When getting a pet, most people opt for dogs and cats. Some get livestock like cows, horses, chickens or pigs.
Others decide to get more exotic pets like snakes, parrots, chinchillas or lizards.
Most people know the important things to consider when getting a new pet: Do you have enough time to spend with them? Can you give them enough exercise? What do they like to eat?
These questions are just as important to ask before getting an exotic pet as they are before getting a dog or a horse.
But when someone's thinking about getting an exotic animal, there are also a few more questions to consider.
One of the first questions to ask is, "was this animal born in captivity or in the wild?"
This question is important because taking animals out of the wild can have devastating effects on the ecosystem, disrupting the food chain and natural animal habits. If everyone took animals out of the wild whenever they wanted, we'd quickly run out of many animals.
This is actually exactly what happened to Blue and Gold Macaws in Trinidad. Because of the high demand for pet macaws, locals would venture into the forests and swamps of Trinidad and take baby macaws, creating an illegal pet trade.
This practice became so widespread that macaws were extirpated (a fancy ecological word for locally extinct) from Trinidad entirely.
Only within the last 12 years have macaws been reintroduced and allowed to repopulate on Trinidad. While this is a happy ending, the macaws' story still serves as a cautionary tale.
A second question to ponder when considering an exotic pet is, "can I provide a good environment?"
Most dogs and cats are comfortable outside or on the couch, but exotic animals may not be so easy to please. Take reptiles for example: They are ectothermic, which means they cannot control their body temperature.
Lizards are not going to feel at home wandering a home designed for humans. They need habitats that resemble their natural ones, which means providing both sunny and shady areas.
A third important exotic pet question to ask is, "is there a vet near by who is capable of treating this animal if it gets sick?"
Most vets will treat dogs and cats, but not all vets will treat snakes or other unique pets like spiders, so before you purchase an exotic pet, it's important to find out where the nearest vet who can take care of your animal is located.
A fourth question is one people don't always think of: "Who will take care of my pet when I am no longer here or no longer capable of doing so?"
With fish and hamsters, this isn't usually a problem because their life expectancy isn't very long.
However, many parrot species live between 50 and 60 years. If you buy a parrot, be sure to consider who will take care of the parrot after you. Some people leave their pet parrots to others in their wills.
Finally, no matter what pet you want, it's important to make sure it's not an endangered species. It's important that members of endangered species live in the wild so they can procreate.
Remember, taking care of an exotic pet is a large responsibility and it's very important to know what you are getting into. It is as much an investment of your money as it is an investment of your time.
Amanda's Animal Fact of the Week
Chinchilla's fur is so thick that fleas can't live on them.
