Why Choose A Rabbit As Exotic Pet?

Every person has his own choice as to the kind of pet he will bring home and take care of. Generally, people choose dogs or cats as pets since these animals are sociable and easier to take care of care. However, there are people who prefer to take care of exotic pets.

Ordinary pets are animals that people consider as pets because they are highly domesticated and subdued. On the other hand, exotic pets are animals that aren't commonly found near society, aren't domesticated and most of them belong to the wild.

A person who is planning to get an exotic pet should take into consideration his commitment in caring for such pet. If the motivation is merely to have the exotic pet shown off then it is better to think again. Owning an exotic pet is a heavy responsibility because they require special care.

Parents who are planning to give an exotic pet to their children should choose an exotic pet that is more subdued and can be easily handled by children. Safety should also be a main consideration when giving exotic pets to children.

Why not give your child a rabbit as an exotic pet? Rabbits are cuddlier and safer compared to other exotic pets like reptiles and the likes. Can you imagine your child holding a boa constrictor for a pet? Of course that would be the day! But rabbits, well they look like stuffed toys they don't even seem like exotic pets at all!

Rabbits have become a common site nowadays because there are people who breed rabbits for business purposes. Some breed rabbits for their meat while some breed rabbits for reselling. Giving a rabbit to a child as an exotic pet would surely be appreciated without the giver worrying about safety and other issues.

Rabbits are fairly easy to take care of except of course when you have to give them warmth when temperatures go down. While rabbits are simple exotic pets, they also need tender loving care so make sure to educate the child on how to take care of the rabbit. Also ask the pet store about vaccines that may be given to the rabbit to make sure it is safe and healthy.

When buying rabbits, make sure you get one with a good pedigree because they have a higher resale value. In any case, rabbits with known and good pedigrees are better to breed and to take care of as exotic pets.

Caring for Pet Ferrets

Ferrets may not be a common animal choice for pets, but these critters have been domesticated by humans since way back in 4 BC. Many people find ferrets nice to have and as easy to keep, if not easier, as other typical pets like dogs and cats. Here are some basic tips about caring for ferrets.

Making a Home for the Ferret

Ferrets prefer living in spaces that resemble dens in the wild. A wired cage that is about 30 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and 18 inches long may suffice. Many ferrets like living in cages that have things to climb such as ramps and stairs. The cage should allow good ventilation, thus it is not wise to use aquariums.

The floor may be covered by linoleum tiles and carpets or other soft washable materials to make the flooring more comfortable for ferrets to walk on than wire floors. The cage should be kept within 55 to 70 degrees. It should also be cleaned regularly with hot soapy water.

Feeding Ferrets

Ferrets are carnivores that require at least 22% fat and 34% protein from animal sources. It isn't recommended to feed them dog or cat food. Chicken and turkey are ideal. Ferrets should never be fed vegetables because they are difficult to digest. Fruits are also not an option because sugars may increase tendencies for insulinoma. Egg whites should also be avoided because they can cause hemolytic anemia.

Potty Training

A small 3 to 5 inches-high cardboard box may be used as a litter box for ferrets. Litter pans should be secured to a side of the cage, far from the ferret’s eating and sleeping areas. Litter products made of plant or paper fibers are recommended to prevent clumping of fecal matter.

Keeping Ferrets Clean

Ferrets tend to produce undesirable odors. To prevent them from smelling to strongly, they can be bathed using a special ferret shampoo, kitten shampoo, or diluted baby shampoo.

It isn't advisable to bathe ferrets daily, because it will dry their skin, causing overcompensation of oil secretion, making the ferret smell more. It is also important to check the ferret’s ears for mites regularly. Ears should be cleaned using cotton soaked in a special cleanser that can be bought from a pet store.

Keeping Ferrets Active

Ferrets are very energetic animals. It is recommended to keep them entertained with toys that aren't easy to break to maintain the animal’s safety.

Ferrets can be nice pets when one knows the right ways of caring for them. Having them can be a fun and exciting experience.

Best Places to Look for Exotic Pets

Exotic pets are special pets. You can't buy it in common pet shop or similar place. You can only find these in equally special places. These animals grow in the wild and the jungles, mostly.

If you are really bent on getting an exotic pet, maybe as a gift or as your personal preference, then you have to go to these places to find one.

1. Check out the internet. The internet is an online store for many things, exotic pets included. Specialty pet shops put their store online to get more customers. If you want to know where to get exotic pets fast and easy, check out your computer. The pet you wanted could be delivered with just a click of a button.

2. Local specialty pet shops. If you can’t find just the right one you are looking for online, you can scout the specialty pet shops within your area. They are sure to have an exotic pet or two. If, unfortunately, there are none like that in there, you can ask for references from them because for sure, they know of somebody, a competitor or otherwise, that are selling exotic species.

3. Veterinarians. Although not all veterinarians sell pets, but if you try to look hard enough, you can find one that has an exotic animal for a pet and is willing to sell it to you. Maybe he acquired it from his last trip to the Caribbean or to South America. Either the case, if he is willing to sell it, you are sure to have a good deal.

4. Rescues and Shelters. Rescues and pet shelter houses would likely have animals placed in their institution. Just in the U.S., there are many places where exotic and not so exotic animals need homes. They would be willing to screen you out and give you the pet that you wanted. These are mostly coming from other people who could have abandoned these pets or didn't know how to take care of them properly.

These are the common places where you can see some exotic animals. Of course you can also go to an entirely different country to get one. But that shouldn't be necessary. Common exotic pets such as guinea pigs, iguanas, and turtles should be easy to find. But if you go for snakes, spiders, and skunks, you might just find it a little harder to look for these.