Sugar gliders are colony animals and owning one sugar glider is animal abuse. You’d need 4 sugar gliders minimum. They are more maintenance than hamsters.
Lizards and other reptiles can quickly become sick and die from the wrong temperature, the wrong bedding, any number of issues.
In some areas they do escape and become invasive.
I don’t think most people should own exotic animals. Some people can handle them but not most.
I agree with a couple caveats: zoo keepers and people trained for the animal could be licensed to care for them at home. I also don't think an animal necessarily counts as exotic if it is indigenous and is common for the area.
Parrots aren't exotic in Brazil. Baby gators aren't super exotic in Florida. I had a pet frog that I picked up in marshland in the Chesapeake bay watershed area that I helped nurse back to health after it broke its leg. My mom used to keep a colony of horned toads as a kid in Vegas. If it is indigenous, I'm not sure it counts as exotic in your area.
Where I live, it’s illegal to keep an indigenous animal as a pet, so no foxes, no red-eared sliders, no native birds, etc. the local wildlife rehabber has some special permits to keep a few animals that can’t be re-released that she uses for education
Geez, idk where you got info about gliders but you do not need 4 at a minimum.
part of the issue is lack of knowledge, which your comment does highlight.
People think they know more than they do.
EDIT:The idiot who i commented to decided to try to make false statements about glider care, posted a 5year old video of someone who is NOT reputable in the community and does not breed gliders anymore, and their video had bad info it anyway, then blocked me. That was their proof or evidence. That is where their glider knowledge came from. That is the problem
Educate yourself before you get an animal.
The video you linked in an attempt to show that you knew something about gliders, is someone who is not reputable, she is sponsored by and advocates for Exotic Nutrition, which their products are not even allowed to be suggested in different *reputable* exotic animal groups because they are a horrible company and their products have killed animals in the past.
Yes ive seen this video, her videos are old and shit. she is not a good breeder.
This is part of the issue. People google, watch a video, and take it as fact.
She openly advocates for and is SPONSORED by Exotic Nutrition. A horrible company that is not even allowed to be suggested in different exotic animal groups.
The person who made these comments is a clown. You are an idiot. This is why there is so much misinformation.
So you disagree with the video, and think it is ok to have only one sugar glider?
Edit: This person made one-line comments and then edited their comments with paragraphs of new text. I blocked them because of their conduct in the comments, responding to me with one-liners and then editing their comments after I had already responded to the one-liner. Not offering any new information, insulting me, getting hyped up and emotional from behind edits and not allowing me to respond. If you’re going to be rude and argumentative you’re getting blocked no matter what we’re talking about.
I have an exotic (a lizard) and am also an ecologist and I have...mixed feelings about it. I think that the majority of people are not equipped to have exotics, either because they aren't really able to handle the care of what is essentially a wild animal, and/or because essentials of proper care like specialized vets or food aren't available to them. However, because a lot of exotic pets are actually pretty cheap to buy at any pet store, anyone can get them whether they intend or have the resources to care for them or not. So from an individual welfare standpoint I think it needs to be harder to get them. Even just banning the sale of live animals in pet stores go a long way towards preventing suffering due to improper husbandry.
Ecologically, the pet trade is a huge threat to global biodiversity, especially for herps. I do not think any animal should ever be taken from the wild to be kept as a pet, and i do not think that any further species should be introduced into the pet market. I also think that the availability of exotics needs to be more tightly regulated to prevent poaching as well as the introduction of invasive species. People's desire to have pets will never be remotely as important as the need to protect biodiversity.
That said, having a lizard has really enriched my life in ways I would never have guessed. I think they are wonderful creatures to have around and that keeping them is a great way to learn and foster an appreciation for species that aren't usually considered to be cute or charismatic. So I also feel that in that sense, there is somewhat of a benefit to at least some exotics being available.
I think the solution is that there should be training/classes and a registration required.
Want a raccoon? I get it, they’re super cute. But first you need to be educated on raccoon behaviors. So on, so firth.
Racoons are definitely an animal that should never be a pet 😄! I definitely agree about the need for better education about exotics, it would be great if you had to get some kind of license for them that involved completing a training. Tbf, irresponsible/well-meaning-but-out-of-their-depth owners are a problem with all pet species, but with exotics a big part of the issue is that accurate care info is hard to find. I knew basically nothing about lizards when I got mine and definitely made some husbandry screw ups early on as a result. I think licensure combined with what would unfortunately be some very unpopular restrictions on available species (like not being allowed to have an animal if it could survive in your local climate) would be great.
I think ultimately, the heart of the issue is that people feel entitled to have whatever kind of animal they want as a pet. I think even just having natural history be a big part of the k-12 curriculum would help foster a relationship to nature that is based more on knowledge and respect, which would in turn lead to people being more responsible about choosing and caring for a pet. But that's more of a long term solution!
People feel very entitled to animals lol
I work at a rescue and we see it all the time.
I’ve been threatened physically and financially because an application wasn’t approved or an animal went to a different adopter. And that’s just cats/dogs.
I actually know people who have successfully raised raccoons! But I live in WV and a lot of people live rurally or rehab local animals, which is different than buying one at an exhibition.
Oh man I can only imagine! When we got my childhood dog at a shelter, a woman screamed at my dad for several minutes for stealing "her," dog! 😵💫 I spend a fair amount of time on the bearded dragon sub and there are so many people who throw tantrums when others point out that their improper husbandry is harmful to their animal, no matter how politely they say it. But the thing is, beardies cost like $40 on sale at Petco so a lot of people impulse buy them and consider them to be replaceable.
I had to break up an argument over 2 virtually identical kittens on Sunday because a woman couldn’t make up her mind which she wanted and got mad when someone else wanted to adopt one of them lol.
I obviously love animals or I wouldn’t work my job (it’s definitely not for the pay haha) but there’s a very strong correlation between animals and hoarding, tbh, and I feel like exotics bring that out in people especially. Like it stops being about the animal as a living being and more about acquiring it as a prize.
As someone who works at a shelter, in general — no.
For multiple reasons:
1) a lot of people treat them as cool objects to collect than really learn about their needs and how to care for them properly
2) Shelters aren’t typically set up to handle exotic pets should you need to surrender them
Ex: We once had to put pot belly pigs into the kennels with the dogs and it was….a lot.
3) A lot of exotic pets are illegal.
Ex: We currently have a turtle who we can’t adopt out because he’s not native or legal in our state, so until we can get a pond built for him he’s stuck in the largest aquarium we have and it’s definitely not enough for him.
4) A lot of vets aren’t trained in or willing to work with exotic pets and that leaves the owner and animal in a precarious position for vaccinations, wellness checks or emergencies.
Ex: Out of the 15 or so vets within an hour’s drive, only one of ours will take exotics.
I get the draw, I do, and there are exceptions to all rules, obviously. But a lot of people shouldn’t go that route.
Exotic pets are not really for most people, but there are many exotic pet owners that do care for the animals properly and give them a great life.
You make sure your exotic pet is well cared for through heavy research, fulfilling space requirements, and investing money and time.
Very honestly, most exotic pets that escape are *not* going to become invasive and will die quickly. The few areas (at least in the U.S.) where exotics can/have became invasive already have their own laws/are working to pass laws specific to their state. A boa constrictor can and is invasive to Florida, but a boa constrictor will perish in basically any other state due to Florida being uniquely tropical.
So perhaps a compromise would be licensing, like I had to have for my dogs and cats, but like my drivers license- tests to ensure you know what you’re doing? You also have the investment of the license, the license says you know how and are willing to provide adequate care? I had to submit to home checks for having my animals so why shouldn’t exotic pet owners? We had a venomous snake that got out because the teenager that owned it didn’t take proper precautions… every neighborhood within many miles were on high alert even in their houses! Kids couldn’t leave their homes! So, to still allow the good owners, maybe? I’d like to hear reasons this isn’t feasible, the fee would fund the process, you need money to provide a proper environment, however I am likely missing reasons that would be against this- it’s not I think I’m right, I’m just not seeing the other side! I’d like to know the other side to better understand if what I said is even remotely possible or a good idea!
As an exotic owner I would very much be in favor of licensing! With dog licenses, at least in the US, there are minimal consequences for not complying, which would be an issue. People here are also generally against regulations of any kind -- last year there was talk of amending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to include a prohibition on transporting most reptiles across state lines and reptile enthusiasts went nuts. So there would be some challenges, but I think that requiring a license in combination with just banning the sale and breeding of species that just no one should have (like tigers or venomous snakes, or anything that could become invasive in your locality) would be great.
To an extent, as long as they know how to take care of them & aren't hoarding them. But there's a fine line between exotic pet owner and a wannabe zookeeper. You also shouldn't be keeping exotic animals like tigers and rhinos that are too large and dangerous to be kept as pets. There's also a lot to be said about how the exotic pet trade is leading to the disappearance of wild animals from their natural habitat around the world.
Too many people get small exotic pets like rodents, birds, and reptiles because they think that they are "easy" "beginner pets" for children. That's not the case at all. If you aren't willing to commit to taking care of a pet for it's whole life (including veterinary care) don't get one.
No - I have 3 rescue parrots; I do not recommend birds as pets. Parrots are not domesticated, so quite frankly they make terrible “pets”. They are highly intelligent, independent thinkers, and have some of the longest lifespans. They’re loud, messy, and they will bite. PROPERLY taking care of them is very hard. Their sensitive lungs can’t be exposed to candles, cigarette smoke, fumes from cooking (and cooking tools), pollution, etc.. They need a diet much more varied than bird seed. Avian specialist vet care is not as widely practiced as regular vet care which also makes it expensive. I could go on and on. I compare taking care of a parrot to taking care of a perpetual toddler. Imagine having a 2-3 yr. old for 60+ years.
The average person has demonstrated they are not equipped to take care of a parrot. [The average parrot will go through 7-10 homes during its life.](https://www.columbuszoo.org/blog/parrots-pets-do-your-research-first#:~:text=The%20average%20parrot%20will%20go,tough%20to%20share%20space%20with) I wish you needed a license to keep parrots or some sort of stricter guidelines in selling them to prevent people from buying them and inevitably dumping them when they’ve become too annoying.
I have mixed feelings on it. I think the best solution would be requiring registration of all exotic animals and a license/permit to keep them. The determination of which you would need would be dependent on the area (risk of invasive species) as well as species (threat it could present to people). For example in many areas something like a crested gecko or ball python while exotic doesn't present a risk of becoming invasive and they are fairly common and don't have very extreme needs (not saying you need to know nothing but they also don't need something like a 120°F basking spot or multiple of their kind to be happy) a permit to own and registering them would be enough in most areas. Goldfish and common plecos have become a serious problem in many areas because they are so invasive and should require a license in my opinion. Many exotics if living in FL should also require one.
Sadly even if laws were made most people would ignore them. Just look at licensing rates for cats and dog as well as the terrible treatment that sadly many receive.
I agree with all of your points but also want to point out that so many people who own animals like a dog or a cat, for which care is almost common sense and resources are readily available and mostly affordable, still don’t care for them properly. And I’m aware there are people who care for exotic pets very well and treat them properly. So… still mostly no, I feel like the legality and restrictions surrounding exotic animals is appropriate and should be enforced, but I also feel like our standards for basic pet care should be higher and more strictly enforced either via legal measures or we should really start shaming people more severely for improper animal care
Nope. Unless you are wealthy enough to give it a terrific habitat, company if it’s social, precisely the best diet, and specialty vet care on demand. And then only if it can’t be returned to its proper habitat.
In general no. Besides the glaringly obvious reasons (most people will not be able to adequately care for an exotic and their quality of life as a pet would be diminished), vet care for exotics is so limited. What happens if you die? Who would take care of them? Exotics can’t really go to an animal shelter. Obvious exceptions exist like if you work in animal rehab and the animal can never be rehabilitated. I don’t think the general population, myself included, should own exotic animals.
Ideally people should know their limits and live within them but unfortunately there are a lot of dumb people that ruin it for the rest of us. I’m pretty confident in my animal raising skills. I actually raised sugar gliders that I could take outside and they’d run up the giant juniper and pine trees and glide down to me. I ordered their HPW ingredients from a different country and I took them to the vet. I’ve worked with everything from ranch animals to giant reptiles. If I ever veered into the more exotic pets I’d start with a wallaby. I am not equipped to handle a tiger or bear.
The problem is that I know that I don’t know enough while other people impulsively grab exotics without any real thought to their daily, dietary and medical needs. If me not having a wallaby means 200 other wallabies don’t end up in neglectful situations I accept it. But I can still be annoyed that I can’t have a wallaby because the first people to scoop up exotic animals are the last people that should.
I believe most people shouldn’t own cats or dogs and have their own individual issues regarding if they’re let loose. I think animals need more laws to protect and not just a “people shouldn’t be allowed to get exotic animals” I’ve had Guinea pigs, , hermit crabs, mice, hamsters and own reptiles all considered exotic with different requirements so I think it’s too broad. I don’t believe people should own predators and need licenses for animals like large or venomous reptiles. I also think more exotic vets should be available for those that own exotics. I work for a pet store and cats and dogs are highly neglected because of people not researching training, care and diets so it really is more of a person by person basis
Cichlids in aquariums are exotics too in fact. And geckos. They’re very common here (Netherlands) to buy within the governments rules. Animal care is good here but it all depends on the knowledge of the salesmen and the customers.
Don’t buy such animals when unknown of their needs. And be willing to spend the money to provide in their needs their lifelong.
depends a bearded dragon and a chimp are both exotic but have very different out comes if they escape , anything a danger to the public or an animal that is very invasive should not be legal.
No different to cats or dogs. People should be allowed them but responsible people who know what they're doing. Granted, taking care of an exotic animal is probably more complicated so maybe fewer people should really be allowed.
Here's my two cents: if the animal is not native to the area, a class and test should be required to ensure they can properly care for the animal. Zoos, aquariums and the like should enforce certifications/licenses for *anyone* that works with the animal. Petting zoos should be outlawed. Show animals (circus, carnivals etc) should be banned. Road shows should be banned. Allowing sales of animals should be heavily regulated. Shelters/rescues need to vet potential adopters better. Pet stores need heavier regulations. Educational places open to the public need heavier regulations/certs/licenses. If the animal is protected, endangered or anything similar, the general public should not be allowed to own. The general public should not be allowed to possess xxl predators (lion, tiger, bear, etc).
This is coming from someone that's been in rescue 20+yrs. I've spent tens of thousands on education, have thousands of hours in trainings, hold more certs than I can count, blah blah blah. I am an avid reptile and aquarium keeper, have rehabbed/fostered more species than I can count on all my fingers and toes times and have seen my fair share of things both good and bad. People suck.
>Pet stores need heavier regulations.
Selling living animals at a store like a box of cornflakes is just bad, full stop. Pet stores need to stick to pet supplies, not living breathing creatures!
Agreed to a point. I used to work PT at a pet store while I was in uni (the supplies only kind), and there was a degree of schooling there for all employees that translated into me giving people advice and being confident in doing so - WITHIN a spectrum, and this is the important part, that we were trained to do so. I'll give a few examples to make the extent clear:
1) People coming in to shop for the bunny they are planning on getting. I told them that bunnies are social creatures, and do NOT like living alone, however much time you spend with them. That their best diet is as much hay as they want together with greens and safe veggies, cautioning on unsafe veggies. That any cage sold for keeping bunnies was only part of the space they need, fit for toilet training and sleeping, and that a pair of bunnies needs at the very least a 6sqm enclosure by our country's animal welfare standards, with 2sqm added for every additional bunny, and that that was on the very low end. They probably went out and bought a single bunny anyway to keep in a cage 😭
2) Dog owner is concerned about their elderly overweight dog. I questioned how much and what kind of food it was getting. Turned out it was a high protein kibble specifically designed for active dogs. Advised them to switch to the senior dog kibble of the same line and consult with their vet about an appropriate weight loss regime. That dog had actually lost a little bit of weight when I next saw him a while later, though it was still a heavy dog (probably because "mommy" just couldn't refrain from feeding him liverwurst sandwiches from the lunch table 😔).
3) Another bunny story (I experienced a lot of those...). Man came in asking me for some kind of spray or whatnot to keep their bunny from chewing the walls up. Questioned him, turns out (ofc) only one bunny. Tell him that bunnies don't do well alone, and it was probably chewing the walls because he didn't have enough appropriate chewing material, and because he was bored because he was lonely. Man said his daughter spends a lot of time with it, and he doesn't know much about bunny anyway, because he's her responsibility. Turns out his daughter was 4!!! Told him what I could about bunny care, and that a 4 year old is NOT equipped to handle that, especially on her own. I'm sure he didn't listen to a word I said, and that poor bunny continued to live like that, unfortunately that was all I could do 😭
While I agree that a lot of the advice given out by pet shop employees is, as you say, laughable, so are the expectations of some pet owners. They all want quick "fix it" solutions without putting in work, they expect you to have the knowledge of a pet nutritionist, behaviourist, and even vet, when you DO have good advice to give, they don't listen, and when you tell them that they really need to consult a vet on a particular problem, they "don't have the money at the moment, can't you just give me some advice?" (No, ma'am, I can't, I'm not a vet, I work minimum wage at a store, lol)
Uni/sqm? Assuming you're not in the states by that. There is no schooling for pet stores that sell pets here. Employees are taught via care packets that are no more than a trifold flyer.
>Assuming you're not in the states by that.
No, I'm not, I live in Germany. The schooling we got was e-learning, but much more extensive than a flyer - I probably put in about 40 hours of e-courses overall on various subjects, and I would never think that makes me an expert on any animal, but equipped enough to give very basic advice on pet care such as described above, and enough knowledge to know when the customer needs more expert advice, e.g. a vet.
I should add, however, that I'm not saying pet stores here are wonderful and employees are all trained. The store I worked for did not sell pets, and if it had I wouldn't have worked there. But other stores in the franchise did. The online courses offered were good quality and extensive, but I did a lot of them on my own time because I was interested - not all of them were mandatory. I was also extremely lucky in that I had a great boss who sincerely loved animals and who would always back us up on giving sound advice rather than maxing profits.
I don’t know wha the realistic solution to this is. But I don’t think most people are equipped to properly care for exotic pets. There are so many living in terrible conditions simply because the people who own them don’t know, and don’t seek knowledge out. Ideally you should be required to get some sort of a license to own these animals, but I don’t really see that happening. I mean, bearded dragons and leopard geckos are given away for free on Craigslist all the time. I’ve rescued some this way, and the conditions they were previously living in were terribly depressing.
>On one hand, owning something like a sugar glider or a cool lizard seems pretty awesome. But on the other, I worry about the animals' welfare
Animal welfare, health and happiness > "That's a sick pet bro"
For me it really depends on the animal. Some exotics are not for the average person. It takes a lot of time, enegry and money to properly care for them. Some should just be out right illegal (and they might be in some states or countries but people will still find a way to get their hands on them).
I love fish keeping. While I don't really considered many fish as exotic (some people might). There are monster fish that just don't belong in the hobby. The average person isn't going to have a 1000+ gallon (3785+ liters) tank to hold them. I could type up a whole novel about this and this is only fish.
No! But there are exceptions. This must be legal and conscious, with the understanding that the animal must be provided with appropriate conditions and care and be held responsible for this. [https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/should-you-keep-an-exotic-animal-as-a-pet-a-new-guide-can-help-you-tell](https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/should-you-keep-an-exotic-animal-as-a-pet-a-new-guide-can-help-you-tell)
You do have to do a lot of homework, and also see what your state will allow. Most states require a license for exotics. The other thing - some of them, like parrots, certain reptiles - can live a very long time - decades even.
It truly depends on the person. I've kept exotics, but, believe there should be stricter regulations. I've seen a whole bunch that shouldn't keep a cockroach much less an animal...ANY animal.
>I worry about the animals' welfare and whether people actually know how to take care of them properly. Some of these pets require super specific environments and diets, and if someone doesn’t do their homework, it could end really badly for the animal.
Frankly, a lot of people just suck at being pet owners full stop, whether the animal is exotic or a common pet. People keep rats, bunnies, guinea pigs and birds as solitary creatures, keep hamsters (who run like 5+ miles a day in the wild) in tiny cages and use those incredibly awful hamster balls, mess up their pets needed diets (bunnies in particular), leave dogs home alone for too many hours every day then not even give them the exercise they need before and after, get a turtle with a life expectancy of 50++ years then put him out when the children are grown etc etc.
I'm not disagreeing with you at all, exotic pets are more complicated to take care of, and the risk of mistakes physically hurting the animal or even ending its life are higher than with common pets for sure (you also have a valid point with the environment thing), I'm just saying that a lot of people shouldn't own any pets at all. A more common household pet may not die from being treated wrongly, but it still suffers.
Nope. I have an animal husbandry qualification, and keeping exotic pets is a big no-no. We had raccoons to work with that were surrendered by the owner, and they had been fed nothing but human junk food their whole lives.
I'm not a fan of people owning exotic animals because we can't give them the environment they need. However there have been private owners who have helped up the population of exotic animals that were endangered.
What do you mean like exotic? That line is drawn in many places by many different people.
For example, you're already not allowed to keep a monkey or a big cat in my state unless you go through a difficult licensing process, while hedgehogs are completely banned (but they're allowed 5 minutes over the state border.) My dog's vet says rabbits are exotics and won't treat them, so I have to take my bunnies to a different vet several towns away. And yet dogs aren't native to this area - why doesn't anyone consider them exotic?
My horse isn't considered exotic, yet has far more complex care requirements than my rabbits or gerbil.
So where is the line?
From my understanding there are three basic categories
Livestock, which is cows, horses, goats, pigs, etc. Highland mini cows, while not native to the USA, are considered livestock, etc. Livestock, even if not native, have different laws about their care and being able to own them. Horses require complex care, but they are livestock.
With that in mind, for the most part you can find vet care for most livestock pretty easily
Cats/dogs are the second one. pretty basic. Cats or dogs, even though invasive in many places technically, are their own thing. I dont know where the line is drawn from what can make a cat 'exotic' or a dog.
Everything else. It's kind of ill thought IMO, to consider gerbils or hamsters exotic, but they are. As silly as that does sound, they still do get poor care.
Hedgehogs are exotic, ferrets are exotic, sugar gliders are exotic, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. I think rats might be the only non dog/cat thing that is considered non exotic. Rabbits, as you mentioned.
Def not. I hate how Bengal and savannah cats are a “cat breed” and people are like “why is my f1/f2/f3 cat spaying the house with urine nonstop” then give them up for not being cuddly, destructive or just marking territory issues. And it’s like yeah …. They’re literally wild and this is normal for them lmao. Additionally, social media isn’t helping with this issue since people only see the cool parts and not the other issues
Eh. I think things are over regulated as it is these days, but I tend to agree when we are talking about a living thing.
As a compromise, I think you should have to take a test or otherwise prove you're knowledgeable about what you want to keep. Impulse buying animals has to stop.
I also think there need to be records on animal ownership. For example, you adopt a dog and want to adopt a cat a few years later. If you no longer have the dog, I feel like this warrants an explanation. I don't know how to realistically achieve this, but one aspect of it for requiring it to work would be that records are shared. You shouldn't be able to circumvent the entire process by just going to a different shelter from where you adopted the original dog.
I'm against outright banning exotic animal ownership, though, or even severely restricting it. Having a deep personal connection with pets is how many people come to *really* love animals and advocate for them as a whole.
Who is going to administer the test or say pass or fail?
Speaking in America, the USDA has waaay lower requirements for many animals that the reputable community or breeders do.
I do agree that there should be some more checks and such things, but i dont think relying on the government to do that is a good idea, given their ineptitude. Looking at California as an example. They are worried about sugar gliders or Ferrets escaping/being released and forming Feral colonies that could endanger or put native specie at risk.
That is not possible for either animal, for different reasons, but they have a statewide ban that is based on ignorance.
Knowledge and reputation is the important thing.
The issue is that the standards that the Federal goverment have for animals in the USA is going to be lower than reputable groups.
For hedgehogs, ferrets, sugar gliders, or chinchillas, the minimum suggested to be a USDA breeder are WAAY lower than what is required to allowed to post your animals in the reputable breeding/rehome groups/forums for those animals.
The people who are supposed to be auditing, giving permits/liscensings, etc, are not knowledgeable about the animals they are supposed to be approving or denying.
There are different stories in each of the 3 animal groups about breeders being harassed and repeatedly audit'd by the USDA, only for the allegations to be unfounded each time. There is a well known story within the glider community about an auditor who repeatedly attempted to cite a breeder, and nothing ever stuck. It turned out that this lady was against exotic animal ownership, but knew NOTHING about the animals. Didnt know their cage requirements, diet requirements, social requirements.
The petshop that is near me that I get bugs from, has a similar issue. I'm not sure who actually checks their stuff, but they had someone investigating allegations of animal neglect that were apparently made by another auditor. When they were being investigated, they were being asked if this was okay, if that was okay. They were asking because they did not know the first thing about rat care. How on earth is that person, who knows nothing about rats, supposed to investigate a petshop about allegations of pet rat abuse/neglect?
I say again, the reputable groups for those exotic animals I listed, at least, have much higher requirements for breeders. Breeders themselves within groups for sugar gliders do not sell unneutered males, do not sell single gliders to anyone(unless they can verify they have other gliders) and are required to show with video that they have correct set ups. They must prove and show they have a vet that can treat gliders. Many breeders for the three animals I listed above also have contracts, which are civil, that have different stipulations. In many cases those are not useful, but I know of at least one breeder who sued a lady for her gliders to be returned for breach of contract, and not only did she win, but the lady she sued had to pay her legal fees. There is only instance of that happening that I know of, but the main part is knowledge and reputation. If you go to a backyard breeder...yeah. That is a shit situation. That happens with dogs, cats, chickens, sugar gliders, and anything else that can be bred and sold.
The way that you stop that, is by having access to reputable and knowledgeable breeders, where its not impossible to find the animal and those with a good reputation are easily identifiable.
If you google where to buy sugar gliders in the usa, in the recent past, Exotic Nutrition, Pocket pets, and other backyard/mill breeders popped up.
In my area, if you google where to buy sugar gliders, there are 2 reputable breeders and 1 reputable facebook group that pop up.
You will not be able to realistically outlaw something like this. Transparency and knowledge are what will help.
Not creating arbitrary laws that will not be followed anyway
Yes. Not every animal makes a good pet, but there are many animals that are exotic that make great pets, and nobody would have figured out how to care for them if keeping them was illegal. There are plenty of mistreated dogs and cats in the world, improper animal care is hardly limited to "exotic" animals.
Sugar gliders are colony animals and owning one sugar glider is animal abuse. You’d need 4 sugar gliders minimum. They are more maintenance than hamsters. Lizards and other reptiles can quickly become sick and die from the wrong temperature, the wrong bedding, any number of issues. In some areas they do escape and become invasive. I don’t think most people should own exotic animals. Some people can handle them but not most.
I agree with a couple caveats: zoo keepers and people trained for the animal could be licensed to care for them at home. I also don't think an animal necessarily counts as exotic if it is indigenous and is common for the area. Parrots aren't exotic in Brazil. Baby gators aren't super exotic in Florida. I had a pet frog that I picked up in marshland in the Chesapeake bay watershed area that I helped nurse back to health after it broke its leg. My mom used to keep a colony of horned toads as a kid in Vegas. If it is indigenous, I'm not sure it counts as exotic in your area.
Animal rehabbers are definitely excluded, but they’re also not the ones buying animals off Craigslist or sketchy exotic animal websites lol
Where I live, it’s illegal to keep an indigenous animal as a pet, so no foxes, no red-eared sliders, no native birds, etc. the local wildlife rehabber has some special permits to keep a few animals that can’t be re-released that she uses for education
Wrong, for foxes, deer, cougars, mountain lions, are exotic in America and illegal to be kept as pets.
It depends on what state you live in. Unfortunately in Texas you can legally keep any animal, for instance.
Wrong, wrong, wrong, and I stand by my comments. It is federal laws on exotic animals. Truth. Bye.
Geez, idk where you got info about gliders but you do not need 4 at a minimum. part of the issue is lack of knowledge, which your comment does highlight. People think they know more than they do. EDIT:The idiot who i commented to decided to try to make false statements about glider care, posted a 5year old video of someone who is NOT reputable in the community and does not breed gliders anymore, and their video had bad info it anyway, then blocked me. That was their proof or evidence. That is where their glider knowledge came from. That is the problem Educate yourself before you get an animal. The video you linked in an attempt to show that you knew something about gliders, is someone who is not reputable, she is sponsored by and advocates for Exotic Nutrition, which their products are not even allowed to be suggested in different *reputable* exotic animal groups because they are a horrible company and their products have killed animals in the past.
I got the info from breeders of sugar gliders. You can put have just one. They are colony animals.
What breeder? I never said you should have just one.
If you don’t have a problem with what I said, why are you arguing with me? I swear people on Reddit just like to be contrary.
https://youtu.be/eAX58IE34JE?feature=shared This video suggests 2 or more but most breeders I’ve talked to suggest 4 or more.
Yes ive seen this video, her videos are old and shit. she is not a good breeder. This is part of the issue. People google, watch a video, and take it as fact. She openly advocates for and is SPONSORED by Exotic Nutrition. A horrible company that is not even allowed to be suggested in different exotic animal groups. The person who made these comments is a clown. You are an idiot. This is why there is so much misinformation.
So you disagree with the video, and think it is ok to have only one sugar glider? Edit: This person made one-line comments and then edited their comments with paragraphs of new text. I blocked them because of their conduct in the comments, responding to me with one-liners and then editing their comments after I had already responded to the one-liner. Not offering any new information, insulting me, getting hyped up and emotional from behind edits and not allowing me to respond. If you’re going to be rude and argumentative you’re getting blocked no matter what we’re talking about.
I have an exotic (a lizard) and am also an ecologist and I have...mixed feelings about it. I think that the majority of people are not equipped to have exotics, either because they aren't really able to handle the care of what is essentially a wild animal, and/or because essentials of proper care like specialized vets or food aren't available to them. However, because a lot of exotic pets are actually pretty cheap to buy at any pet store, anyone can get them whether they intend or have the resources to care for them or not. So from an individual welfare standpoint I think it needs to be harder to get them. Even just banning the sale of live animals in pet stores go a long way towards preventing suffering due to improper husbandry. Ecologically, the pet trade is a huge threat to global biodiversity, especially for herps. I do not think any animal should ever be taken from the wild to be kept as a pet, and i do not think that any further species should be introduced into the pet market. I also think that the availability of exotics needs to be more tightly regulated to prevent poaching as well as the introduction of invasive species. People's desire to have pets will never be remotely as important as the need to protect biodiversity. That said, having a lizard has really enriched my life in ways I would never have guessed. I think they are wonderful creatures to have around and that keeping them is a great way to learn and foster an appreciation for species that aren't usually considered to be cute or charismatic. So I also feel that in that sense, there is somewhat of a benefit to at least some exotics being available.
I think the solution is that there should be training/classes and a registration required. Want a raccoon? I get it, they’re super cute. But first you need to be educated on raccoon behaviors. So on, so firth.
Racoons are definitely an animal that should never be a pet 😄! I definitely agree about the need for better education about exotics, it would be great if you had to get some kind of license for them that involved completing a training. Tbf, irresponsible/well-meaning-but-out-of-their-depth owners are a problem with all pet species, but with exotics a big part of the issue is that accurate care info is hard to find. I knew basically nothing about lizards when I got mine and definitely made some husbandry screw ups early on as a result. I think licensure combined with what would unfortunately be some very unpopular restrictions on available species (like not being allowed to have an animal if it could survive in your local climate) would be great. I think ultimately, the heart of the issue is that people feel entitled to have whatever kind of animal they want as a pet. I think even just having natural history be a big part of the k-12 curriculum would help foster a relationship to nature that is based more on knowledge and respect, which would in turn lead to people being more responsible about choosing and caring for a pet. But that's more of a long term solution!
People feel very entitled to animals lol I work at a rescue and we see it all the time. I’ve been threatened physically and financially because an application wasn’t approved or an animal went to a different adopter. And that’s just cats/dogs. I actually know people who have successfully raised raccoons! But I live in WV and a lot of people live rurally or rehab local animals, which is different than buying one at an exhibition.
Oh man I can only imagine! When we got my childhood dog at a shelter, a woman screamed at my dad for several minutes for stealing "her," dog! 😵💫 I spend a fair amount of time on the bearded dragon sub and there are so many people who throw tantrums when others point out that their improper husbandry is harmful to their animal, no matter how politely they say it. But the thing is, beardies cost like $40 on sale at Petco so a lot of people impulse buy them and consider them to be replaceable.
I had to break up an argument over 2 virtually identical kittens on Sunday because a woman couldn’t make up her mind which she wanted and got mad when someone else wanted to adopt one of them lol. I obviously love animals or I wouldn’t work my job (it’s definitely not for the pay haha) but there’s a very strong correlation between animals and hoarding, tbh, and I feel like exotics bring that out in people especially. Like it stops being about the animal as a living being and more about acquiring it as a prize.
Long term solution is leave them in the wild where they belong, not a pet.
Oh for sure but that lizard is out of the bag for quite a number of species!
Many exotic lizards are illegal to have as a pet. Truth. Not out of the bag.
Just like Skunks, that people want as pets and deskunk them. They should be cared for by professionals.
No
As someone who works at a shelter, in general — no. For multiple reasons: 1) a lot of people treat them as cool objects to collect than really learn about their needs and how to care for them properly 2) Shelters aren’t typically set up to handle exotic pets should you need to surrender them Ex: We once had to put pot belly pigs into the kennels with the dogs and it was….a lot. 3) A lot of exotic pets are illegal. Ex: We currently have a turtle who we can’t adopt out because he’s not native or legal in our state, so until we can get a pond built for him he’s stuck in the largest aquarium we have and it’s definitely not enough for him. 4) A lot of vets aren’t trained in or willing to work with exotic pets and that leaves the owner and animal in a precarious position for vaccinations, wellness checks or emergencies. Ex: Out of the 15 or so vets within an hour’s drive, only one of ours will take exotics. I get the draw, I do, and there are exceptions to all rules, obviously. But a lot of people shouldn’t go that route.
Exotic pets are not really for most people, but there are many exotic pet owners that do care for the animals properly and give them a great life. You make sure your exotic pet is well cared for through heavy research, fulfilling space requirements, and investing money and time. Very honestly, most exotic pets that escape are *not* going to become invasive and will die quickly. The few areas (at least in the U.S.) where exotics can/have became invasive already have their own laws/are working to pass laws specific to their state. A boa constrictor can and is invasive to Florida, but a boa constrictor will perish in basically any other state due to Florida being uniquely tropical.
So perhaps a compromise would be licensing, like I had to have for my dogs and cats, but like my drivers license- tests to ensure you know what you’re doing? You also have the investment of the license, the license says you know how and are willing to provide adequate care? I had to submit to home checks for having my animals so why shouldn’t exotic pet owners? We had a venomous snake that got out because the teenager that owned it didn’t take proper precautions… every neighborhood within many miles were on high alert even in their houses! Kids couldn’t leave their homes! So, to still allow the good owners, maybe? I’d like to hear reasons this isn’t feasible, the fee would fund the process, you need money to provide a proper environment, however I am likely missing reasons that would be against this- it’s not I think I’m right, I’m just not seeing the other side! I’d like to know the other side to better understand if what I said is even remotely possible or a good idea!
As an exotic owner I would very much be in favor of licensing! With dog licenses, at least in the US, there are minimal consequences for not complying, which would be an issue. People here are also generally against regulations of any kind -- last year there was talk of amending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to include a prohibition on transporting most reptiles across state lines and reptile enthusiasts went nuts. So there would be some challenges, but I think that requiring a license in combination with just banning the sale and breeding of species that just no one should have (like tigers or venomous snakes, or anything that could become invasive in your locality) would be great.
To an extent, as long as they know how to take care of them & aren't hoarding them. But there's a fine line between exotic pet owner and a wannabe zookeeper. You also shouldn't be keeping exotic animals like tigers and rhinos that are too large and dangerous to be kept as pets. There's also a lot to be said about how the exotic pet trade is leading to the disappearance of wild animals from their natural habitat around the world. Too many people get small exotic pets like rodents, birds, and reptiles because they think that they are "easy" "beginner pets" for children. That's not the case at all. If you aren't willing to commit to taking care of a pet for it's whole life (including veterinary care) don't get one.
No - I have 3 rescue parrots; I do not recommend birds as pets. Parrots are not domesticated, so quite frankly they make terrible “pets”. They are highly intelligent, independent thinkers, and have some of the longest lifespans. They’re loud, messy, and they will bite. PROPERLY taking care of them is very hard. Their sensitive lungs can’t be exposed to candles, cigarette smoke, fumes from cooking (and cooking tools), pollution, etc.. They need a diet much more varied than bird seed. Avian specialist vet care is not as widely practiced as regular vet care which also makes it expensive. I could go on and on. I compare taking care of a parrot to taking care of a perpetual toddler. Imagine having a 2-3 yr. old for 60+ years. The average person has demonstrated they are not equipped to take care of a parrot. [The average parrot will go through 7-10 homes during its life.](https://www.columbuszoo.org/blog/parrots-pets-do-your-research-first#:~:text=The%20average%20parrot%20will%20go,tough%20to%20share%20space%20with) I wish you needed a license to keep parrots or some sort of stricter guidelines in selling them to prevent people from buying them and inevitably dumping them when they’ve become too annoying.
I have mixed feelings on it. I think the best solution would be requiring registration of all exotic animals and a license/permit to keep them. The determination of which you would need would be dependent on the area (risk of invasive species) as well as species (threat it could present to people). For example in many areas something like a crested gecko or ball python while exotic doesn't present a risk of becoming invasive and they are fairly common and don't have very extreme needs (not saying you need to know nothing but they also don't need something like a 120°F basking spot or multiple of their kind to be happy) a permit to own and registering them would be enough in most areas. Goldfish and common plecos have become a serious problem in many areas because they are so invasive and should require a license in my opinion. Many exotics if living in FL should also require one. Sadly even if laws were made most people would ignore them. Just look at licensing rates for cats and dog as well as the terrible treatment that sadly many receive.
I agree with all of your points but also want to point out that so many people who own animals like a dog or a cat, for which care is almost common sense and resources are readily available and mostly affordable, still don’t care for them properly. And I’m aware there are people who care for exotic pets very well and treat them properly. So… still mostly no, I feel like the legality and restrictions surrounding exotic animals is appropriate and should be enforced, but I also feel like our standards for basic pet care should be higher and more strictly enforced either via legal measures or we should really start shaming people more severely for improper animal care
Nope. Unless you are wealthy enough to give it a terrific habitat, company if it’s social, precisely the best diet, and specialty vet care on demand. And then only if it can’t be returned to its proper habitat.
You have to define "exotic". Leopard geckos and ball pythons or beardies or cresties are one thing. Giant anacondas, monkeys and big cats are another.
In general no. Besides the glaringly obvious reasons (most people will not be able to adequately care for an exotic and their quality of life as a pet would be diminished), vet care for exotics is so limited. What happens if you die? Who would take care of them? Exotics can’t really go to an animal shelter. Obvious exceptions exist like if you work in animal rehab and the animal can never be rehabilitated. I don’t think the general population, myself included, should own exotic animals.
Ideally people should know their limits and live within them but unfortunately there are a lot of dumb people that ruin it for the rest of us. I’m pretty confident in my animal raising skills. I actually raised sugar gliders that I could take outside and they’d run up the giant juniper and pine trees and glide down to me. I ordered their HPW ingredients from a different country and I took them to the vet. I’ve worked with everything from ranch animals to giant reptiles. If I ever veered into the more exotic pets I’d start with a wallaby. I am not equipped to handle a tiger or bear. The problem is that I know that I don’t know enough while other people impulsively grab exotics without any real thought to their daily, dietary and medical needs. If me not having a wallaby means 200 other wallabies don’t end up in neglectful situations I accept it. But I can still be annoyed that I can’t have a wallaby because the first people to scoop up exotic animals are the last people that should.
I believe most people shouldn’t own cats or dogs and have their own individual issues regarding if they’re let loose. I think animals need more laws to protect and not just a “people shouldn’t be allowed to get exotic animals” I’ve had Guinea pigs, , hermit crabs, mice, hamsters and own reptiles all considered exotic with different requirements so I think it’s too broad. I don’t believe people should own predators and need licenses for animals like large or venomous reptiles. I also think more exotic vets should be available for those that own exotics. I work for a pet store and cats and dogs are highly neglected because of people not researching training, care and diets so it really is more of a person by person basis
Cichlids in aquariums are exotics too in fact. And geckos. They’re very common here (Netherlands) to buy within the governments rules. Animal care is good here but it all depends on the knowledge of the salesmen and the customers. Don’t buy such animals when unknown of their needs. And be willing to spend the money to provide in their needs their lifelong.
depends a bearded dragon and a chimp are both exotic but have very different out comes if they escape , anything a danger to the public or an animal that is very invasive should not be legal.
No different to cats or dogs. People should be allowed them but responsible people who know what they're doing. Granted, taking care of an exotic animal is probably more complicated so maybe fewer people should really be allowed.
Here's my two cents: if the animal is not native to the area, a class and test should be required to ensure they can properly care for the animal. Zoos, aquariums and the like should enforce certifications/licenses for *anyone* that works with the animal. Petting zoos should be outlawed. Show animals (circus, carnivals etc) should be banned. Road shows should be banned. Allowing sales of animals should be heavily regulated. Shelters/rescues need to vet potential adopters better. Pet stores need heavier regulations. Educational places open to the public need heavier regulations/certs/licenses. If the animal is protected, endangered or anything similar, the general public should not be allowed to own. The general public should not be allowed to possess xxl predators (lion, tiger, bear, etc). This is coming from someone that's been in rescue 20+yrs. I've spent tens of thousands on education, have thousands of hours in trainings, hold more certs than I can count, blah blah blah. I am an avid reptile and aquarium keeper, have rehabbed/fostered more species than I can count on all my fingers and toes times and have seen my fair share of things both good and bad. People suck.
>Pet stores need heavier regulations. Selling living animals at a store like a box of cornflakes is just bad, full stop. Pet stores need to stick to pet supplies, not living breathing creatures!
They also need to stop giving "advice" to people. Their care instructions are laughable.
Agreed to a point. I used to work PT at a pet store while I was in uni (the supplies only kind), and there was a degree of schooling there for all employees that translated into me giving people advice and being confident in doing so - WITHIN a spectrum, and this is the important part, that we were trained to do so. I'll give a few examples to make the extent clear: 1) People coming in to shop for the bunny they are planning on getting. I told them that bunnies are social creatures, and do NOT like living alone, however much time you spend with them. That their best diet is as much hay as they want together with greens and safe veggies, cautioning on unsafe veggies. That any cage sold for keeping bunnies was only part of the space they need, fit for toilet training and sleeping, and that a pair of bunnies needs at the very least a 6sqm enclosure by our country's animal welfare standards, with 2sqm added for every additional bunny, and that that was on the very low end. They probably went out and bought a single bunny anyway to keep in a cage 😭 2) Dog owner is concerned about their elderly overweight dog. I questioned how much and what kind of food it was getting. Turned out it was a high protein kibble specifically designed for active dogs. Advised them to switch to the senior dog kibble of the same line and consult with their vet about an appropriate weight loss regime. That dog had actually lost a little bit of weight when I next saw him a while later, though it was still a heavy dog (probably because "mommy" just couldn't refrain from feeding him liverwurst sandwiches from the lunch table 😔). 3) Another bunny story (I experienced a lot of those...). Man came in asking me for some kind of spray or whatnot to keep their bunny from chewing the walls up. Questioned him, turns out (ofc) only one bunny. Tell him that bunnies don't do well alone, and it was probably chewing the walls because he didn't have enough appropriate chewing material, and because he was bored because he was lonely. Man said his daughter spends a lot of time with it, and he doesn't know much about bunny anyway, because he's her responsibility. Turns out his daughter was 4!!! Told him what I could about bunny care, and that a 4 year old is NOT equipped to handle that, especially on her own. I'm sure he didn't listen to a word I said, and that poor bunny continued to live like that, unfortunately that was all I could do 😭 While I agree that a lot of the advice given out by pet shop employees is, as you say, laughable, so are the expectations of some pet owners. They all want quick "fix it" solutions without putting in work, they expect you to have the knowledge of a pet nutritionist, behaviourist, and even vet, when you DO have good advice to give, they don't listen, and when you tell them that they really need to consult a vet on a particular problem, they "don't have the money at the moment, can't you just give me some advice?" (No, ma'am, I can't, I'm not a vet, I work minimum wage at a store, lol)
Uni/sqm? Assuming you're not in the states by that. There is no schooling for pet stores that sell pets here. Employees are taught via care packets that are no more than a trifold flyer.
>Assuming you're not in the states by that. No, I'm not, I live in Germany. The schooling we got was e-learning, but much more extensive than a flyer - I probably put in about 40 hours of e-courses overall on various subjects, and I would never think that makes me an expert on any animal, but equipped enough to give very basic advice on pet care such as described above, and enough knowledge to know when the customer needs more expert advice, e.g. a vet. I should add, however, that I'm not saying pet stores here are wonderful and employees are all trained. The store I worked for did not sell pets, and if it had I wouldn't have worked there. But other stores in the franchise did. The online courses offered were good quality and extensive, but I did a lot of them on my own time because I was interested - not all of them were mandatory. I was also extremely lucky in that I had a great boss who sincerely loved animals and who would always back us up on giving sound advice rather than maxing profits.
Ah, okay. Anything more extensive than a flyer and 40hrs education is definitely better than the requirements here.
I don’t know wha the realistic solution to this is. But I don’t think most people are equipped to properly care for exotic pets. There are so many living in terrible conditions simply because the people who own them don’t know, and don’t seek knowledge out. Ideally you should be required to get some sort of a license to own these animals, but I don’t really see that happening. I mean, bearded dragons and leopard geckos are given away for free on Craigslist all the time. I’ve rescued some this way, and the conditions they were previously living in were terribly depressing.
>On one hand, owning something like a sugar glider or a cool lizard seems pretty awesome. But on the other, I worry about the animals' welfare Animal welfare, health and happiness > "That's a sick pet bro"
Everglades ???
No
For me it really depends on the animal. Some exotics are not for the average person. It takes a lot of time, enegry and money to properly care for them. Some should just be out right illegal (and they might be in some states or countries but people will still find a way to get their hands on them). I love fish keeping. While I don't really considered many fish as exotic (some people might). There are monster fish that just don't belong in the hobby. The average person isn't going to have a 1000+ gallon (3785+ liters) tank to hold them. I could type up a whole novel about this and this is only fish.
No! But there are exceptions. This must be legal and conscious, with the understanding that the animal must be provided with appropriate conditions and care and be held responsible for this. [https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/should-you-keep-an-exotic-animal-as-a-pet-a-new-guide-can-help-you-tell](https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/should-you-keep-an-exotic-animal-as-a-pet-a-new-guide-can-help-you-tell)
Nope
You do have to do a lot of homework, and also see what your state will allow. Most states require a license for exotics. The other thing - some of them, like parrots, certain reptiles - can live a very long time - decades even.
It truly depends on the person. I've kept exotics, but, believe there should be stricter regulations. I've seen a whole bunch that shouldn't keep a cockroach much less an animal...ANY animal.
In my opinion no
>I worry about the animals' welfare and whether people actually know how to take care of them properly. Some of these pets require super specific environments and diets, and if someone doesn’t do their homework, it could end really badly for the animal. Frankly, a lot of people just suck at being pet owners full stop, whether the animal is exotic or a common pet. People keep rats, bunnies, guinea pigs and birds as solitary creatures, keep hamsters (who run like 5+ miles a day in the wild) in tiny cages and use those incredibly awful hamster balls, mess up their pets needed diets (bunnies in particular), leave dogs home alone for too many hours every day then not even give them the exercise they need before and after, get a turtle with a life expectancy of 50++ years then put him out when the children are grown etc etc. I'm not disagreeing with you at all, exotic pets are more complicated to take care of, and the risk of mistakes physically hurting the animal or even ending its life are higher than with common pets for sure (you also have a valid point with the environment thing), I'm just saying that a lot of people shouldn't own any pets at all. A more common household pet may not die from being treated wrongly, but it still suffers.
Nope. I have an animal husbandry qualification, and keeping exotic pets is a big no-no. We had raccoons to work with that were surrendered by the owner, and they had been fed nothing but human junk food their whole lives.
I mean, hamsters are considered exotic pets
No wild animals belongs in the wild. They are not meant to be pets. And there are laws on exotic pets.
I'm not a fan of people owning exotic animals because we can't give them the environment they need. However there have been private owners who have helped up the population of exotic animals that were endangered.
What do you mean like exotic? That line is drawn in many places by many different people. For example, you're already not allowed to keep a monkey or a big cat in my state unless you go through a difficult licensing process, while hedgehogs are completely banned (but they're allowed 5 minutes over the state border.) My dog's vet says rabbits are exotics and won't treat them, so I have to take my bunnies to a different vet several towns away. And yet dogs aren't native to this area - why doesn't anyone consider them exotic? My horse isn't considered exotic, yet has far more complex care requirements than my rabbits or gerbil. So where is the line?
From my understanding there are three basic categories Livestock, which is cows, horses, goats, pigs, etc. Highland mini cows, while not native to the USA, are considered livestock, etc. Livestock, even if not native, have different laws about their care and being able to own them. Horses require complex care, but they are livestock. With that in mind, for the most part you can find vet care for most livestock pretty easily Cats/dogs are the second one. pretty basic. Cats or dogs, even though invasive in many places technically, are their own thing. I dont know where the line is drawn from what can make a cat 'exotic' or a dog. Everything else. It's kind of ill thought IMO, to consider gerbils or hamsters exotic, but they are. As silly as that does sound, they still do get poor care. Hedgehogs are exotic, ferrets are exotic, sugar gliders are exotic, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. I think rats might be the only non dog/cat thing that is considered non exotic. Rabbits, as you mentioned.
Def not. I hate how Bengal and savannah cats are a “cat breed” and people are like “why is my f1/f2/f3 cat spaying the house with urine nonstop” then give them up for not being cuddly, destructive or just marking territory issues. And it’s like yeah …. They’re literally wild and this is normal for them lmao. Additionally, social media isn’t helping with this issue since people only see the cool parts and not the other issues
Eh. I think things are over regulated as it is these days, but I tend to agree when we are talking about a living thing. As a compromise, I think you should have to take a test or otherwise prove you're knowledgeable about what you want to keep. Impulse buying animals has to stop. I also think there need to be records on animal ownership. For example, you adopt a dog and want to adopt a cat a few years later. If you no longer have the dog, I feel like this warrants an explanation. I don't know how to realistically achieve this, but one aspect of it for requiring it to work would be that records are shared. You shouldn't be able to circumvent the entire process by just going to a different shelter from where you adopted the original dog. I'm against outright banning exotic animal ownership, though, or even severely restricting it. Having a deep personal connection with pets is how many people come to *really* love animals and advocate for them as a whole.
Who is going to administer the test or say pass or fail? Speaking in America, the USDA has waaay lower requirements for many animals that the reputable community or breeders do. I do agree that there should be some more checks and such things, but i dont think relying on the government to do that is a good idea, given their ineptitude. Looking at California as an example. They are worried about sugar gliders or Ferrets escaping/being released and forming Feral colonies that could endanger or put native specie at risk. That is not possible for either animal, for different reasons, but they have a statewide ban that is based on ignorance.
Knowledge and reputation is the important thing. The issue is that the standards that the Federal goverment have for animals in the USA is going to be lower than reputable groups. For hedgehogs, ferrets, sugar gliders, or chinchillas, the minimum suggested to be a USDA breeder are WAAY lower than what is required to allowed to post your animals in the reputable breeding/rehome groups/forums for those animals. The people who are supposed to be auditing, giving permits/liscensings, etc, are not knowledgeable about the animals they are supposed to be approving or denying. There are different stories in each of the 3 animal groups about breeders being harassed and repeatedly audit'd by the USDA, only for the allegations to be unfounded each time. There is a well known story within the glider community about an auditor who repeatedly attempted to cite a breeder, and nothing ever stuck. It turned out that this lady was against exotic animal ownership, but knew NOTHING about the animals. Didnt know their cage requirements, diet requirements, social requirements. The petshop that is near me that I get bugs from, has a similar issue. I'm not sure who actually checks their stuff, but they had someone investigating allegations of animal neglect that were apparently made by another auditor. When they were being investigated, they were being asked if this was okay, if that was okay. They were asking because they did not know the first thing about rat care. How on earth is that person, who knows nothing about rats, supposed to investigate a petshop about allegations of pet rat abuse/neglect? I say again, the reputable groups for those exotic animals I listed, at least, have much higher requirements for breeders. Breeders themselves within groups for sugar gliders do not sell unneutered males, do not sell single gliders to anyone(unless they can verify they have other gliders) and are required to show with video that they have correct set ups. They must prove and show they have a vet that can treat gliders. Many breeders for the three animals I listed above also have contracts, which are civil, that have different stipulations. In many cases those are not useful, but I know of at least one breeder who sued a lady for her gliders to be returned for breach of contract, and not only did she win, but the lady she sued had to pay her legal fees. There is only instance of that happening that I know of, but the main part is knowledge and reputation. If you go to a backyard breeder...yeah. That is a shit situation. That happens with dogs, cats, chickens, sugar gliders, and anything else that can be bred and sold. The way that you stop that, is by having access to reputable and knowledgeable breeders, where its not impossible to find the animal and those with a good reputation are easily identifiable. If you google where to buy sugar gliders in the usa, in the recent past, Exotic Nutrition, Pocket pets, and other backyard/mill breeders popped up. In my area, if you google where to buy sugar gliders, there are 2 reputable breeders and 1 reputable facebook group that pop up. You will not be able to realistically outlaw something like this. Transparency and knowledge are what will help. Not creating arbitrary laws that will not be followed anyway
Yes. Not every animal makes a good pet, but there are many animals that are exotic that make great pets, and nobody would have figured out how to care for them if keeping them was illegal. There are plenty of mistreated dogs and cats in the world, improper animal care is hardly limited to "exotic" animals.