For some people, their love for animals goes beyond the usual cats, dogs and fishes.
Some love exotic animals that would certainly raise some eyebrows.
Exotic pets are undoubtedly great conversation starters, but take note that since most exotic pets are not really domesticated, they can hurt people in your household, especially kids.
Take time to understand their nature more; how to raise and feed them.
Take note of danger signs and disseminate this information to the rest of your family.
If you have other pets in the house, you may need to consider securing these pets so they do not become food for your exotic pet.
Lastly, it may be illegal to own certain exotic pets, so check out your local state and federal laws to see if it is okay to own a Burmese python, for example.
With that out of the way, here are the top five exotic pets you might want to consider having: 1.
Chimpanzees.
Native to Central Africa, chimpanzees are primates that are said to be closest to human beings in terms of behavior, DNA and life span.
Chimps are often very intelligent animals that have problem solving skills and can communicate through sounds, gestures and facial expressions.
While they can be great companions, they can also be very troublesome.
Like humans, they can throw tantrums, raid the fridge, scream, and throw feces at you.
At their worst, chimps, with their upper body strength, have been known to attack humans.
2.
Bengal cats.
Bengal cats are examples of a hybrid cat, or a cross between the domestic cat and more exotic species like lions and tigers.
Hybrid cats are more often than not a product of artificial insemination.
Hybrid cats are much prized because they look like their wild counterparts, but are very domesticated.
Think of a tame tiger in your hands.
One of the problems with hybrids, however, is that some of them have more health problems and the males are infertile.
More popular hybrid cats include the Serengeti, the cheetoh and the cute toyger.
3.
Marsupials.
Marsupials like the sugar glider and wallaroos are stocky animals with prominent snouts and shaggy fur native to Australia.
Sugar gliders have a lively and curious disposition and this helps them bond with humans, while wallaroos are more like a cross between wallabies and kangaroos.
One of the challenges of caring for marsupials is their need for an environment that would closely resemble their habitats, so that means vines and branches they can climb on.
This becomes a problem for people who own wallaroos, because they have a tendency to escape.
Sugar gliders, on the other hand, tend to disturb you at night when they are most active.
They demand for your attention.
However, it can be solved by getting another glider to keep it company! 4.
Snakes.
Undoubtedly the most frightening of all pets, snakes are relatively easier to keep and maintain.
The most popular pet snakes are pythons: ball pythons, albinos, Burmese pythons and reticulated pythons.
When you do keep pythons, you would need a large tank with adequate humidity and high temperatures.
Adult pythons tend to eat less, eating only every 10 to 14 days and pythons are usually happy with dead mice, gerbils, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits or chickens.
Well, except for Burmese pythons, which have been known to eradicate whole populations of small animals.
5.
Alligators.
Alligators tend to be friendlier than crocodiles and their temperaments are better too.
They usually have broader snouts than crocodiles and shows less teeth than crocodiles do.
Note that alligators are solitary creatures and are very territorial.
They can live up to 10 years.
Some love exotic animals that would certainly raise some eyebrows.
Exotic pets are undoubtedly great conversation starters, but take note that since most exotic pets are not really domesticated, they can hurt people in your household, especially kids.
Take time to understand their nature more; how to raise and feed them.
Take note of danger signs and disseminate this information to the rest of your family.
If you have other pets in the house, you may need to consider securing these pets so they do not become food for your exotic pet.
Lastly, it may be illegal to own certain exotic pets, so check out your local state and federal laws to see if it is okay to own a Burmese python, for example.
With that out of the way, here are the top five exotic pets you might want to consider having: 1.
Chimpanzees.
Native to Central Africa, chimpanzees are primates that are said to be closest to human beings in terms of behavior, DNA and life span.
Chimps are often very intelligent animals that have problem solving skills and can communicate through sounds, gestures and facial expressions.
While they can be great companions, they can also be very troublesome.
Like humans, they can throw tantrums, raid the fridge, scream, and throw feces at you.
At their worst, chimps, with their upper body strength, have been known to attack humans.
2.
Bengal cats.
Bengal cats are examples of a hybrid cat, or a cross between the domestic cat and more exotic species like lions and tigers.
Hybrid cats are more often than not a product of artificial insemination.
Hybrid cats are much prized because they look like their wild counterparts, but are very domesticated.
Think of a tame tiger in your hands.
One of the problems with hybrids, however, is that some of them have more health problems and the males are infertile.
More popular hybrid cats include the Serengeti, the cheetoh and the cute toyger.
3.
Marsupials.
Marsupials like the sugar glider and wallaroos are stocky animals with prominent snouts and shaggy fur native to Australia.
Sugar gliders have a lively and curious disposition and this helps them bond with humans, while wallaroos are more like a cross between wallabies and kangaroos.
One of the challenges of caring for marsupials is their need for an environment that would closely resemble their habitats, so that means vines and branches they can climb on.
This becomes a problem for people who own wallaroos, because they have a tendency to escape.
Sugar gliders, on the other hand, tend to disturb you at night when they are most active.
They demand for your attention.
However, it can be solved by getting another glider to keep it company! 4.
Snakes.
Undoubtedly the most frightening of all pets, snakes are relatively easier to keep and maintain.
The most popular pet snakes are pythons: ball pythons, albinos, Burmese pythons and reticulated pythons.
When you do keep pythons, you would need a large tank with adequate humidity and high temperatures.
Adult pythons tend to eat less, eating only every 10 to 14 days and pythons are usually happy with dead mice, gerbils, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits or chickens.
Well, except for Burmese pythons, which have been known to eradicate whole populations of small animals.
5.
Alligators.
Alligators tend to be friendlier than crocodiles and their temperaments are better too.
They usually have broader snouts than crocodiles and shows less teeth than crocodiles do.
Note that alligators are solitary creatures and are very territorial.
They can live up to 10 years.
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