About Exotic Pets

Time to Say Goodbye

2009-06-12T11:57:46Z

I've been About.com's Guide to Exotic Pets for eleven years, and what a fun ride it has been! I have learned so much about exotic pets in this time, and have tremendously enjoyed learning about your pets and being part of a community that has supported each other through the highs and lows of being exotic pet "parents." However, the time has come for me to move onto another stage in my life -- it has been a very difficult decision, and I'd like to thank everyone for their support over the years. I know soon a new exotic pet expert will join the other excellent pet Guides at About.com, and I look forward to being a regular visitor myself. I wish you and your pets all the best!

Common House Geckos

2009-06-12T03:16:35Z

The other day at the pet store I was admiring the house geckos. They are small little lizards that have a propensity for hanging out on walls and ceilings of homes (not surprisingly, this is how they got their name!). As a side note, they have been a successful invasive species in many warm climates, mostly from hitchhiking on ships and other modes of transportation (though pet owners should never let these or any other pets go into the wild). Because of their small size and undemanding needs, they can make pretty good pets too - but unless you can find captive bred house geckos, you might want to think twice. Find out how to care for them in Common House Geckos.

Degus as Pets

2009-06-12T01:23:07Z

The Degu (pronounced "Day-goo") is a fairly large rodent (10-12 inches including the tail) native to Chile. They are pretty new in the pet trade but they are quite good pets. They are very social, which means they should ideally live another degu, but their social nature makes them fairly easy to tame and handle too. Unlike some other rodents, they are not nocturnal, which makes them a bit easier to live with. With their friendly nature I imagine they will continue to increase in popularity as pets.
Also See: Choosing a Rodent Pet

Hamster Wheels and Run-Abouts

2009-06-11T23:40:27Z

Hamsters are definitely born to run. Did you know that hamsters have been reported to run as much as 8 km a night on their wheels? For this reason, it is very important to pick out a good wheel that is safe and comfortable, and also quiet (unless you like to be kept awake by a squeaking wheel during your hamster's nightly marathon). Run-About balls and other out-of-the-cage exercise wheels are also popular, but are not a substitute for a freely accessible wheel in the cage. Find out how to pick a wheel in "Choosing a Hamster Wheel."
If you are curious about just how far your hamster could run, you can measure your hamsters milage by getting a Wodent Wheel equipped with a "Wodometer" (yes, that is really what it is called!)
More About Hamsters: Hamster Care

7 Things to Know Before Deciding on Pet Guinea Pigs

2009-06-10T13:15:49Z

Thinking about pet guinea pigs? They do make wonderful pets, but like any pets, prospective owners need to know what to expect and what to consider before choosing guinea pigs. One thing to know is that guinea pigs are very social and definitely do best if kept in same sex pairs. This and six other things to consider when looking at pet guinea pigs can be found in Guinea Pigs as Pets.

For those of you who have guinea pigs, have I missed anything you think prospective owners should know? Follow the Readers Respond link at the bottom of Guinea Pigs as Pets to share your ideas about what you wish you had known before getting pet guinea pigs.

Photo © Michael Blann / Getty Images

White Lined Geckos (Skunk Geckos)

2009-06-03T17:00:55Z

I recently saw some white lined geckos (Gekko vittatus) at a local pet store; it's the first time I've seen them though their popularity is on the increase. They are joining the crested gecko in becoming quite popular among enthusiasts. And, like leopard geckos and crested geckos, they are easy enough to care for to be suitable for beginners. White lined geckos are also called skunk geckos because they have a distinctive white stripe that runs from each side of their head and joins up to form a single stripe down their backs. Find out more about these geckos and their care in this care sheet for white lined geckos.

More About Geckos

Guide to Geckos

Keeping Cool

2009-06-03T12:44:20Z

Though summer weather hasn't really arrived in my part of the world yet, we've had a couple of days just warm enough to remind me that it is time to think about keeping our pets cool in the summer heat. Our "contained" pets live in the basement now so heat isn't as much of a problem for us as it used to be in our previous home -- we only have to really worry about the dogs (though they appear to thrive in the heat, like me!). In warmer months it is very important to make sure our pets do not get overheated or dehydrated. This is especially true for pets such as reptiles that rely on external temperatures to regulate their body temperatures, but many other exotic pets are also very sensitive to heat including chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters and others. Generally, you should try to keep your pet in a comfy temperature range, and if temperatures soar you may need to take some steps to cool them off safely. Here's some advice to help exotic pets cope with heat.

The heat affects other pets too -- here are more summer safety tips from other pet guides at About.com:

Help Your Cat Beat the Heat (Cats)
Warm Weather Safety for Dogs (Dogs)
Summer Fun - Summer Safety (Vet Medicine)
Reef Tank Temperature - How High is Too High? (Saltwater Aquariums)
How Do I Lower High Water Temperatures? (Freshwater Aquariums)
Hot Weather Horse Care (Horses)

Keeping Everyone Safe in Summer:
Timothy Thiele, About.com Guide to Electrical, has compiled a great list of safety tips covering many aspects of summer safety for humans and pets, from the Home and Garden About.com Guides.

Axolotls

2009-06-03T02:49:34Z

Axolotls are unique among salamanders because they typically stay in their larval form throughout their life cycle, a way of life called neoteny. Because of this, axolotls retain their gills -- which are external and give the axolotls kind of an alien look. I don't have any good photos of these creatures, but if you visit the National Geographic's page on them, you will see a fabulous photo of an axolotl showing off its gills (National Geographic once bestowed the axolotl with the dubious honor of "top weird animal").

I just wrote a paper about axolotls for a class I am taking, because axolotls are considered critically endangered in the wild due to loss of habitat, harvesting for food, and predation by and competition from introduced species. It is thought that there are few left in the wild (they are only found in 2 lakes in Mexico which have dramatically diminished in size due to development), though they do breed readily in captivity. Only captive bred axolotls should be kept as pets due to laws protecting them. They are reasonably easy to care for and do make interesting pets, though they do represent a long term commitment as they can live for 10-15 years. See Axolotls as Pets for more about their care.

On a related note, I'd like to have a good quality photo (or several!) of an axolotl that I can use on my site. If you have a clear digital photo of an axolotl (and are the legal owner of said photo) and would be willing to let me publish it here, you can submit it by following these instructions.

The Story of My Shelter Rats

2009-06-01T01:20:47Z

Two years ago, on May 31, I adopted three baby boy rats from my local SPCA. These three little critters were the last of a litter up for adoption - three adorable brothers who won my heart in a matter of minutes. I had always had a soft spot for rats, but these were my first pet rats. My sons helped me name them -- Loki, Ace and Ventura -- though we did do a little reassignment of names once their personalities became a bit more clear. They quickly settled in; my dogs still seem unsure about sharing attention with rats, but we all coexist quite well. These three lovely rats have enriched my life immensely and I love them all. Sadly, we lost Ventura to a respiratory infection at just 18 months old, though he fought it valiantly for months. Now, just as we were getting ready to celebrate 2 years with Loki and Ace, an occasion already tinged with sadness because Ventura is no longer with us, Ace came down with a mild respiratory infection -- and his vet also discovered a tumor in his abdomen. Ace is fighting hard, just like his brother did, and antibiotics have perked him up a bit -- but given the rate at which he declined over a matter of days I am having a hard time feeling optimistic and am preparing for the inevitable. Pet rats are wonderful pets -- except for their short lifespan (generally 2-3 years). So on this, the 2nd anniversary of me finding my boys, I am so very grateful to have had these 3 lovely rats in my life, but also worried and sad.

Read more about my boys: A Tale of Three Shelter Rats

How to Choose a Healthy Guinea Pig

2009-05-28T02:16:47Z

When picking out a new pet, it's always a good idea to choose one that appears healthy. Some animals are pretty good at hiding illnesses (kind of a defense mechanism for prey-type animals -- never appear weak!) so even if you choose an animal that looks healthy on the outside it is no guarantee that health problems won't crop up. That said, it's easy enough to at least make sure your new pet doesn't have any obvious signs of illness. So, if you have decided that guinea pigs are the best pet for you, here are some tips to help you choose a healthy guinea pig by doing a quick health scan to rule out obvious problems. Notice the plural - if you like guinea pigs, you are best off getting a same sex pair -- they are very social and will be happier this way. Also, if you are in the market for a guinea pig, check local shelters and rescues as they often have guinea pigs up for adoption (or check on Petfinder.com).