An exotic pet is a rare or unusual animal pet, or an animal kept as a pet that is not commonly thought of as a pet.

Typically these include reptiles (snakes, lizards and turtles), amphibians (frogs and salamanders) and arachnids (spiders). When choosing an exotic pet it is important to consider the reasons you want a pet and the reality of caring for the kind of pet you want.

Basic principles for choosing an exotic pet:

1. Avoid impulse adoptions (too emotional) or choosing a pet to impress people.
2. Learn all you can about a potential pet before purchasing and bringing it home.
3. Have all the necessary equipment and supplies on hand for the homecoming to make the transition to a new home as easy as possible for your pet (and for you and your family).

What pet is suitable for me?

Minimal care. If you are looking for a low-maintenance exotic pet you may want to consider a pair of geckos, a blue tongue lizard or even perhaps some hermit crabs. Although these animals still need specialised environments their diets are manageable and they are not noisy, smelly or dustructive to your home. They can be quite hapy living in large glass aquarium. Great if you have kids.

Handling and observation. If you are looking for an exotic pet that you'd still like to touch and handle at times then this certainly narrows the field. The children's python and carpet python are snakes that can tolerate a reasonable level of handling if conditioned for it from a young age. They require large enclosures, heating and eat whole foods as live or frozen mice. Although they are not technically dangerous much caution should be taken if you have children or other small pets.

Loud but intersting. Frogs are beautiful creatures and are fun to watch. They cannot be handled much at all but they shouldn't need to be unless there are any health issues to deal with. Frogs require fresh live foods such as crickets and worms, but the biggest set back for frog ownership is the noise. NOT a good idea to keep a frog in your bedroom but if you have space in your home that is temperature controlled and away from bedrooms they can be wonderful pets.

Before you buy

Before you make a decision about purchasing an exotic pet there are a few things you need to consider, such as your motivation, if the animal is legal in your region, and if the animal will fit within your current living and family arrangements. This is important for you and the animal. More ...

Can you care for an exotic animal?

When it comes to feeding, housing and caring for the health of an exotic animal, you can be faced with many more challenges than a traditional pet. Here are few things you should also consider. More ...

Will owning an exotic pet suit you?

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