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6 Really Weird Pets That
You Could Actually Own
By All That's Interesting
Published January 2, 2015
Updated May 23, 2018
Sometimes, a dog or a cat just won't do, so why not try a
pet otter or capybara?
The cat and the dog have long been the default companion for
humans. For some of us, though, they just won’t do. We need a
more unusual companion animal. We need something exotic
and intriguing like these weird pets:
Weird Pets You Can Own: Skunks
Source: Dakota Pet Hospital
Skunks have one obvious drawback which is why they’ve never
really taken off as pets until recently: their smell. However,
domesticated skunks have their scent glands removed when
they are young, which makes them safe to keep around the
house.
Once you get over their less-than stellar reputation, keeping a
skunk as pet is similar to owning a cat or a ferret. But as with
most pets, if you want to have a strong bond with them you
have to give them extra attention when they’re young.
Source: Africana America
Before you join the Pepe Le Pew fan club, you’ll need to find out
if owning a pet skunk is legal in your state. It’s still illegal to own
a skunk in most states, so don’t get your hopes up. If you do get
one, you can plan on it keeping you company for around ten
years.
Pet Otters
Source: Reddit
If you keep thinking to yourself “You know what? I have too
much nice stuff in my home”, an otter can fix that problem for
you in a moment’s time. Owning an otter is like unleashing Taz
the Tasmanian Devil inside your house.
Source: Wikipedia
Otters are frequently described as “ferrets on crack,” and for
good reason. They will go through every inch of your home,
finding and playing with (and probably destroying) everything
they can get their paws on.
Sure, you’ll probably have a lot of funny moments to capture on
camera — just be prepared to pay a steep price for them.
From a legal standpoint, owning an otter can be trickier than a
skunk, but it is possible. They love water so it is best if you have
a body of water nearby for them to frolic in. You’ll also need
access to plenty of fish.
Weird Pets: Sugar Gliders
Source: Macacovelho
Sugar gliders are quickly becoming America’s new exotic pet
darling. Small and very adorable, sugar gliders have a
distinctive membrane stretching from its front to hind legs which
allows them to glide from tree to tree.
It is unlikely that they will make much use of that membrane in
captivity, but they should still be kept in large areas with plenty
of stuff to climb.
Source: Sugar Glider Blog
Sugargliders are marsupials from Australia, but are actually part
of the opossum family. Since they are still categorized as exotic
pets, ownership restrictions vary from state to state.
One important thing to note about sugar gliders – they are
nocturnal. It is very hard for them to adapt to a daytime
schedule so they are mostly recommended for people who are
active at night themselves.
Weird Pets: Capybaras
Source: Blogspot
Just think of the capybara as the XXL version of that guinea pig
you had when you were a kid. This is accurate because
capybaras are the largest rodent in the world. They often
exceed 4 feet in length and 100 pounds in weight.
Source: WordPress
As exotic pets, not all states allow people to own capybaras and
they aren’t really a good idea for families with small kids,
anyway.
Even if they are raised from infancy, capybaras still maintain a
sense of territoriality and can bite those who get too close. They
will also need a lot of open space to explore, as well as access
to a pool or a lake because they enjoy spending most of their
time in water.
Axolotls
Source: WordPress
If the main traits you seek in a pet are weirdness and originality,
an axolotl is the perfect choice. They are critically endangered
in the wild and nowadays it is actually possible that more
axolotls are held in captivity than in their natural habitats in
Mexico.
Source: Reddit
Axolotls are salamanders with a very interesting characteristic –
the adults never really get over the larval stage. They do grow,
but they never metamorphose into land animals like most
salamanders do, and instead remain aquatic creatures. Like
other salamanders, axolotls also have the ability to re-grow
body parts.
Bearded Dragons
Source: Blogspot
Reptile lovers looking for something different can acquaint
themselves with a bearded dragon. Originally from Australia,
this guy is relatively friendly and docile and doesn’t pose a
threat to humans, even children.
That, combined with the fact that they are easy to take care of,
makes bearded dragons very popular as family pets.
Source: Bearded Dragon
A full-grown adult can reach up to 25 inches in size and weigh
around 20 ounces. Its name comes from the “beard”
surrounding the animal’s throat, which will expand when the
animal feels threatened or is trying to show its dominance.
Dragons work best as solitary pets, although females can
usually get along with each other. The males, however, will
often fight to show which one is the dominant one.
Enjoy learning about these weird pets? Then check out our
other posts on ocean animals facts and the world’s ugliest cats!
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