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Exotic Pets

Information about owning an exotic pet

Probably more than for any other pet, before you buy an exotic animal, you should do a lot of preparation. Begin by finding out as much as you can about the animal - read books, talk to other owners. Whilst time consuming, this preparatory work will help both you and the animal in the long run. To get you started, consider the following topics:

Choosing An Exotic Pet

One of the first decisions you need to make is which type of exotic pet do I choose. Consider your experience, the help available and the environment you are able to create for your pet before choosing. Obviously you also need to consider the animal itself. Some are relatively easy to care for where others should be avoided at all costs. Again, plenty of research is required.

Things to Consider

  • Your exotic animal may very well require ultraviolet lighting as well as access to unfiltered sunlight.

  • Do you have enough available space? Arboreal (tree-dwelling) reptiles and amphibians need more space than terrestrial species.

  • You might need to provide a range of temperatures within the environment to allow the animal to control their body temperature by moving from a cold spot to a hot spot.

  • For some exotic pets it is necessary to simulate the habitat it would naturally encounter in the wild.

  • Ensuring that your exotic pet receives a balanced diet which provides all the nutrition it needs is vital.

  • On the whole, exotic pets which eat whole vertebrates are less of a worry as they get all of their nutritional needs from their prey. Insect- or fruit-eating pets may need extra vitamins added to their diet.

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