Information about Exotic Pets

An exotic pet is a rare or unusual creature kept as a pet, or a creature kept as a pet which is not commonly thought of as a pet.

The definition is an evolving one; some rodents, reptiles, and amphibians have become firmly enough established in the world of animal fancy to no longer be considered exotic. Sometimes any unique or wild-looking pet (including common domestic animals such as the ferret and the domestic rat) is called an exotic pet. "Exotic" may also be used for a species which is non-indigenous to the owner's locale.

Many major pet stores and service providers (such as veterinary insurance carriers or online retailers) tend to classify any animal besides cats, dogs, or fish as "exotic".

Issues

Legal issues

The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, or CITES, moderates the trade of exotic pets around the world, to prevent any threats to their survival and ecological damage. Certain animals may be strictly regulated or restricted outright due to both their conservation status, as well as the possibility of the animal becoming an invasive species.

In some cases laws are circumvented by breeding the animals in captivity. The USDA issues permits for keeping and breeding certain exotic species, whether captured from the wild or bred. In the United States, for example, it is illegal to import primates for the pet trade, but a flourishing breeding industry exists, using animals descended from those brought in legally before the ban was enacted.

Health

Finding a veterinarian qualified and willing to care for an exotic animal may be difficult or even impossible, but in some cases (such as in large cities), it is not difficult at all, as many veterinarians are highly qualified and have specialty practices. However, the costs for treatment of such animals may be significantly higher than for a cat, dog, or a more conventional pet due to the increased specialization. On the other hand, costs can also be reduced because of lower dosages of medications in smaller species.

Some animals are known to carry diseases that can affect humans, such as salmonellosis and rabies. Similarly, some human diseases can be dangerous for certain animals (like strep throat). Many animals have zoonotic potential, including dogs and cats.

Husbandry

Providing the right environmental conditions, housing and diet for an exotic animal may be difficult for several reasons: insufficient information may be available on caring for such animals in captivity, adequate housing may be difficult and/or expensive to procure or build, it may be difficult to provide the correct environment (such as temperature or amount of sunlight), feeding the correct diet may be difficult or impossible, and providing the right social environment for highly social species may be impossible in a home setting.

Domestication

Unlike creatures like cats and dogs, most exotic animals have not been domesticated by humans for thousands of years; they are still wild animals. Even if they are bred for the pet trade and raised by humans, they may be unpredictable, largely untrainable, and in some cases, dangerous, especially when they grow to adulthood.

Species kept as exotic pets

• Alligators
• Arctic Fox
• Wolves and wolf/dog hybrids
• Fennec foxes
• Tame Silver Foxes
• Sugar Gliders
• Skunks
• Degus
• Kinkajous
• Raccoons
• Chinchillas
• hedgehogs
• Wild cat cubs such as lions, tigers, bobcats, and ocelots
• Reptiles such as snakes, tortoises, and lizards
• Arthropods like spiders, praying mantises, and scorpions
• Extremely rare birds
• Primates (see below)

Some exotics are less "wild" than others; dingoes have been in a relationship with humans for generations and are thought to be an early breed, and the Bengal cat descends from a hybrid of wild and domestic species. Llamas and pot-bellied pigs, though still present in the wild, have been raised in captivity for centuries.

Primates

It has been estimated that as many as 15,000 primates are kept by private individuals as pets in the United States alone.[1] Nine states ban the keeping of primates, but no federal law regulates primate ownership. In 1975, however, the Center for Disease Control prohibited their import into the US for use as pets. The breeding industry uses descendants of animals imported before 1975. Primates of various species, including those listed as endangered, such as cottontop tamarins, Diana monkeys, lemurs and gibbons can be purchased for between US$2000 and $50,000.

Most professionals, including veterinarians[2], zoologists[3], humane societies and others strongly discourage the keeping of primates and monkeys as pets, as their complex emotional and social needs and other highly specialized requirements cannot be met by the average owner.

Although the breeding population has been largely isolated from wild primates outside the US, and may not be as likely to transmit a zoonotic disease, there is still a considerable risk: research workers have died from diseases contracted from primate research subjects.[4] By far, the greater risk is the transmission of disease from human to primate: the virus that causes human cold sores (herpes simplex virus), for example, is deadly to monkeys. Even today, new zoonotic species continue to emerge.

References

• Maryann Mott, "The Perils of Keeping Monkeys as Pets" National Geographic News September 16, 2003
• Craig J. Blair, DVM Pets or Prisoners?
• Heather Thomas, Education Coordinator, Duke University Primate Center Lemurs as Pets

External links

• Resources for pet owners
• Information on exotic pets in captivity
• Phoenix Exotics Wildlife Association
• Simply Simian (Exotic animals owners group)
• "Monkey Business Sparks Controversy"-Article on exotic monkey ownership in Chicago
• Directory of Exotic Pet Websites