Exotic animals, both large and small, are becoming more popular as pets.  From birds, turtles, and sugar gliders to the larger animals like tigers, all have specific, special needs in terms of housing, diet, veterinary care and enrichment.  When we bring any animal into our home, even 'domesticated' animals, we are taking them from their natural setting and placing them in a 'new world' so to speak.

How an animal is housed is extremely important for its overall well-being.  The bigger the animal, the more room it needs.  You've heard of the people who keep large cats like panthers or tigers.  Of course, these animals must be caged.  It must have plenty of room to move around the cage comfortably, and plenty of room to sleep in one area and eat in another.  If the animal is spending the majority of its time in the cage, it must also have a separate potty area.

More commonly, people keep smaller pocket pets such as rabbits, ferrets, and rats.  Sugar Gliders are also becoming popular pocket pets.  Reptiles and Amphibians are also well-known as pets and often kept in aquariums.  Their cages and aquariums must have proper flooring and ventilation, kept at the proper temperature for that species, and have proper bedding.  Some animals can be litter trained, so they need a proper litter box with proper litter.  The cage or aquarium must also have ample room to move about with separate areas to potty and to eat.

Alongside correct housing is enrichment.  Think about yourself-you are stimulated daily in getting out of your house and going places, seeing people.  Even when you are home, you may be reading the newspaper, or watching television.  This is enrichment for you.  Your pets need the same…especially animals housed in cages.  To never have time out of that cage is like locking yourself in one room.  Not only would you get bored, you'd have no enrichment or stimulation.  This is when animals tend to find trouble or start things like chewing or licking themselves excessively.  Birds tend to feather pick.  Enrichment in the form of special toys inside the cage, as well as time outside of the cage, is important.

All caged animals need time out of the cage to stretch their legs (or wings), to better socialize with their humans, to check out the world outside of their cage, to run and play, or just hang out someplace different than their cage.  Time outside their enclosure should always be supervised.

Feeding a proper diet is important for the health of the animal.  Herbivores such as rabbits and guinea pigs should be fed primarily grass hay, supplemented with a small amount of special pellets each day.  They should never be fed exclusively pellets.  Guinea pigs need supplemented with Vitamin C.  They are also allowed to have certain fruits and veggies.  Ferrets require a high fat high protein diet of ferret formula food of high quality kitten food.  Rats, Sugar Gliders, Chinchillas, as well as reptiles and amphibians, all have special dietary needs that must be addressed when they are in captivity.  Improper diet can lead to health issues.

All pets, from the parakeet to the rat to the ferret, including bearded dragons, geckos, snakes, and more, require regular veterinary exams.  Your veterinarian should ask you about housing and diet as both are important to the health of your pet.  But just like people, dogs and cats, who all need regular check-ups, veterinarians like to see exotic pets and pockets pets for routine well-visits.  This allows them to better monitor weight, give any necessary vaccinations, and recommend any medical care or housing changes to maintain or improve the health and well-being of your pet.  Some pets also have special needs such as beak trims or teeth trims.

An important thing to remember is to research any pet before you get it.  Make sure you know how the pet should be housed, the type of bedding and environment required, the expected activity level of the pet, and the diet required.  Remember to spend time with your pet daily to keep it socialized.  The two most common reasons exotic and pocket pets are given up is improper housing (owners learn they can no longer house said pet appropriately), and animals who are unsocialized and end up biting when handled.

Special Note:  Guinea Pigs and Rats make better children's pets than hamsters and rabbits!  They are more social and easier to care for.  Hamsters tend to bite, and rabbits dislike being carried and risk seriously injuring themselves if they jump or fall from a child's arms.