{"id":410,"date":"2021-02-21T20:45:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T20:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/?p=410"},"modified":"2021-02-21T20:45:16","modified_gmt":"2021-02-21T20:45:16","slug":"4-fascinating-exotic-pets-to-consider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/4-fascinating-exotic-pets-to-consider\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Fascinating Exotic Pets to Consider"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Cats, dogs, and fish are great, but if you\u2019ve been successful with all of these animals and are looking for something a bit more unusual, consider an exotic pet. Raising them successfully relies on a thorough understanding of the animal\u2019s native environment and dietary needs, but in some cases, their care isn\u2019t much more complicated than the average pet.<\/p>\n

The key is to do your research, understand what you\u2019re taking on, and commit to keeping your pet as comfortable as possible. The reward is a fascinating view into the world of an animal that most people never get to see.<\/p>\n

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1. Degus<\/h4>\n

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Degus are a rodent native to Chile with a roundish body and furry tail. Related to chinchillas and guinea pigs, degus are adorable and inquisitive. Fully grown, they reach between 9-12 inches long and weigh between 6-11 ounces.<\/p>\n

Degus are highly social and live in large, complex burrows in the wild. Mother degus have been known to nurse each other\u2019s young, and father degus stick around to help raise youngsters.<\/p>\n

Because they are so social, degus develop deep bonds with their owners and recognize them by sight. This makes them wonderful pets, but also means that it is important to keep at least two degus together so they have a social outlet when you\u2019re not around.<\/p>\n

Choose a pair of females or commit to having a mixed pair spayed and neutered, unless you are prepared (and permitted) to breed. Two males may become overly competitive as they age.<\/p>\n

Degu Fast Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lifespan<\/strong> \u2013 6-9 years<\/p>\n

Diet<\/strong> \u2013 Commercial rodent pellets, unlimited hay, fresh veggies; avoid sugary treats<\/p>\n

Sleep patterns<\/strong> \u2013 Diurnal (awake during the day)<\/p>\n

Warnings<\/strong> \u2013 Illegal in some states; tails can shed if handled roughly<\/p>\n

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2. Tenrecs<\/h4>\n

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Tenrecs look similar to hedgehogs with a back full of short quills, but the two are actually not related. Tenrecs have longer snouts and are more closely related to elephants! Despite this relationship, they are tiny at an average of 5.5-7 inches long and 4-7 ounces in weight.<\/p>\n

Your tenrec will feed primarily on insects that should be given live.<\/p>\n

These critters are accomplished escape artists and require a cage with close bar spacing. Don\u2019t worry about a cagemate for your tenrec as they are mostly solitary animals. But, if you\u2019d like more than one, females typically do well together. A mixed pair can also be okay, but keeping two males in the same territory is not recommended.<\/p>\n

Tenrec Fast Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lifespan<\/strong> \u2013 Up to 13 years in human care<\/p>\n

Diet<\/strong> \u2013 A variety of worms<\/p>\n

Sleep pattern<\/strong> \u2013 Mostly nocturnal, but also experience a season of extreme sleepiness called torpor<\/p>\n

Warnings<\/strong> \u2013 Keeping as pets is relatively new; permit may be required and vet care challenging<\/p>\n

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3. Sugar Gliders<\/h4>\n

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Sugar gliders make great pets but require advanced care. They look like adorable gray and black flying squirrels, but are really in the marsupial family and more closely related to kangaroos. They get their name by the flap of skin from their wrists to their sides that allow these creatures to \u201cglide\u201d through the air with their arms outstretched.<\/p>\n

Clearly, they are agile and active animals. They are also very social and should not be kept singly. Sugar gliders bond strongly to people, but only people who are willing to put a lot of time into their care. It is best to start your relationship with your sugar glider when they are very young, in a bonding process that involves wearing it around your neck for months!<\/p>\n

The dietary needs of sugar gliders are complex, and generally require fresh food that can only be stored for about three days in the refrigerator. Gliders need a specific nutritional blend including 25% protein, 25% leafy vegetables, and 50% pelleted food as a source of nectar.<\/p>\n

Sugar Glider Fast Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lifespan<\/strong> \u2013 5-7 years<\/p>\n

Diet<\/strong> \u2013 Freshly prepared protein and veg; pellets<\/p>\n

Sleep pattern<\/strong> \u2013 Nocturnal<\/p>\n

Warnings<\/strong> \u2013 Illegal in some states; need lots of exercise and easily become malnourished<\/p>\n

4. Axolotls<\/h4>\n

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If you are interested in something aquatic, it would be hard to beat the distinctive appearance of the axolotl. This amphibian is also known as the Mexican walking fish, but is more technically a salamander. It grows between 6-18 inches in length.<\/p>\n

Axolotls have reptile-like bodies with a mane of colorful fronds around the head. Despite having both lungs and gills, axolotl spend their entire lives underwater. They also much prefer to live alone.<\/p>\n

Axolotls typically live about 10 years in captivity \u2013 though it is not unheard of for them to reach twenty! They are quite tame and can recognize their owners. In fact, some keepers swear that their axolotl recognizes hand signals. Despite this, axolotls are display pets. Handling should be kept to a minimum, and never out of water.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need a tank sized at about 15-20 gallons, though it needn\u2019t be full as your axolotl is a bottom dweller who dislikes strong currents. Axolotl prefer a constant water temperature of about 60-64 degrees Fahrenheit. Food can include brine shrimp, small strips of beef or liver, worms, or even formulated pellets.<\/p>\n

Axolotl Fast Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lifespan<\/strong> \u2013 10+ years<\/p>\n

Diet<\/strong> \u2013 Meat, seafood, worms<\/p>\n

Sleep pattern<\/strong> \u2013 Crepuscular (most active at sunrise and sunset)<\/p>\n

Warnings<\/strong> \u2013 Illegal in some states; commonly experience bowel obstruction due to eating gravel or other substrate<\/p>\n

Have we sparked your interest in something a little bit exotic? There is an unusual pet here for folks who want something with easy care requirements, and for people who want a truly hands-on pet that needs almost as much care as a human child. You can also enjoy an exotic pet that\u2019s just for looking (and hand signaling, if you want to get creative). Whatever you choose, do thorough research prior to adoption so that you can keep your new friend comfortable and happy their whole life long<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cats, dogs, and fish are great, but if you\u2019ve been successful with all of these animals and are looking for something a bit more unusual, consider an exotic pet. Raising them successfully relies on a thorough understanding of the animal\u2019s native environment and dietary needs, but in some cases, their care isn\u2019t much more complicated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":428,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410\/revisions\/428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readymadewebsiteshop.com\/OrganicFoodsBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}