light can permanently blind them. Provide a proper enclosure for them. A cage should be no smaller than 24" inches in diameter and 38" tall for not any more than 2 animals. Bigger is better. They make excellent pets for the family that has time to spend with them. They are highly intelligent and social animals. Having two sugar gliders is better than one. Check out the laws in your area before purchasing a sugar glider.

Hedgehog

The hedgehog also is known affectionately known as the "Yuppie Puppy" because its popularity as a pet is a recent occurrence. Hedgehogs are around 6 inches long and have quills on the top portion of their bodies. Their undersides are soft fur. The hedgehog is nocturnal. These little-armored animals need to be caged. They require an exercise wheel and toys. Check the legalities of owning a hedgehog before purchasing. They do not take up a lot of space and are very quiet.

Unfortunately, people grow disenchanted because they are difficult to handle and many hedgehogs become ignored and lonesome. The hedgehog is another pet that can be special for the right person.

Facebook Diana Geiger

My Ferret Book Guides and Exotic Pet Books Guides

Exotic Pets: Family Guide Paperback and Kindle. Available on Kindle Unlimited!

Ferrets: A Complete Guide is available in Kindle, paperback and Kindle Unlimited!

Pet Monkey Guide

Monkeys are one of the most intelligent animals on earth. The pet monkey, at least in my opinion is also the most difficult animal to keep as a pet. It is very expensive to keep a primate happy and healthy. A monkey that does not bite is extremely rare and their teeth are sharp. Monkeys are impulsive, unpredictable, and excitable. They can never be toilet trained. Monkeys should not be kept singly. They are social animals and socializing with you is not enough. I believe the socialization needs of a monkey make it very difficult to successfully rear as a pet. They will become lonely and become sick or die. Having a monkey is like having a 6-month-old baby (basic needs) or a toddler (intelligence and agility) but for the next 20 to 40 years. The capuchins monkey is a popular pet monkey.

Be very careful when dealing with pet monkeys for sale advertisements and websites or monkey breeders. Never send cash. Make sure they have a USDA permit. It is a very good idea to pick the monkey up in person instead of having the monkey shipped.

The cage or enclosure needs to be big, the bigger the cage the better. Do not use anything less than 12-gauge wire. A safety entrance must be included to prevent the escape of your monkey. Monkeys need light to survive, so provide them with a Vita-Lites (replicates natural sunlight) Primates need this light for their skeletal development.

Variety is an important key to feeding a primate. Feed him a commercial primate diet, supplemented with fruits, nuts, cooked vegetables, wheat products, and eggs. They also enjoy insects like crickets, grasshoppers, and mealworms.

Monkeys need a complete health exam once a year. They will need a TB test to protect their health and you and your families' health. Also needed are a parasite examination and a complete blood screening. Find out the vaccination requirements for monkeys.

Monkeys are like children and can get into anything. Watch medicines, poisons, anything that is dangerous to a child, is more dangerous to a monkey because he can more readily get into things.

Be sure to check with your state, county, city, subdivision, and other local government agencies to see if primates are legal. If they are in fact legal in your state, it may be illegal in your county, city, or even neighborhood. Many regulations have changed lately. Even if you think it is legal it may not be.

Please do considerable research before you purchase a monkey. If it seems like I am trying to persuade you away from buying a monkey as a pet, I am. With many exotic pet purchases, animals suffer. Luckily the cost of a monkey is prohibitive in itself and is less likely to be bought on a whim.

Facebook Diana Geiger

My Ferret Book Guides and Exotic Pet Books Guides

Exotic Pets: Family Guide Paperback and Kindle. Available on Kindle Unlimited!

Ferrets: A Complete Guide is available in Kindle, paperback and Kindle Unlimited!

Pet Spider Guide

All pets including exotic pets are compared and matched to your personality and lifestyle. Would an arachnid be the right exotic pet for you?

An arachnid is a spider and has eight legs. In, comparison, insects have six legs. Spiders are not for everyone, and they have extraordinary needs.

All spiders can bite, and all spiders are venomous in varying degrees. Most species do no more harm than a bee sting or even less. Like a bee sting, it is possible to be allergic to the spider's venom, and you can go into anaphylactic shock. Some spiders can be very venomous, two examples would be the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider.

Any animal taken out of the wild deserves the largest enclosure possible. A fish aquarium is a good choice. The top should have a screen, cheesecloth or mesh so that the aquarium has ventilation. Keep the cage out of direct sunlight. Glass containers especially can get very hot which can kill the spider. A terrarium is also an excellent habitat for a spider. Temperatures and humidity can be controlled in a terrarium or aquarium environment. Make sure the top is secure. You don't want to lose your pet spider.

Spiders are carnivores and predators. The spider crushes its prey with its powerful mouthparts. The spider injects the venom to immobilize their prey and use its chelicerae and then insert their own digestive juices as they can't swallow whole food but suck it like you would using a straw.

A favorite arachnid of mine is the tarantula. The Grammastola Rosea, or Chilean Rose, is the most popular choice of tarantula because of its more relaxed disposition. Tarantulas are delicate creatures. When handling them be very careful that they don't fall, they can be skittish, and a shortfall can injure them severely or even kill them. Tarantulas do not like roommates. They are not social critters, so they must be kept one per enclosure.

I have had several different spiders as pets. They can get quite tame and friendly. I have one spider that comes down to the kitchen sink when I am washing dishes. He waits for a tiny fresh drop of water to be placed on the counter. He drinks from the spot of water and climbs back up to where he sits on his web. I had one spider that got so lazy he'd wait for me to put a live insect on his web. Then he'd come down and wind it up with spider silk. Maybe he wasn't lazy but had me well trained. Either way, he really got to be quite large.

A spider could be an excellent choice of exotic pet for the right person. Protect your pet from other people, and protect other people from your pet. There could be liabilities in owning a venomous pet.

Facebook Diana Geiger

My Ferret Book Guides and Exotic Pet Books Guides

Exotic Pets: Family Guide Paperback and Kindle. Available on Kindle Unlimited!

Ferrets: A Complete Guide is available in Kindle, paperback and Kindle Unlimited!

Pet Ferret Guide

I enjoy the sweet devious little ferret. Pet ferrets are loving and playful little animals. They are relatively quiet except for the occasional chuckles. They take up little space and use a litter box (most of the time). They should be caged or in an enclosed environment such as an extra bedroom, and let out when they are supervised. They are explorers and this can get them into mischief and can lead to serious injuries. Make sure your home is escape proof before bringing your new pet ferret home. They can escape out the smallest of holes. Some of their means of escape may be a dryer vent, a heat vent, or even a mouse hole. They aren't necessarily trying to escape they are just highly curious and every hole must be investigated.

I kept my ferrets in an extra bedroom. If you use ferret cages, let them out frequently for exercise and play. If they are housed in a ferret cage, make sure the cage is no smaller than 2 X 3 feet and 2 feet high. Add hammocks for them to sleep in. Ferrets require a high protein, high-quality food. There are commercial ferret foods available. However, in a pinch, they can be fed a high protein kitten good (not cat food) such as Iams. Ferrets require vaccinations.

Ferrets should be spayed and neutered and their scent glands removed. You will usually buy them de-scented and neutered. Check legalities before purchase. They are not legal in all places. Ferrets make outstanding pets.

Ferrets can be an ideal pet for the right person or people. However, many people are put off by their odor and the fact the can be quite destructive. Make sure you understand all ferret facts before purchasing ferrets as pets!

Facebook Diana Geiger

My Ferret Book Guides and Exotic Pet Books Guides

Exotic Pets: Family Guide Paperback and Kindle. Available on Kindle Unlimited!

Ferrets: A Complete Guide is available in Kindle, paperback and Kindle Unlimited!

Pet Rodent Guide

Maybe an ideal pet for you could be a pet rodent, though there is a great deal of difference between a rat and a hamster. Rats rarely bite and hamsters can be quite nippy. There are also guinea pig and a mouse to take into consideration. Rodents take up little space, do not need to be walked, and are very quiet. Rodents are very inexpensive to keep and require no vaccinations. However, they too can become ill, have accidents and can require vet care.

All rodents have similar care in that they need a safe secure cage. Of course, a rat will need a larger cage compared to the mouse. Rodents will need an exercise wheel, toys, chew toys to keep their forever-growing teeth worn down, water bottles, food, and non-toxic bedding.

In the wild, rats are highly social. I strongly suggest purchasing two rats of the same sex. While there are some social species of hamsters, most are not social and should be kept in separate cages. Hamsters react to stress much more acutely than rats. While hamsters are good pets for children when they are together, they should be supervised. Hamsters can become afraid and deliver a nasty bite to the child and children could accidentally injure the hamster.

Supervise your rodents play at all times. There are many harmful and dangerous perils in a home. As with birds and other exotic pets, toxic fumes can kill a rodent. There are also poisonous houseplants to watch out for, and places for the rodents to drown like open containers with liquid in them. Rodents are ideal for our urbanized society.

Do you have or have you had a rodent as a pet?

Facebook Diana Geiger

My Ferret Book Guides and Exotic Pet Books Guides

Exotic Pets: Family Guide Paperback and Kindle. Available on Kindle Unlimited!

Ferrets: A Complete Guide is available in Kindle, paperback and Kindle Unlimited!

How to Choose a Pet

Let's look at the most common pets and see if they are right for our own lifestyle. They may not be the right pets for us, but we do have other choices a large variety of exotic pets. I would like to compare the animals you're most familiar with.

Dogs

Man's best friend the loyal dog. All dogs require exercise. Large breed dogs need lots of room to run around. They have so much to offer. A dog that loves their owner is a loyal friend for life. Times have changed though in dog ownership. Neighbors are less patience with noise and not patient at all with the waste involved with dogs! Be prepared to follow behind Spot with a pooper-scooper! Times have also brought about innovations such as the dog litter box. Yes, you can now train your dog to use a litter box. This is for small breed dogs. I cannot quite see a Great Dane using an indoor litter box. Dogs get very lonely without human interaction. So lonely in fact it will cause behavioral problems that are very difficult to correct. Dogs can be rather costly. You start with the original purchase price and then add the cost for license, shots, booster shots, maintenance, and veterinary care.

Many illnesses and accidents can happen to a dog. Surgery, laboratory tests, and boarding costs just to name a few will add up into the thousands of dollars. A dog is a wonderful choice of pet if you have the time, love, and space to care for him. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing in the eyes of a dog the shine for the love and devotion of his owner.

Cats

Cats are an excellent choice in many households. If you have to spend a lot of time at work, cats are usually pretty forgiving, as long as you give him a lot of love when you get home. A bow or two to his grace could not hurt either.

Even the horrid litter box and the odor that comes along with the litter box is not much of a problem anymore. The new crystal litters are such a blessing to the cat owner. If you do work long hours, you might want to consider two cats. This way they can keep each other company when you are not home. Be sure to have a cat tower, scratching pole and green plants to chew on that way they will hopefully leave your stuff alone. Cats do like to scratch up walls and couches, they will most likely use a scratching pole, but do keep in mind they can destroy your beautiful couch while you are away. Declawing is never an option it is cruel.

Houseplants can also be a problem with cats. First many plants are poisonous to cats, and second, you could come home to find that your one big plant is now lots of little plants all over your floor. Cats also cost a great deal to keep. Some local governments require cat licenses. They also need shots and then booster shots each year. The cost of cat food is not cheap, and you should feed high-quality cat food. Serving your cat a low-quality food will cost you plenty of money in the end with a urinary tract infection and or problems that occur because of feeding the wrong food. Cats can have accidents and get sick, as with any pet, veterinary costs will always be involved in pet ownership.

There is also a wide variety of cats all with very individual personalities and needs.

Fish

Fish can fit into any lifestyle. They have their virtues in that they are quiet, need no vaccinations, and are utterly beautiful to watch. Starting cost can be quite expensive. First, you need to decide if you want saltwater or freshwater fish. Gather all the information you will need to care for them properly. You must know how to correct chemical imbalances and ph problems in the tank, this must be correct before the fish are introduced to the water. There are accessories you will need to purchase for the fish tank. You will need a filter plate, filter, and gravel, plants that will keep algae under control, a heater for temperature, a thermometer, and a de-chlorinator to remove chlorine, a hood, and a light. After the tank is together, add the water then adjust the temperature and adjust the ph levels.

Recheck the water in 24 hours to make sure the balances of ph are stable, and the water is the proper temperature for the variety of fish you want. You will need to learn about fish diseases and have the proper medications on hand. After the initial start-up cost, fish are not expensive to keep, food, chemicals, medications and the power to maintain the filtering, lighting, and temperature of the fish tank. Fish may not be cuddly, but they are excellent stress reducers.

Birds

One of my favorite pets is the bird. There are so many varieties and sizes of birds. Each bird variety is different in how you care for them. Pet birds range in size from the tiny little finch to the giant hyacinth macaw. The cost for the pet bird also ranges exorbitantly. The cost of a finch may be as little as $10 compared to the cost of a hyacinth macaw, which could cost $20,000, or more.

Small birds are good pets if you live in an apartment. Large parrots can also be pets for the apartment dweller if you have plenty of quality time to spend with the parrot. Parrots tend to be very noisy. Their deafening screeches will easily travel through apartment walls. Parrots are also very messy.

Parrots are highly social and extremely intelligent. They will need to spend plenty of time interacting with their owner. Parrots have a highly complex social structure in the wild. This socialization must be substituted for in the domestic bird. Parrots also need a large variety of stimulating toys to play with. Rotate the toys frequently to keep the bird from growing bored. Spend plenty of time each day talking to your bird; giving it supervised freedom from its cage, and playing with your bird.

Along with the initial cost of the bird, you will need to purchase a cage. Choose your bird's cage carefully. You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on a "bird entertainment system," but you do need to pick out a cage that is safe for your bird to live in, the larger the cage, the better. Watch out for small parts that can be ingested. Make sure that the cage is secure.

Parrots are master criminals and can escape easily from their cages. Make sure that the cage is primed and painted with a non-toxic substance. Birds do not need vaccinations, but they do get ill and can have accidents so make sure you have access to a good avian vet before purchasing a bird. Bird proof your house before bringing your new pet home. Most of the following advice will apply to small birds as well as large parrots. Your home has many risky things in it. Non-stick cookware can emit toxic, fatal odors into the air and kill birds. Many houseplants are poisonous and will make a bird very sick or even kill it. Open boiling pots on the stove have taken many precious pet's lives as do open toilets and open containers. Ceiling fans and fireplaces must be off and out before a bird is allowed to roam free. Parrots have extremely long life spans and may outlive you. Make sure you have plans if this should occur. Never let your bird out unless it is supervised. We have chosen to keep these creatures in our household, an unsafe place for birds, so it is our responsibility to make sure they are safe.

Facebook Diana Geiger

My Ferret Book Guides and Exotic Pet Books Guides

Exotic Pets: Family Guide Paperback and Kindle. Available on Kindle Unlimited!

Ferrets: A Complete Guide is available in Kindle, paperback and Kindle Unlimited!

Guide to Pet Kinkajous

The kinkajou is a nocturnal rainforest mammal that lives in trees and is able to grasp trees with their prehensile tails. Kinkajous come from the rainforests of South America (the northern part), Mexico, and Central America. They are related to the North American raccoon, red pandas, coatimundi and other animals from the procyonid family. The pet kinkajous can be a lovely animal. They are also known as the honey bear.

They have a very docile and friendly personality for a procyonid. They can get aggressive if not spayed or neutered. They are capable of biting. Remember they are nocturnal, don't insist on waking kinkajous. Plan your play and activity period for when they are awake. There is little worst than an upset procyonid. They can also get aggressive and bite if you don't spend a couple of hours a day with them. They are not an animal to ignore, they are a high maintenance pet.

Use your head when approaching these animals. If you have the scent of strange dogs stay away from them. and anything else of this order in your behavior, it will make them nervous and upset and even possibly nip.

You never yell at or hit a procyonid - ever. You spend months and years building a loving a trusting relationship. They can be a challenge and if given an opportunity be plenty destructive. They are brilliant animals. The key, lots of loving attention and keep them engaged, busy, and plenty of exploration during their awake period - nocturnal. These animals need plenty of room in their kinkajou cage.

They do live a relatively long life of 20-24 years (average they have been known to live a long life) in captivity. They may outlive you, look for kinkajous for adoption.

They are not an overly large animal about the size of a small cat 3-8 pounds or 1.36 kilograms to 3.63 kilograms.

Health and Vaccinations

Find a veterinarian familiar with kinkajous is critical before you consider acquiring one. Several vaccinations are essential even including one that is a vaccination for a bacteria that can be contagious to people and dogs for that matter. If you want kinkajous and also have a dog, please discuss the Leptospirosis vaccination with your veterinarian. The vet may suggest giving the vaccination to the dog as well.

The kinkajous will also need a combination canine distemper/ parvovirus/ hepatitis series with boosters, rabies vaccinations with boosters, and feline panleukopenia with boosters.

Kinkajous can also have internal parasites including a roundworm called baylisascaris. Baylisascaris is also called the raccoon roundworm. It is highly contagious to humans and can cause serious damage.

Procyonids can also get salmonella, please stay away from fresh raw meats.

They can also get severe dental problems because of their soft diet. Stay on top of their teeth by having regular physical and dental check-ups with your veterinarian.

Kinkajous can get quite aggressive with sexual maturity. They can bite. They should be spayed or neutered before they reach sexual maturity. Males will reach sexual maturity around 1 1/2 years (18 months) and females around 2 1/2 years (30 months). They should not be fixed too early on account of health risks but don't wait too late. Plan accordingly with your veterinarian.

It is cruel to remove the claws from any animal of the procyonid family, and this includes the kinkajous. They would be crippled and disfigured, and it is nothing short of animal abuse. The same with removing any teeth.

The kinkajous mainly eat fruit but will supplement their natural diet with nectar, bark, insects and other proteins like eggs and vertebrates, along with flowers and some plants. However, they are primarily fruit eaters. one of their favorite foods is hibiscus flowers and leaves.

A Diet for a Kinkajou

Avoid citrus fruits, avocados, and strawberries though I doubt the strawberry allergy problem. Don't feed fat sugary foods like honey.

Monkey biscuits work fine for a base diet anywhere from four to twelve depending on the size and age of the animal. Some of the biscuits can be soaked in fruit juice and offered throughout the day. Remove wet foods that haven't been eaten so that the animal doesn't become ill. Offer fruits and other fresh produce (papaya, mango, apricots, peaches, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, and other similar foods and dried fruit a few example dates, figs, dried papaya, apricots, and so forth should be offered throughout the day. They will get the majority of their protein from the monkey biscuits. They will love you forever if you are able to grow and provide hibiscus flowers and leaves. Make sure there is no chemicals or insecticides on these plants.

Enclosure for the Kinkajou - Kinkajou Cages

The enclosure for the kinkajou should be the size of a small room with considerable height. They will need climbing branches and vertical shelves. Supply a hide box. (To feel safe in the wild they will hide in hollow spots in trees; dead trunks/branches)If you can't keep them in a suitable enclosure, don't get one. You will need to spend considerable time socializing with the kinkajou. Keep the enclosure clean. Make sure they always have plenty of fresh filtered water.

Remember they have very sharp claws, and plastic water bottles don't survive those claws. Use heavy crocks that are firmly attached. They do enjoy playing in water so expect to change the water frequently. Many of these animals love to swim.

They will need plenty of toys rotated frequently. Bring in a somewhat shallow tub of water to play in. Hide toys in tubs with leaves or mulch hiding the toys. The kinkajou needs to be kept busy to avoid behavioral problems. They will grow bored easily, and it is your job to keep them busy with plenty to do. Keep the kinkajous busy with containers holding hidden food. Give them plenty of opportunities to explore.

Many procyonids can learn to use a litter box including the coati and the raccoon. However, the kinkajou usually doesn't learn to use the litter box. If you choose to have the enclosure inside it is up to you to keep it clean, the kinkajou has no interest in cleaning.

The species is from a warmer climate, and you can't expect to keep it outside without warmth and protection from the elements. Use a safe heat source.

To find kinkajou breeders and kinkajous for sale try the different exotic pet or pet classified sites. Be very wary of who you buy from. Don't forget to look for exotic pets for adoption or kinkajous for adoption. They do live a long lifespan, and you may have a delightful surprise.

Facebook Diana Geiger

My Ferret Book Guides and Exotic Pet Books Guides

Exotic Pets: Family Guide Paperback and Kindle. Available on Kindle Unlimited!

Ferrets: A Complete Guide is available in Kindle, paperback and Kindle Unlimited!