Exotic Pets

[Guest greyhalo]

Does anyone on the board have any unique or exotic pets that they'd like to share with everyone? If so, what kind of pet do you have? Why did you decide to get that kind of pet? How did you acquire it? What are its special needs? Do you recommend it to others? Finally, do you have any pics to share?

[Guest greyhalo]

So, I'll start... I bought a short tail opossum last summer and named him Oscar. He's about the size of a gerbil or hamster and is totally nocturnal. He goes on his wheel all night and eats mostly baby food. He's very gentle and has really soft fur--kind of like a chinchilla.

[EnViOuSPoPpEt]

Oh he's so cute!!!

Since he's a pocket animal do you have to take him to a vet that sees exotics or a small animal will do?

[Rayne]

My dogs (especially the youngest one, on the bottom) have ears so big they look like they could fly away ... does that count?

[jynxxxedangel]

See my Gallery (click the purple button under my photo to the left). Most of my odd pets are there. I don't have any pics of my L6 Phidippus audax (from Arwen's first brood), yet, as it's still too small to photograph. I also have 3 L3 spiderlings of the same species (from Arwen's third brood), and what appears to be a juvenile Misumena vatia, which are also quite tiny. My mantis died last month. They only live for about a year. I also have a tiny North American Millipede in with my adult male jumping spider, whom I rarely see except for at night. It eats the scraps from the spider's meals, and helps to keep the cage clean. I plan on finding a small milli for my female spider's cage, too.

Spiders make AWESOME pets. They are easy to care for, once they get to be large enough to eat flies or crickets. I would recommend them to anyone who wants something unusual.

Keeping spiders is the end of a long journey for me. I had always been terrified of spiders, because of a cruel prank played on me during my childhood. Some older kids threw me into an old root cellar which hadn't been opened in about 30 years, and locked me in there for an entire day. It was dark, and full of cobwebs, spiders, and other crawling things. This experience sent me into shock, and I was mute for a long time after. For years, I dreamt of spiders crawling all over me, or towards me on my bedpillow, or even towards me on my desk at school. I couldn't bear the sight of a spider, dead or alive. Just the thought of one was enough to send me into a fit of panic.

My amicable fascination with spiders started about two years ago, when I began to take interest in photography. I was living in a basement apartment on a lake, and there were always orb-weaving spiders camped out near my porch light. I began to observe the largest female of the bunch, whom I would watch cut down the remains of her old web from the previous night before, and earnestly weave a new one. I named her Charlotte, and we began to have an understanding of one another. I was present to see her through various stages of her life; three moults, courtship, and laying a brood of eggs. I became very fond of her, and then of her many neighbors who lived along the awning. They became the main subjects of my photography. I call it my "Spider Awakening Phase."

I soon became obsessed with land-dwelling arthropods of all sorts, and began haunting websites concerning their classification and habits. It wasn't much of a stretch for me to begin collecting and observing them in captivity!

Now, I have an ever-rotating cast of arachnids and insects at my home, which I have affectionately nicknamed the "Crawl Inn." If it creeps or crawls and is NOT a pest, chances are, I've kept it (or have contemplated keeping it) as a pet! I feel like such a doofy for ever having been so frightened of spiders and crawlies!

[jynxxxedangel]

So, I'll start... I bought a short tail opossum last summer and named him Oscar. He's about the size of a gerbil or hamster and is totally nocturnal. He goes on his wheel all night and eats mostly baby food. He's very gentle and has really soft fur--kind of like a chinchilla.

ONOZ! He's so COOOT!! I've never seen one quite like him before! What species and what continent is he from??

[Guest Megalicious]

So, I'll start... I bought a short tail opossum last summer and named him Oscar. He's about the size of a gerbil or hamster and is totally nocturnal. He goes on his wheel all night and eats mostly baby food. He's very gentle and has really soft fur--kind of like a chinchilla.

I WANT ONE!!! HE IS SO ADORABLE OMG!!!

As for me I have my stinky ferret daughter, which I spoil and love to death. She is special needs, I have to hand feed her she won't eat other wise, Make sure she gets her med and her health is ALL OVER THE PLACE, she is super small, and I feel is likely the runt of her litter and got all the bad genes, she had been just dropped off at The HS, no note, no history and had been sitting there for like a month, I took one look at her and said I'm done, lets go, shes the one. I really do love her so. She almost died this winter, the vet sent me home with a bag of fluids and told me to make her comfy, I nursed her back. My stinker.

[Guest greyhalo]

ONOZ! He's so COOOT!! I've never seen one quite like him before! What species and what continent is he from??

He's an "American opossum" from the order Didelphidae, and he's from South America. They have like 60-some different varieties of opossums there, and we only have one in North America. He's nothing like the large opossums we have here.

In case anyone is interested, there is a very cool exotic pet store in Clinton Twp. called All Creatures Great and Small. They are run by the vet that is located across the parking lot from them. Anyway, that's where I got Oscar, and I take him to that particular vet. He has to be seen by someone who is familiar with his species.

[Msterbeau]

I am the proud and mostly happy owner of two females. They are of the species Daughterous Messupthehouse Andnotcleanitous. They are remarkably bright. They feed themselves most of the time and sleep 8-10 hours at night so at least I don't get too bothered then. But damn is my house a mess sometimes.

[pomba gira]

Me: bearded dragon, leopard gecko (classroom), corn snake (home).

Tokagemaru: savannah monitor, corn snake, leopard gecko.

I guess the 3 cats (home), bunny and rats (classroom) don't count as "exotic" but they might feel left out if I don't mention them.

[Guest greyhalo]

Me: bearded dragon, leopard gecko (classroom), corn snake (home).

Tokagemaru: savannah monitor, corn snake, leopard gecko.

I guess the 3 cats (home), bunny and rats (classroom) don't count as "exotic" but they might feel left out if I don't mention them.

I've been considering getting a bearded dragon. Did you get yours as a baby? Are they a lot of work?

I also have rats--8 of them. I have 3 cats too. I live in a zoo.

[†ToXiC†]

This is my little fuzzball Jahia...she's a chinchilla

[Guest greyhalo]

See my Gallery (click the purple button under my photo to the left). Most of my odd pets are there. I don't have any pics of my L6 Phidippus audax (from Arwen's first brood), yet, as it's still too small to photograph. I also have 3 L3 spiderlings of the same species (from Arwen's third brood), and what appears to be a juvenile Misumena vatia, which are also quite tiny. My mantis died last month. They only live for about a year. I also have a tiny North American Millipede in with my adult male jumping spider, whom I rarely see except for at night. It eats the scraps from the spider's meals, and helps to keep the cage clean. I plan on finding a small milli for my female spider's cage, too.

Spiders make AWESOME pets. They are easy to care for, once they get to be large enough to eat flies or crickets. I would recommend them to anyone who wants something unusual.

Keeping spiders is the end of a long journey for me. I had always been terrified of spiders, because of a cruel prank played on me during my childhood. Some older kids threw me into an old root cellar which hadn't been opened in about 30 years, and locked me in there for an entire day. It was dark, and full of cobwebs, spiders, and other crawling things. This experience sent me into shock, and I was mute for a long time after. For years, I dreamt of spiders crawling all over me, or towards me on my bedpillow, or even towards me on my desk at school. I couldn't bear the sight of a spider, dead or alive. Just the thought of one was enough to send me into a fit of panic.

My amicable fascination with spiders started about two years ago, when I began to take interest in photography. I was living in a basement apartment on a lake, and there were always orb-weaving spiders camped out near my porch light. I began to observe the largest female of the bunch, whom I would watch cut down the remains of her old web from the previous night before, and earnestly weave a new one. I named her Charlotte, and we began to have an understanding of one another. I was present to see her through various stages of her life; three moults, courtship, and laying a brood of eggs. I became very fond of her, and then of her many neighbors who lived along the awning. They became the main subjects of my photography. I call it my "Spider Awakening Phase."

I soon became obsessed with land-dwelling arthropods of all sorts, and began haunting websites concerning their classification and habits. It wasn't much of a stretch for me to begin collecting and observing them in captivity!

Now, I have an ever-rotating cast of arachnids and insects at my home, which I have affectionately nicknamed the "Crawl Inn." If it creeps or crawls and is NOT a pest, chances are, I've kept it (or have contemplated keeping it) as a pet! I feel like such a doofy for ever having been so frightened of spiders and crawlies!

Thanks for sharing. I agree that spiders do make good pets, and they're easy to take care of. I had a rosy haired tarantula in college. Her name was Lucretia, and she made an excellent dorm pet. I got her 16 years ago (yeah, I'm old now), and she's still around today. She's now my cousin's pet.

[ManicQueen]

I've been thinking about getting a spider but I really have no clue as to what kind would be good for a first time spider owner. Any suggestion's? I have a HUGE fear of spider's just so you know

In the past I've had iguana's and snakes.. even had the iguana potty trained!

[jynxxxedangel]

I still have some surplus jumping spiderlings. When they get a little bigger, I will let you have one. They're still sort of tiny, and it's hard to find them small-enough food. Jumpers are very docile, and easy to shoo away from the opening when you put the food in. I've never had one even try to escape. After having a spider around, and seeing how harmless they are, you would soon get over your skittishness.

As long as you can get small crickets from your local pet shop, or have no objection to going outside with a bug net to catch flies or moths every couple days or so, jumping spiders are one of the easiest to keep. You can feed them wild-caught food, because these are native spiders. It's not good to give your t's or other exotic spiders wild caught bugs, as their digestive systems have different flora and fauna present than those of our native insects. I've actually heard of parasites hatching from the bodies of peoples' tarantulas, after having fed them something from outdoors with a parasitic worm in it. This is why I stick to native Michigan and U.S. species of spiders, as they are much less fussy and easy to care for.

If you are wanting to go all out for your first spider, then you would want to get the same kind of tarantula as greyhalo had-- a Mexican Rose-Haired. They are the best beginner tarantula to be found, as they are the most gentle, long-lived, and sturdy.

[ManicQueen]

I still have some surplus jumping spiderlings. When they get a little bigger, I will let you have one. They're still sort of tiny, and it's hard to find them small-enough food. Jumpers are very docile, and easy to shoo away from the opening when you put the food in. I've never had one even try to escape. After having a spider around, and seeing how harmless they are, you would soon get over your skittishness.

As long as you can get small crickets from your local pet shop, or have no objection to going outside with a bug net to catch flies or moths every couple days or so, jumping spiders are one of the easiest to keep. You can feed them wild-caught food, because these are native spiders. It's not good to give your t's or other exotic spiders wild caught bugs, as their digestive systems have different flora and fauna present than those of our native insects. I've actually heard of parasites hatching from the bodies of peoples' tarantulas, after having fed them something from outdoors with a parasitic worm in it. This is why I stick to native Michigan and U.S. species of spiders, as they are much less fussy and easy to care for.

If you are wanting to go all out for your first spider, then you would want to get the same kind of tarantula as greyhalo had-- a Mexican Rose-Haired. They are the best beginner tarantula to be found, as they are the most gentle, long-lived, and sturdy.

Jumping spiders? So that means they.. jump? Eek!! *lol*

Seriously though, thanks for the info, it's much appreciated

I think I'll start doing some research on that Rose-haired tarantula tonight and see what I can come up with.

[pomba gira]

I've been considering getting a bearded dragon. Did you get yours as a baby? Are they a lot of work?

I also have rats--8 of them. I have 3 cats too. I live in a zoo.

Zen the beardie was full grown when I got him... he was donated by a wonderful lady who responded to my craigslist post seeking free or cheap classroom pets. Apparently Zen belonged to her teenage son who got bored with him, so she hauled Zen, his 4 ft tank, light rig, and a box full of supplements, cricket food, crickets, and more to my school... at least $700 worth of lizard & gear altogether... and wanted nothing more than a receipt so she could write off the donation.

Beardies are very docile and inquisitive critters, but like any other herp that you want to be handle-able, you need to work with them every day. AFA feeding, takes a little more time than just dumping some crickets in the cage. Zen gets a "salad" of fresh greens (dandelion, mustard, or turnip greens, escarole, bok choy, cactus pads- pretty much anything but lettuce, spinach, or kale), fruits & veggies each day. Everything needs to be torn or cut into small pieces. Time-consuming to prepare but I cut it all up ahead of time and store each element in separate containers, so all I have to do is dish it out each day. He also eats about 8-10 crickets, waxworms, or sometimes mealworms. Those need to be dusted 3-5x a week. Hm, what else... beardies need to be bathed (really, just soaked in water, not actually washed) once a week or so. Although some will soak in their water dish if it's big enough. Changing the substrate in a tank as big as Zen's is a complete & utter pain in the ass, so I'm quite anal about spot-cleaning any feces, dead crickets, and uneaten food each day. So, all in all, a properly cared for beardie is about the same amount of work as an iguana. If you're enormously busy, a leopard gecko would be much better.

Oh yeah, baby beardies eat a LOT- they can go through a few dozen crickets each day during their first year. At $1- 2.00 a dozen that can add up pretty quickly.

[taysteewonderbunny]

I has a Goatboy. Shared custody. I get supervised visits. One day want more goats. (like goat milk, like goat meat, like goat yarn, like goat manure for gardening, need to obtain the discipline to get up early and pitchfork stuff--hard labor is good for the mind/body). Have a old-type Siamese chocolate point cat: Pachinko MeiMei Koneko. Have a Chinese dwarf hamster: Baba Ghanoush. Want a rabbit some day. Maybe a Welsh Giant. Want a dog some day, like a greyhound or great dane. (need to quit smoking and get back into running/walking twelve miles a day like I used to). But for now, my schedule is too haphazard to give all the animals I want all the attention they need, so I will stick with Goatboy visits, Pachinko love and hamster coddling.

[pomba gira]

I has a Goatboy. Shared custody. I get supervised visits. One day want more goats. (like goat milk, like goat meat, like goat yarn, like goat manure for gardening, need to obtain the discipline to get up early and pitchfork stuff--hard labor is good for the mind/body). Have a old-type Siamese chocolate point cat: Pachinko MeiMei Koneko. Have a Chinese dwarf hamster: Baba Ghanoush. Want a rabbit some day. Maybe a Welsh Giant. Want a dog some day, like a greyhound or great dane. (need to quit smoking and get back into running/walking twelve miles a day like I used to). But for now, my schedule is too haphazard to give all the animals I want all the attention they need, so I will stick with Goatboy visits, Pachinko love and hamster coddling.

I love goats... a friend of mine raises Toggenburgs. I lived with her for a while years ago, and one of my chores was to let the goats out to forage in the swamp, then tell the herd dog to bring them back in. They are wise beasts just like cats and crows, and will tell you useful things if you get on their good side. Which I did by feeding them willow branches that they couldn't reach by themselves.

If you ever do decide to get a dog, I hope you'll consider a rescue greyhound. They keep several of them at the MSU vet clinic as blood donors, & anyone can go there & take one for a walk since they don't have enough staff/students to do this. I'm not a dog person but by all accounts they're pretty cool beasts.

[Guest greyhalo]

Zen the beardie was full grown when I got him... he was donated by a wonderful lady who responded to my craigslist post seeking free or cheap classroom pets. Apparently Zen belonged to her teenage son who got bored with him, so she hauled Zen, his 4 ft tank, light rig, and a box full of supplements, cricket food, crickets, and more to my school... at least $700 worth of lizard & gear altogether... and wanted nothing more than a receipt so she could write off the donation.

Beardies are very docile and inquisitive critters, but like any other herp that you want to be handle-able, you need to work with them every day. AFA feeding, takes a little more time than just dumping some crickets in the cage. Zen gets a "salad" of fresh greens (dandelion, mustard, or turnip greens, escarole, bok choy, cactus pads- pretty much anything but lettuce, spinach, or kale), fruits & veggies each day. Everything needs to be torn or cut into small pieces. Time-consuming to prepare but I cut it all up ahead of time and store each element in separate containers, so all I have to do is dish it out each day. He also eats about 8-10 crickets, waxworms, or sometimes mealworms. Those need to be dusted 3-5x a week. Hm, what else... beardies need to be bathed (really, just soaked in water, not actually washed) once a week or so. Although some will soak in their water dish if it's big enough. Changing the substrate in a tank as big as Zen's is a complete & utter pain in the ass, so I'm quite anal about spot-cleaning any feces, dead crickets, and uneaten food each day. So, all in all, a properly cared for beardie is about the same amount of work as an iguana. If you're enormously busy, a leopard gecko would be much better.

Oh yeah, baby beardies eat a LOT- they can go through a few dozen crickets each day during their first year. At $1- 2.00 a dozen that can add up pretty quickly.

Thanks. I just wanted an honest opinion. I've been around several pet beardies and am charmed by their personalities. They seem more like little dogs than lizards. I've been around some really friendly iguanas as well, but I wouldn't be able to properly care for a lizard that large.

[pomba gira]

Thanks. I just wanted an honest opinion. I've been around several pet beardies and am charmed by their personalities. They seem more like little dogs than lizards. I've been around some really friendly iguanas as well, but I wouldn't be able to properly care for a lizard that large.

Beardies do have great personalities. They are very inquisitive... Zen spends a lot of time watching what's going on in the room. And like leopard geckos, they actually seem to enjoy interacting with humans (and even other pets, apparently- I saw the cutest pic of a beardie sitting on a dog's head). Plus you can do stuff like this

with them (not that I ever would, I think it's bad enough when people put the stupid little outfits on dogs).

Most iguanas are not friendly... they tend to be mean and take a couple hours of handling daily to make them even marginally docile. It's totally beyond me how people got the idea that iguanas are suitable for new herp owners... bearded dragons are much better "starter lizards". I'd get a savannah monitor before I'd get an iguana... almost as big but much simpler feeding and habitat requirements (mainly 'cos they're ground rather than tree dwellers).

[Angel of Death]

I have a 7 foot long African Diamond-head python. I wubs her

Most docile snake I have EVER encountered. Here's some pics:

Other than her all I have is cats really...

Edit: I took some better photos of her earlier today I'll post them as soon as I put em on the puter.

[MissKitty]

I am the proud and mostly happy owner of two females. They are of the species Daughterous Messupthehouse Andnotcleanitous. They are remarkably bright. They feed themselves most of the time and sleep 8-10 hours at night so at least I don't get too bothered then. But damn is my house a mess sometimes.

lmao

I have a Ball Python, Fangora, TheLordOfSins has some pics of her. I just feed her a couple mice every week or so...and clean her tank out every couple weeks.....much simpler than anything ever.

She's really very docile, and loves to be handled.

[pomba gira]

I have a 7 foot long African Diamond-head python. I wubs her

Most docile snake I have EVER encountered. Here's some pics:

Ohhh she's absolutely gorgeous! Looks like a nice manageable size, too. Any plans to breed her? Are they usually good feeders? I wants one!

BTW here's another beardie pic... this is adorable...

[Angel of Death]

Ohhh she's absolutely gorgeous! Looks like a nice manageable size, too. Any plans to breed her? Are they usually good feeders? I wants one!

BTW here's another beardie pic... this is adorable...

I WANT to breed her but I can't find a male African Diamond-head, I know lots of ppl with Burmese Ball Pythons but she's a completely different breed. She eats a large rat every 3 weeks to a month. Extremely friendly and loves attention.

Also she gets along great with my cat surprisingly, they are buddies. At first the cat was a lil scared but as soon as he relized how docile she was he seemed quite fond of having a slithery green friend hehe