The
definition of an "exotic pet" is that of an animal that is not normally
thought of as being a pet, but under certain circumstances have been
domesticated enough that they can co-habituate with humans. Generally
these animals are either captured from the wild or have been bred in
captivity. In either case, finding exotic pets for sale is a very
complex business, and sometimes the business is not always legal.
The
categories of exotic pets for sale can be very broad spectrum of wild
animals, but the predominant categories are reptile, amphibian, insects,
crustaceans, rare fish, certain species of avian life (bird), and
primates (other than human, of course). Under the particularities of
the definition of "exotic pets," farm animals are generally not
included, and the designation is often liberally applied to anything not
resembling a dog, domesticated cat, small bird, hamster, gerbil, or
small freshwater fish. A number of other wild animals fall under the
rubric of exotic pets, which includes everything from squirrels to
bears, but for the most part they are rare on the open market, and
become pets after being captured or bred in captivity.
Finding
exotic pets for sale often means going through very exclusive and
specialized channels, though sometimes exotic pets can be purchased at a
pet store or retailer. Many popular breeds of pet reptile, for
instance, can be found at most local major pet retailers; these include
snakes, turtles, and many specified forms of lizard. However, in a case
like this, there would be exceptions based on a number of factors, such
as safety, size, legality, and so forth. Many forms of poisonous
snakes can only be stored in properly licensed laboratory or zoological
facilities, and are thus illegal to own. Many gigantic lizards, such as
the Komodo dragon, often are illegally imported, not to mention
dangerous as an adult, and therefore also illegal to own. However, for
even exceptions like these, and other species like alligator, there are
very specialized breeders who sell these animals to those that have the
legal capability to buy them.
In nearly all cases, exotic pets
for sale are not only expensive to purchase, but also to maintain. In
many cases they require extremely special needs, such as a diet of
particular foods, which, depending on size, may need to be high in
volume per year. Some also may require certain structures. Many
species of lizard, fish, snake, turtle, insect, and arachnid sometimes
require temperature controlled environments; larger creatures often
require large pens, cages, or structures in order to be stored legally.
Larger breeds of lizard often require enlarges structures, which can be
expensive and require a great deal of space.
Exotic pets for
sale often require very particular forms of medical attention, and may
necessitate the use of higher cost veterinary facilities, which may also
be extremely inconvenient for an owner and his or her pet. Exotic pets
can also be sources and carriers for a number of human pathogens and
diseases, which can manifest from the point of ownership or develop
later due to susceptibility. Besides being issues of cost, these are
issues of logistics, and not all issues of logistics can be related to
cost; social adaptability of an exotic pet is an important point, as it
can eventually relate to the safety of both the owner and the pet. Even
if bred to be exotic pets for sale, some animals are not inclined
toward domestic habitation. Even many species of primate, though widely
recognized as being biologically linked to humans, can be extremely
hard to handle, and can be prone to violent outbursts given the wrong
stimuli.
Due to the wide range of variables that surround exotic
pets for sale, there are often laws, statutes, and ordinances in place
that regulate exotic pets on every level of government, from federal to
municipal. Some states bar the ownership of particular species of
animal (in New Jersey, for instance, it is illegal to own a pet turtle
or tortoise), and other laws regulate the means by which animals can be
obtained. It is illegal to import primates from abroad for private
ownership, for example, meaning that all primates available as exotic
pets for sale have been bred in captivity for generations. The United
States Department of Agriculture also bans the breeding of certain
animals, especially those that can be reintroduced into the wild and
have an adverse effect on a local ecosystem.
Exotic pets can be
found for sale at a number of fairly easy to locate organizations, due
to having a presence on the internet, and a number of common varieties
can even be found in the local pet store. However, as the above has
indicated, a number of other consideration should be made before
deciding to purchase an exotic pet, regardless of its species or breed.
Everyone
who has every surfed the Internet for more than a little while knows
that among the most popular photos searched for online are those of cute
animals. Among the most popular of
these photos are pictures of
puppies. "Puppy pictures" often are sources of comfort for those that
look upon them, as they remind us of innocence, purity, and the often
genial and friendly nature most people associate with dogs. However,
the reason why there are so many pictures of puppies online is because
these puppy pictures are often used in the interest of selling puppies
online.
The Internet, needless to say, has had an indelible
effect on human culture and industry, with many modes of business
forming new models of operation based on the almost limitless consumer
base the audience provides. This, naturally, extends to the selling of
animals. The Internet has been a boon to those who deal in animals, and
especially in dogs. Many groups that breed dogs, whether they are
breeders or puppy mills, often had to depend on limited means of
advertising their specimens, and in the case of mills often restricted
them to selling their puppies exclusively to retailers. In the age of
Internet, these dealers have begun to advertise their puppies in
classified ads on numerous pet listing sites, and in the process using
the most adorable puppy pictures available to sell their puppies.
When
using the internet simply to search for pictures of puppies, there is
no real harm in going with whatever looks the most adorable to you.
However, when search for a dog to purchase, or even adopt, going by
puppy pictures can often be as misleading as judging a book by its
cover. Choosing a puppy is more than an image game; the puppy you
purchase or adopt will eventually grow into a dog, and one that may look
decidedly different than the puppy picture that you based your decision
on. And in some cases, pictures of puppies can be used fraudulently.
It
is unfortunately not uncommon for puppy mills who sell puppies online
to recycle pictures of puppies over and over again to sell dogs that may
be of the same breed, but are not identical to the puppy pictured. In
this respect, the pictures of puppies belong to a mill are more like a
brand; and when a puppy is purchased, and is either delivered or dropped
off, it is often late in the transaction for the buyer to back out,
especially when the seller insists that its the same puppy from the
puppy pictures online. In some cases, it has even been reported that a
puppy delivered will be of a different breed than what is advertised and
pictured.
However, many times pictures of puppies are accurate,
or at least attempt to be so. It is generally a good idea to examine
sites that allow a seller to post several puppy pictures online of the
same dog. Many reputable breeders using the Internet will usually not
only include pictures of an individual puppy, but will usually include
puppy pictures of all the puppies in a litter, and sometimes even the
mother and father. Generally, the more photos a dealer provides, the
more credence should be given to what he or she is advertising. Even
when a dealer is unable to provide several puppy pictures in one listing
(as it could be expensive to purchase a multi-photo listing), when
contacted, a dealer should be asked to provide any information
available, as well as additional puppy pictures.
The Internet
is simply chock full of pictures of puppies, but it is important that
when examining them in the interest of buying or adopting a dog, what
they be examined with a grain of salt. You can't judge a book by its
cover, and you shouldn't make a life altering decision such as buying a
dog based upon the cuteness of a photograph.
Before making the choice to own box turtles, reptiles or amphibians for pets, you need to do your research and be sure of what owning a pet of this sort would entail. People often go to a pet store, see the box turtles and
think, how hard could it be? It can, however, prove to be a daunting task in the long run.Even though the name box turtle suggests that the turtles live in a box, this is not so. All box turtles, reptiles and amphibians require special housing called a terrarium or habitat. They will each also need special kinds of food and supplies.Box turtles can be easier pets to own, since they do not require large habitats or massive amounts of food. The average box turtles can live in a glass aquarium and they require few habitat items. However, box turtles are known to carry bacteria and can cause illness if the correct precautions are not taken. You can now purchase gloves to handle pet box turtles with or even buy a special sulfa block designed specifically for box turtles. There is also a large selection of hand wipes and sanitizers as well. You will also need to consider purchasing shell moisturizer for box turtles and even eye drops in case of irritation from the environment.When considering reptiles or amphibians for pets, there are many to choose from. Reptiles come in a wide range of shapes and sizes; there is no one size fits all. Some reptiles require large cages up to four feet high. Other small reptiles may only require a small open air habitat. Reptiles can also live up to ten plus years. They require a long term commitment to own. However, most reptiles require little interaction to survive. Most reptiles are actually considered nervous creatures and prefer quiet environments. Reptiles do require more supplies for their habitats than turtles.Amphibians are cold blooded, water based animals. This is something to consider when purchasing amphibian habitats. Amphibians are creatures such as frogs and salamanders. Picking the right terrarium for amphibians can be a somewhat difficult task. You must consider what type of place the amphibians lived in out in the wild. Most pet owners choose half water and half land type tanks. This provides a choice for the amphibians to use the water or be dry at their liking.When choosing between box turtles, reptiles, or amphibians for pets, consider all the factors involved. You will need to consider how long you would like to have a pet, how much space you have and the financial responsibilities as well. As with buying any pet, it is a long term commitment that can take a lot of time and effort. The best thing do is research which pets you would like to own, and know all the positives and negatives before you make a purchase. While it can be no walk in the park to own an animal, it can be a very rewarding experience.