One of my exotic pets, a Llama.

1. Do you own your own home, or have landlord permission?

   This is important because many pets are abandoned because the landlord will not allow them and people have tried to hide them. It is unfair to not only the pet, but also to the landlord, to get a pet you know you are not allowed to have.

2. Have you researched the animal and know you can provide lifetime care for it?

   Just because the Iguana is only a foot long now, does not mean it will stay small for long. Eventually it will need a room of its own. If you cannot provide a space for it later, do not get a pet now.

3. What is the lifespan of the pet?

   Read more in Exotic & Unusual

   « Supplies for Owning a Horse

   How to Keep Stick Insects as Pets »

   Make sure you can provide lifetime care to the pet, in the case of longer lived pets, such as parrots, make sure you have somebody you can leave the pet to in your will.

4. Is there a knowledgeable veterinarian in your area that can care for your pet?

   Most vets can care for cats, and dogs, some in the country are familiar with large animals such as horses, or cattle. Many are familiar with the common exotic animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs (yes in most areas these are considered exotic pets), however, very few are familiar with lizards, birds, marsupials, and so on.

   

   Conures, and Parrots will require a lot more time and space than a finch. Painting by Author.

5. Do you have a good source for acquiring the pet?

   Sometimes it is easy to find lower quality exotics, those that breeders dispose of onto the “pet” market because they are inferior. Do you really want a “cull”? Probably not. If an animal is in a pet store it is because it is a “pet” quality animal, suitable for people who want a companion. They are not “show” or “breeding” quality. This might be fine for you, but remember the animal might also have more predispositions to health problems. As such it is always better to buy an exotic animal from a breeder or knowledgeable source.

6. Do you have sufficient funding for on going care and feed expenses?

   Typically exotic pets have higher care costs, this includes caging and feed.

7. Do you have a source for food?

   Exotic pets have specific meal requirements, and not every store sells supplies and good food for those pets. If you want a chinchilla, make sure you have a source for chinchilla food.

8. Do you have time for an exotic pet?

   Many exotic pets require more mental stimulation than a typical pet. Parrots, ferrets, and monkeys, for example, all must have a large amount of the day devoted to their care and mental stimulation.

9. Is everyone else in the house happy with the decision to have this kind of pet?

   If there is any concerns, such as fear, allergies, or dislike, it is best not to get a pet that will be resented, or feared. Pet care should be shared by the family, this way if one person is ill, the pet is familiar with another person.

10. Why do I want this pet?

    

    Believe it or not, but in most areas Rabbits are considered to be “exotic” pets. This was my daughters bunny.

    This is an extremely important question to ask, and is one often overlooked by many people. If you want the pet for the wrong reasons, you should not be getting a pet at all.

    The right reasons include:

    • To make its life better.
    • To breed a rare animal where there is demand for them.
    • Because there are more animals needing homes, than there are homes for (rescue).
    • Because it’s cool.
    • Because I want one.
    • Because I want to show it off.
    • Because I want to breed them to make money.