'Exotic' pet owners, what are some things about your pets you wish more people knew about?

I own red eared slider turtles, while not exactly exotic it’s funny that the three things they are known for by owners are things normal folks would not expect.

  1. Turtles are escape artists. Because they need so much water to swim in and need basking areas, you’ll generally want to fill your tank up as high as you can, and then have a basking platform up there. They will use those and filters to try to escape. They may succeed. There are a ton of questions/guides online to address this www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHbV5nsDCb8&ab_channel=Th…
  2. They are destructive. You will want to have a filter for them, and they will attack the filter with the fury of a bored creature attacking the thing making a noise. Many filters will fall to their wrath. If you google it you’ll find ton of stories of turtles destroying filters/water heaters. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnD3cKuFOa0&ab_channel=HM…
  3. They smell. How can such a small creature smell so powerfully? Magic.

Any other pet owners have secrets about their type of pet?

HowlsSophie,

Not an exotic pet owner but wanted to say this post was thoroughly enjoyable. I’d like to own an iguana one day, possibly birds again, and it’s cool learning about others exotic oet experiences!

pezhore,
@pezhore@lemmy.ml avatar

African Pigmy Hedgehogs are incredibly cute and have a lot of personality but are incredibly sensitive to it to their environment and will die unless properly taken care of.

For instance!

  1. They need to exercise or else they will gain weight and die from obesity.
  2. But don’t get the kind of rodent wheels with supporting bars because they’ll turn their head while running and potentially break their neck.
  3. Also, don’t get the wheels with mesh/holes on their running surface as their toes or paws can get stuck and lead to injury.
  4. They will poop and pee constantly in their area, which means daily cleaning.
  5. Their nails/claws grow fast and must be clipped or they will start to grow back up into the bottom of their paws.
  6. They need 8 hours of “day light” in the form of a lamp or their body will think it’s hibernation time.
  7. They must be kept around 65°F-90°F or they’ll either think it is winter and try hibernating, or they will overheat and die.
  8. They can be tumor machines. Our one hedgehog Prickles had a hysterectomy after developing tumors in her uterus. She also developed multiple mouth tumors.

Picture for reference: imgur.com/a/nBkbHpA

ericbomb,

Aww they are so cute!

I didn’t realize they are so prone to getting themselves killed though :( Poor little dummies.

CaptFeather,

They will poop and pee constantly in their area

TIL I’m a hedgehog.

Lmao for real though I had no idea how fragile they are! Some animals are really specialized to their very specific environment.

CarbonIceDragon,
@CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social avatar

I’m not sure if leopard geckos really count as exotic, given they’re about as close to domesticated as lizards get currently, but they’re more exotic than cats and dogs. In any case, I with people in general would understand that pet stores, especially large chain ones, but the smaller ones are often included too, cannot be trusted to give accurate advice on how to set up and care for an animal, and as such, asking the employee for what to get to go with the animal while buying it does not constitute adequate research into that animal’s care.

I’ve seen way too many posts on the leopard gecko subreddit, before I left reddit, from people with wildly insufficient or actively harmful setups, based on advice from a pet shop, or “starter kits” marketed as being for the species. Many were well meaning people who simply assumed that the pet store employees were professional and therefore must know what they were talking about, and while most ultimately seemed to listen when everyone warned them that they were doing something wrong, some stubbornly would insist on trusting what they had been told to buy.

TooMuchDog,

As a veterinary student, I’d say you really can’t trust anything from pet store employees regardless of species. As part of our nutrition rotation we go to pet stores and pretend to be new first time dog owners and ask for recommendations on food. The “advice” I’ve heard has been horrifying at times.

communist,
@communist@beehaw.org avatar

I’m usually a snake owner (although not at the moment), the amount of people who have horrible misconceptions about snakes genuinely frighten me

People see snakes and assume they’re bitey monsters that just want to hurt you, this could not be further from the case, snakes have relatively fragile teeth, and their venom is precious, furthermore they cannot tear chunks out of their prey, they must swallow them whole. These few things combined means that biting humans is not really high on their list of things to do. Some snakes can be rather defensive, but there’s no snake that will chase a human, and you can tame almost any snake down from defensiveness relatively easily (much easier than you could if a giant grabbed you)

There’s no such thing as a snake that chases humans, they aren’t slimy, they aren’t all venomous, and the venomous ones know they will still lose a fight with a human, so, they will run away, furthermore it is no consolation prize to the snake that they kill you TOMORROW if you’ve been bit, when their head has been stomped today.

Addfwyn,

I used to keep snakes, they are so misunderstood. The couple times I was bit (non-venomous) over several years of having snakes were honestly both my fault; once I had fed her and didn’t wash my hands properly afterwards, and once I didn’t notice she had started shedding and so was a bit more defensive than usual. They’re not typically aggressive at all and are usually content to just chill with you as much as anything else. Humans are way too large for a snake to ever consider you food, so they’re not really going to be trying to hurt you except as a last resort in self-defense.

I especially hate the slimy stereotypes because I always found my snakes super pleasant to hold, snakeskin feels great. I’d like to get one again, it has been a long time.

lol3droflxp,
@lol3droflxp@kbin.social avatar

I breed various species of roaches (Emerald roaches, Madagascar hissing roaches, glowspot roaches and Simandoa conserfariam). They are very social creatures with favourite sitting spots and fights when someone challenges that. There are also only very few species that infest homes (about 20-30 out of 4600) the rest live in forests and caves and don’t want to have anything to do with humans. They also clean themselves a lot. There are also a lot of very pretty species.

atlasraven31,

I like how hissers will stack on top of each other, sometimes 3 deep and upside down! Their remarkable ability to climb walls means a secure enclosure is key. They can be quick for their size…but only a foot or two before they stop to catch their breath.

lol3droflxp,
@lol3droflxp@kbin.social avatar

And they are strong, I have a big branch in the enclosure and if the males are fighting they can easily throw that around.

Mothra,
@Mothra@mander.xyz avatar

I have a massive dislike for roaches, but I must admit the wild species don’t upset me as
much . It’s only the fast-moving, large American roaches that freak me out.

Having said that, I’ve been in places infested with roaches and have observed some peculiar things about their behaviour. Am I crazy to think they enjoy playing? I remember they used to just love running at full speed inside a container full of shredded papers, making a lot of noise. I didn’t think this could be fighting, though, perhaps it was. It felt more like watching dogs or kids running into a pile of leaves than a fight.

atlasraven31,

The NA roach is the jerk of the family. I dislike them too.

lol3droflxp,
@lol3droflxp@kbin.social avatar

Most likely courtship behaviour, I have observed that as well for some Periplaneta roaches I’ve noticed on streets during the night. It’s often surprising how many they are.

aperson,

Hedgehogs shit while they run. Sonic doesn’t eat chili dogs, he lays them.

qwertyqwertyqwerty,

I don’t have them currently, but people really need to experience owning ferrets for a couple of weeks before deciding to purchase them (and I do mean THEM - don’t just purchase one). They are like playful and adventurous kittens 24/7 between naps, which seems awesome, but they need vet check-ups, diligent cage cleaning, and tons of play time.

peter,
@peter@feddit.uk avatar

My dad had a ferret bite through his fingernail

HelixDab2,

They are playful and adventurous kittens that smell bad all the time (and will smell even worse if you try to bathe them too often), will actively try to kill themselves eating things they shouldn’t and getting into places they can’t get out of, and will shit in corners of your house rather than anything else you might set up for them to you. Unlike kittens, they bite hard when they’re playing. They’ll also pass out and sleep so hard that you’ll think they’re dead.

My wife has had a lot of ferrets, more than 20 for sure. Our home can absolutely not be made ferret-proof, which is probably the biggest reason that she hasn’t been pushing to get more.

qwertyqwertyqwerty,

That’s a lot of ferrets. Wow.

HelixDab2,

She worked in animal rescue. And they weren’t all at the same time. But a lot of them were.

Mothra,
@Mothra@mander.xyz avatar

Huh. This comment and the other below just made me realise I won’t have a ferret. I love cats, but kittens wear me out, not so much because of their energy but because they don’t understand they are being annoying (I guess that’s why one can’t be mad at them ha). I love the smart, energetic cat breeds though. I’ve heard a lot of praise for ferrets from ferret owners, but nobody mentioned their smell or that they would be like kittens.

DJDarren,

kittens wear me out

100% this. They’re cute as fuck, but there’s a reason why my wife and I just adopted a pair of 6yo cats. Might get a few years less with them, but as least they won’t drive me insane for a year.

VoxAdActa,

Nobody mentioned the smell? Holy shit, that sounds like the setup to an awful prank.

The smell is an intense sensory experience. We had ferrets for a few years, and at no point did I ever go nose-blind to them. They are the stinkiest things anyone otherwise sane has ever willingly let into their home. Cleaning their litter boxes practically requires a respirator. And that’s after their musk glands have been removed (which, at the time, was standard practice; you couldn’t hardly get ferrets from anywhere with their musk glands intact).

They’re fuckin’ adorable, and playful, and fun, but man, the smell. All the other problems with them being only-just-barely-domesticated wild animals aside, the smell is probably the most important thing to know about them.

Mothra,
@Mothra@mander.xyz avatar

Well! Thanks for clarifying. I just crossed out ferrets from the list of potential future pets in my life :)

davefischer,
@davefischer@beehaw.org avatar

An ex had ferrets. They were fantastic. I don’t think I’ll ever have any of my own though.

qwertyqwertyqwerty,

…and that’s why I suggested spending time with ferrets before owning them. They are so much fun and full of energy, but they take as much energy as they give.

Addfwyn,

My brother had ferrets. I loved them, awesome personalities and adorable, but ferret-proofing your flat seems like more work than child-proofing. Even then they can and would get absolutely anywhere they weren’t supposed to be. They’d always get out again, but not after making you stress for fifteen minutes trying to figure out how to extricate them.

The smell was omnipresent too.

abbadon420,

Giant African snails can hibernate. Do not simply throw them in the trash, because their shell is dried shut. They can quickly infest the entire neighbourhood

Ghostc1212,

Some dude thinking his pet snail is dead, only to throw it in the trash and forget about it, and then wake up to a snailpocalypse a week later is pretty funny to think about

Elegast,
@Elegast@lemmy.ca avatar

Lifespan: Chinchillas have a long lifespan, and potential owners should be prepared for a commitment that could last 10 to 20 years.

Social creatures: Chinchillas are social animals and may benefit from having a same-sex companion to prevent loneliness and boredom.

Special diet: They require a specialized diet consisting of high-fiber hay, chinchilla pellets, and occasional treats. They should not be fed sugary or fatty foods.

Dust baths: Chinchillas need regular dust baths to keep their fur clean and healthy. The dust absorbs excess oils and moisture from their fur.

Temperature sensitivity: Chinchillas are sensitive to heat and should be kept in a cool environment, ideally between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit (15-21 degrees Celsius).

No water baths: They should never be bathed with water as their dense fur takes a long time to dry and can lead to health issues.

Chewing habits: Chinchillas have constantly growing teeth, and they need appropriate chew toys to prevent dental problems.

Escape artists: Chinchillas are excellent escape artists, so their cages and play areas need to be secure.

Regular exercise: They need opportunities for exercise and playtime outside of their cage.

Veterinary care: Regular check-ups with an exotic pet veterinarian are crucial to monitor their health and catch any potential issues early on.

Quiet and calm environment: Chinchillas are sensitive to loud noises and sudden movements, so a calm living environment is beneficial for their well-being.

Time and attention: Chinchillas are active and curious animals, requiring daily interaction and mental stimulation.

So. Much. Poop.

ericbomb,

Oh wait, so if they don’t have chew toys, can it grow long enough to harm themselves?

That’s super sad! They are the cutest little things.

Elegast,
@Elegast@lemmy.ca avatar

That’s my understanding of it. It is apparently common in the rodent family.

MentalEdge,
@MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz avatar

Most rodents have continuously growing teeth. Like fingernails. In the wild, they constantly gnaw on stuff to sharpen and wear down those teeth.

As pets, if they are fed only soft food, and aren’t given something tough to gnaw on, the teeth won’t wear, and will just keep growing until the animal can no longer close their mouths.

This can be addressed by a visit to the vet, who will grind down the teeth, but you can only get to this point by seriusly neglecting your pet.

Devi,

I had a rabbit whose teeth didn't meet so couldn't wear down by eating. Every 6 weeks I had to go to the vets and he clipped the teeth with nail clippers. It freaked me out so much.

valen,
@valen@beehaw.org avatar

Pet rats are awesome! They’re domesticated and used to interacting with people. They have distinct personalities and are very loving. Sadly, they only live about 2.5 to 3 years. https://beehaw.org/pictrs/image/490e49fe-832e-402b-be5b-e0d69241f4c3.webp

https://beehaw.org/pictrs/image/3e6dc864-75e9-400a-9a16-f494ab3887f5.webp

maccam912,

Had several while growing up. This is the pet I always point to as being a fantastic pet that a lot of people pass on because of their association with sewer rats.

hsl,
@hsl@wayfarershaven.eu avatar

In how far are rats considered exotic? Is it hard to find a vet who knows how to help them?

DJDarren,

I think it’s more that the majority of people just don’t consider rats as pets. They have this unfair reputation for being dirty disease vectors, which simply isn’t true of well cared for pet rats. They’re no more dirty than a hamster, but hamsters are bitey pricks that are, for some reason, seen as a perfect small pet for kids. Rats are way more fun. You can teach them tricks.

valen,
@valen@beehaw.org avatar

It’s unusual to have pet rats. Most vets do cats and dogs, and anything else is an afterthought. While there are many vets within 5 miles of me (suburbia), we have to travel over 30 miles to get to a good rat vet. Vets for farmers know more animals, but I wouldn’t expect them to know rats very well.

One time when one of ours got an X-ray, the doctor was comparing to a photo in a large book of X-rays for various animals. I expect that’s an expensive book to buy.

TauZero,

Cute!

Sadly, they only live about 2.5 to 3 years.

To some this is an advantage, if you are not ready to commit to 15-20 years for a dog or cat.

kat,

Rats carry all the personality of dogs and cats. In theory, you get a pet that you’ll enjoy for 2-3 years. In practice, you’ll be devastated after your intelligent best friends start dying one by one. Most people cope by buying rats constantly.

thebardingreen,
@thebardingreen@lemmy.starlightkel.xyz avatar

I had a roommate who did this. It felt like we barely had time to get to know them before they got tumors or had heart attacks. I lived with her for 3 and a half years... which was basically 2 and a half generations of them.

Wxnzxn,
@Wxnzxn@lemmy.ml avatar

Yes, they really are the heartbreak pet. My best friend had some for most of her adulthood, and the recurring heartbreak, feelings of responsibility for them and also just vet bills both took a toll on her. All of them were awesome, intelligent, full of character and cute, but it is an emotionally taxing pet to have, for those reasons.

DJDarren,

Yeah, we’re in a position now where we’ve got the last of our five ratty boys living on his own as a cranky old bachelor because we don’t want to get any more, but he’s too old to rehome. I do feel bad that he’s in there on his own, but I keep him topped up with Cheerios and bits of cucumber, and he seems happy enough.

But yeah, all four of the lost rats so far have made me cry like a baby. Number four, Feegle, had to be put to sleep a few months ago, and the nurse at the vet asked if I wanted to wait in a private room for my appointment because I was dribbling and snorting while Feegle was looking up at me from inside my hoody.

I can’t keep doing that to myself, so Mr Wilbur is spending his twilight months in peaceful solitude.

siouxsy,

You just made me cry.

Having pet rats has been a marvelous and horrendous experience. They are so affectionate, but most of the time, they die in horrible ways—tumors, heart diseases… It’s heart-wrenching to see someone you love suffocating in your hands and feeling helpless, rushing to the vet, having to “make the right decision” while the poor thing licks your hand, not understanding what’s going on. Then you feel like shit, consumed by guilt both for making the decision and not making it fast enough at the same time. It really is unbearable, and yet I’m overwhelmed by nostalgia each time I see a picture of them.

DJDarren,

Yes, all of this.

The absolute worst for me was our beautiful Templeton. He was Wilbur’s brother. We introduced them to Nac, Mac, and Feegle the way you’re supposed to and everything went perfectly. Until it didn’t.

We still don’t really know what happened, but what was clear was that there was a squabble, someone lashed out, Templeton ended up getting slashed across his balls. Rushed him to the vet, who said that pretty much all they could do was castrate him. So we did that, picked him up the following day and put him in a small carrier on his own to recuperate while we went out to get a small cage for him to live in while he healed.

While we were out, he had apparently been jumping about, trying to figure out how to get out, and he burst his stitches. By the time we got back and realised what had happened it was too late. Things that should have been in were out and we had another rush to the vet. All they could was put him out pain, and my last memory of him was him looking kinda scared at me as he was taken away.

That was almost two years ago, and it still hurts like hell, because it feels like there was so much we could have/should have done differently. The poor little guy was only 6 months old, and was the absolute sweetest boy. He’d run up my arm when I opened the cage, and happily sit on my shoulder eating cheerios. None of the others did that of their own accord.

I still miss that little fella.

Only a few days later, our remaining cat got hit by a car. That week was complete shit.

davefischer,
@davefischer@beehaw.org avatar

I kept turtles back in the 90s. I had a fantastic setup: a blocked off room, with a kiddie pool in it, with ramps leading in & out of the pool.

ericbomb,

Oh man that would be sick!..

I do have a spare tiled room in my basement… maybe one day as that would be awesome! No more escaping for them (unless they escape the room some how, which I know they will try.)

KoboldCoterie,
@KoboldCoterie@pawb.social avatar
  • Despite being desert-dwelling animals in the wild, bearded dragons should not be kept in enclosures with sand (or other particulates) as a substrate. They’ll ingest it with their food, and it can get stuck in their digestive system and can kill them.
  • They enter a hibernation-like state (called brumation) typically once a year, and it can last up to 3 months or so. They stop eating and spend most / all of their time asleep in their hide, and if you’re not expecting it, can look like they’ve died. It’s normal, healthy, and they’ll wake up and go back to normal again.
  • Bearded dragons are frequently carriers of salmonella, which they can pass on to humans. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling one.
ericbomb,

Hey point 2 and 3 are the same for my little turltes that I forgot to mention!

Yay little salmonella carrying monsters!

KoboldCoterie,
@KoboldCoterie@pawb.social avatar

The best pets have all the worst methods for fucking humans up!

Aviandelight,
@Aviandelight@mander.xyz avatar

Parrots need the same level of commitment and resources as a child. Think of having a permanent 3 year old that welds scissors constantly (beak) for a minimum of 30 years.

ericbomb,

Yeah they’re so smart! I know some are considered to be as smart as a 5 year old.

So they deserve all the love and enrichment of a 5 year old, which would mean a variety of food, new toys, lots of exercise, and lots of interaction.

I never had one but I still feel bad for all the birds that just end up in a cage for 70% of their lives because they are so smart.

Not really adding anything, just agreeing with you whole heartedly.

mahrimba,

My neighbor has one parrot, and it’s her baby! I think she had it for more than a decade now, and it’s beautiful to see him flying around the apartment (it’s a big place, and all the windows are screened, so he’s free to roam around), but it’s such a commitment.

I actually started socializing with them because when I moved in they sent me a small basket with snacks and stuff, with a letter explaining about Kiwi (the parrot), and how he can be a bit loud sometimes.

I don’t really mind tho, I actually love hearing him sing, joke, laugh. Such a happy bird!

AttackBunny,
@AttackBunny@kbin.social avatar

I maintain that they are tiny dinosaurs. Adorable tiny dinosaurs, but dinosaurs none the less.

Also, don't forget about how loud they are. They can hit some notes that I'm not sure kids can.

I have made friends with a salmon crested cockatoo, he's in his mid 50s, and awesome. So yeah, they live forever.

aperson,

So don’t buy a parrot and a welder, got it.

kat,

Also, don’t make the mistake that smaller parrots mean less commitment. Parrotlets and lovebirds are smart, feisty, bite pretty hard, are extremely loud, and still live like 25 years. Budgies are a bit dumber and nicer, but still live a long ass time. Cockatiels have a very nice personality and are musical, but they have 25 year life spans. Consider any small parrot to be a “25 to life” deal.

Also chances are, your parrot (of any kind) either won’t talk, or won’t shut up about the wrong things. Hope you like hearing the Teams call music at all hours.

thebardingreen,
@thebardingreen@lemmy.starlightkel.xyz avatar

I dated a girl who's African Grey made ALL the WoW sounds ALL the time. The bird was indistinguishable from the actual game.

VoxAdActa,

My ex had two sun conures.

The thing I would like people to know is that they make the kind of noise that will literally drive you insane if your brain doesn’t adapt to tune it out. It’s loud, high-pitched, and constant.

It’s not about just making phone calls difficult or making it hard to hear what your friends are saying (especially if the parrots decided they hate your friend, which is a whole 'nother parrot problem). It’s so pervasive that it actively changes how your senses perceive your environment.

Years after they both died (at about 20 years old, the female died from getting eggbound and the male died of a broken heart soon after), my brain was still putting parrot noises into the background sounds of my house. I’d be doing my normal daily thing, then stop and be like “Wait, why have I been listening to parrots screeching for the past two hours? They’ve been dead for three years” and my brain would go “Oops, sorry,” and I’d stop hearing it for a while.

Aviandelight,
@Aviandelight@mander.xyz avatar

This week my African grey has decided that the smoke alarm beep is his noise of choice and there is nothing I can do about it.

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