People mostly have a dog or a cat as a pet, but every once in a while you meet someone with a pet you’d never expect! Here are list of some strange, unusual and adorable alternative companion animals!
Mini PigsLife Expectancy: 12-17 years
Not for everyone, mini pigs, like their pot-bellied and full-sized relatives, are extremely intelligent animals; they’re fourth on the intelligence list behind humans, primates, and dolphins/whales. Generally, this trait is a positive, as it makes them easy to train. They can be leash-trained for walks, house or litter box trained and can even learn tricks! But, they can become a handful if not given enough mental and physical exercise. They tend to remain under 65lbs and around 24 inches tall, making them small enough for in the house, but they do need lots of outdoor space to graze and lounge.
Painted TurtleLife Expectancy: 50+ years
Found across North America, the Painted Turtle gets its name from the colourful markings on their shells and bodies. Although they may start out small in size, female turtles can grow to between 10-25cm long, while the males will be a bit smaller. Either way, a turtle needs a spacious tank with regularly filtered fresh water that is deep and wide enough for them to swim. They also love to bask in the sunshine, so an aquarium must be equipped with a dry area complete with logs, rocks and a heat source to mimic their natural habitat. Turtles in general tend not to like being held, so they aren’t an ideal pet for young children.
FerretLife Expectancy: 7-10 years
Ferrets belong to the weasel family, and are the only domesticated subspecies - not to be confused with the wild and endangered, Black-footed Ferret you see in zoos. Just like dogs and cats, it is integral that pet ferrets be neutered or spayed and it is also recommended they are de-scented to help with extending their lifespan and making them a more suitable companion animal. Be aware though, they are not for the lazy owner! Ferrets are very mischievous and playful, needing most of their time to be spent out of their cage for exercise and preferably with a sidekick.
Ball PythonLife Expectancy: 20-30 years
Companion snakes of all types are generally misunderstood and thought to be aggressive or dangerous creatures. For the Ball Python, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Actually a very gentle and quiet animal, they enjoy being held and will rarely try to get away. They typically grow to between 4-4 1/2 feet in length and get their name because of their habit to curl up into a tight ball if feeling threatened. Once their terrarium is properly set up with hide boxes, temperature and humidity levels set, they are quite easy to care for. Adults feed on rats only every 7-14 days and always need access to fresh drinking water.
TarantulaLife Expectancy: 15-25 years
Although they’re not for the arachnophobic, pet tarantulas are quiet, docile and easy to care for. They only need about a 5-10 gallon screen-topped terrarium that locks. They may not need a lot of space to be happy, but that space does need to set up in a way that they can flourish. They should be kept in a warm area of the house, with the temperature maintained between 70°-80°F. and depending on the species, they may need extra bedding to burrow in. Like most terrarium creatures, it’s best for them to have a hide area and a shallow water dish. Their enclosures typically only need to be cleaned every 4-6 months, but water should always be fresh and clean.
IguanaLife Expectancy: 10-12 years
Generally a solitary creature with plenty of quirks, Iguanas require a well-educated owner and even better, one with experience. Like many exotic pets, Iguanas do need to be housed in a terrarium, but it must be sizable; if cared for well, they can reach in excess of 5ft long! They love to climb, so vertical spaces and branches are a must, as are basking areas, complete with a heat source and UVB source. As herbivores, Iguanas require a diet filled with fresh leafy greens, vegetables and fruits as a snack, so extra trips to the grocery store or farmer’s market are on tap for all owners.
Horned FrogLife Expectancy: 1-10 years
Also known as the Pacman Frog, thanks to their large abdomen and mouth, these amphibians are found exclusively in South America. Famous for being very large frogs, the males can grow up to 10cm while females can get as large as 15cm! For housing, they require a 10 gallon glass tank, with ample water - enough to cover half of the frog’s body. It should also have plenty of hiding spaces, places to perch and substrate to get away from the water. Temperature and humidity are also a consideration for their home. Because they will quite literally eat anything, they should be raised solitary, but can get used to being hand-fed by their human as they are easily domesticated.
MacawLife Expectancy: 75+ years
Scarlet Macaws are found wild in the rain forests of Mexico, Central and South America. Although they prefer to live on the upper canopy of rain forests, they can be raised as part of a human family. Keeping a Macaw, however, is no easy feat. They are social creatures and very sensitive to any mistreatment, so they must be part of a loving family which allows them plenty of daily freedom from their cage. These birds can grow up to 3ft tall with a wingspan of 4ft, so their cages must be large enough for them to be able to flap and stretch their wings. Because of their long life expectancy, the decision to bring a Macaw into the home should not be taken lightly. And, like any pet, it’s very important to have a specialized exotics veterinarian.
