Believe it or not, there are many people who call unusual, unconventional creatures their pets. Find out which ones are the most popular of the ever-growing exotic pet trend, and learn what it really takes to care for these 10 peculiar pets.
10. Capybara
Related to the guinea pig, this native South American is the largest rodent in the world. Fully grown, the capybara is on average 4 feet (1.2 meters) long and usually weighs more than 100 pounds (45 kilograms). It's rare to find these obscure animals as pets, but there's one capybara named Caplin Rous who's gained a loyal Internet following. His owner, Melanie Typaldos, who lives in Buda, Texas, has made it her mission to educate people about this very unusual rodent.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
9: Stick Insect
The stick insect has been entertaining and educating school-age children in classrooms for years, because of its unique appearance and simple care needs. Now, more and more people are keeping stick insects as pets at home, according to science author Sandra Markle. These intriguing insects are usually around 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 centimeters) long and can live for several years in the right conditions.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
8: Miniature Donkey
Shrek and Fiona might have accepted a donkey into their family in the popular animated movie, "Shrek," but wasn't that just a fairy tale? Not necessarily. The American Pet Products Association reports that more than 3 million people in the United States own equine animals, including miniature donkeys. According to the National Miniature Donkey Association (NMDA), these animals make
good pets because they are affectionate and good with children.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
7: Hedgehogs
Many think the surge in pet hedgehogs began with the release of the popular video game, "Sonic the Hedgehog" in 1991, and this is one fad that seems to have staying power. Hedgehogs are commonly mistaken for small porcupines, but the two species are not related. Hedgehogs can vary in size from .5 pounds to 1.5 pounds (.23 kilograms to .6 kilograms), with spines up to .75 inches (1.9 centimeters) in length.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
6: Pygmy Goat
Goats have long been kept as pets; even Abraham Lincoln had a pet goat in the White House during his presidency. Although most people don't keep standard dairy goats as pets anymore, pygmy goats are popular as pets, thanks to their compact sizes and friendly dispositions. These grass-eaters are similar to small dogs in size and are generally considered easy to care for.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
5: Potbellied Pig
This pig isn't the 1-ton (2,000-pound) variety you'd find on a farm, but a smaller breed that makes a pretty good pet. George Clooney famously cared for a potbellied pig named Max for more than 18 years. These squealers are relatively odor-free and easy to train. Police departments have even used potbellied pigs as drug sniffers, because of their trainability and the fact that they have an amazing sense of smell.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
4: Sugar Gliders
Part of the possum family, sugar gliders are quickly becoming one of America's favorite peculiar pet species. They are native to Australia and get their name because of a special membrane that extends from the front leg to the hind leg, allowing them to glide from tree to tree. The average full-grown glider will weigh only about 3 ounces (85 grams) and reach around 7 inches (17 centimeters) in length.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
3: Wallaby
Native to Australia, the wallaby is a marsupial like its cousin the kangaroo. It can grow up to 41 inches (104 centimeters) in length and weigh up to 53 pounds (24 kilograms). It might be really cute, but the wallaby is also a fast jumper and needs a lot of space to hop around at high speeds.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
2: Skunk
Skunks have been kept as pets since the early 20th century, but these striped animals have never been that popular. It could have something to do with the species' smelly reputation, but domesticated skunks' scent glands are removed when they're about 4 weeks old, so that owners won't have to live with the stench. Skunk enthusiasts describe them as very sensitive and intelligent animals, with curious personalities.
Image Credit: Thinkstock (5) | Comstock
1: Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Some might think this is the grossest pet ever, but many people consider this large, hissing insect their love bug. If you can get past the idea of keeping a cockroach on purpose, you might realize these hissers actually make really good pets. They don't fly or bite, and the hissing sound they make is pretty cool, too.
-Source: www.animalplanet.com
No comments:
Post a Comment