Any animal takes a lot of work to look after but getting an exotic pet can take much more hard work and time.
What is the easiest exotic pet to look after? There are a few exotic pets that are easier to look after than others and the list includes:
- Capybara
- Bearded Dragon
- Serval
- Wallaby
- Chimpanzee
- Hyacinth McCaw
- Chinchilla
- Ball Python
- Flying Squirrels
- Chipmunks
- Prairie Dogs
- Degus
- Hedgehogs
- Fennec Fox
- Skunks
- Savannah Cats
- Bengal Cats
Owning any of the above pets is legal and they are easier to care for than other exotic animals.
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Capybara
This is the largest rodent and even though they have a sweet personality, they need to have a place to swim.
Bearded Dragon
The Bearded Dragon is one of the most kept exotic pets in the United States. They are calm and are good for children and are very easy to care for.
The one thing with them is that they need a large cage because they can grow over two feet long.
Serval
The Serval is a wild and exotic cat from Africa. This cat is not normally aggressive but is still wild and needs a lot of time and a big place to run and play.
Wallaby
The Wallaby is like a mini-kangaroo and even though they are fun, they need a lot of outdoor space. These are illegal in many areas.
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are exotic pets and can be difficult but fun to own.
They can live over 50 years so if you choose to own one, be prepared to keep them for life.
Hyacinth McCaw
This bird is a strong animal and they need to be trained from a very young age. They are powerful and smart and need a lot of care, but they are legal in most states and fun to own.
Chinchilla
The Chinchilla is a fun but destructive exotic pet.
They want to run around and play and get bored easily and they do not like to be held or petted much.
Ball Python
This snake is a long snake and needs to have the right food and environment to live in.
These snakes are legal in most states, but they are illegal in other places and require a license to own.
What is a Flying Squirrel?
A flying squirrel is an exotic animal that is similar to the sugar glider. This animal can be cuddled and petted but the great thing is they mostly take care of themselves.
Chipmunk
A Chipmunk is another exotic animal, but they are very active and need a large cage compared to other animals.
They are fun to watch and easy to take care of.
Prairie Dogs
A Prairie Dog is similar to a groundhog and they are easy to take care of, but they are very social animals and want a lot of attention.
This exotic animal also needs a lot of space.
Degus
The Degus is small and like a gerbil and if you get one, you should get two since they are so sociable and do not like to ever be left alone.
Hedgehog
The Hedgehog is an adorable animal from the Erinacine family. They are not a rodent, but they are similar to the porcupine.
This is an exotic animal and they require very little care.
Fennec Fox
If you like dogs but you want something different, the Fennec Fox is a non-domesticated canine and even though it is easy to care for, it can be noisy, needs a lot of room and wants much of your time.
Skunks
The Skunk can make a great pet and they love to be played with, but they like to be out of their cages for most of the day.
Giving them toys and a large area to play in can make them a very special animal to own.
Savannah Cat
The Savanna cat is an exotic animal that is similar to a regular housecat. They are easy to train and do not require a lot of care.
Bengal Cat
The Bengal cat is another animal that is similar to a regular housecat. This cat is considered exotic, but it is a tame and domesticated cat.
Which Exotic Pets are Hard to Care for?
Even though there are a lot of great exotic pets that are easy to care for, here are some that are hard to care for and might even be illegal for you to have:
- Non-domesticated canines
- Non-domesticated felines
- Primates such as monkeys.
- Small exotics such as sloths, coatimundis, porcupines, genets, wallabies, and tamanduas.
People will sometimes adopt things such as large cats and dogs, monkeys, and other exotic pets and will realize that they take up a whole lot more space and time than they have available.
Many of the exotic pets need to have big places to run and play and need to have a large area to live in such as a huge cage or even a shelter outdoors. Always be prepared before making a decision to purchase an exotic animal.
Why Do People Choose to Purchase Exotic Animals?
Exotic animals are fun to have but a lot of people purchase them because they require less commitment and cost less overall than a cat or a dog. These exotic animals often can be kept in their cages, played with here and there and fed well and they will be happy.
Also, people that are allergic to animals such as cats and dogs will sometimes try to find other animals that they can keep so that they can be a pet owner without the added stress of allergies.
What are the Best Exotic Pets for Apartment Living?
The best exotic pets for apartment living are:
- Rabbits
- Ferrets
- Rats
- Mice
- Hamsters
- Guinea Pigs
- Reptiles
- Hedgehogs
Living in a small area such as an apartment can make it hard for you to be able to have a pet cat or dog. Besides the amount of time that they take and energy to care for them, having a yard for them to run in or them being too noisy or destructive can cause problems with those that live in an apartment.
If you love pets and you live in an apartment, there are many exotic animals that are great for small living spaces.
Animals such as rabbits are great at keeping themselves cleaned, litter training and they are quiet animals. Ferrets are other great animals to have in small spaces because they sleep most of the day and they are quiet, but they do get into a lot of mischiefs.
Rats, mice, hamsters, and Guinea pigs are small house pets and do not take up much room and are not disruptive to the neighbors. These pets need small cages and so they do not take up a lot of room.
What Exotic Pets are Best for Kids?
Kids can be proud owners of exotic pets that will be patient and kind to them such as:
- Rats
- Guinea Pigs
- Gerbils
- Bearded Dragon
- Mice
- Leopard Geckos
- Hamsters
If you are choosing an exotic pet for your children and you want one that will be easy to handle and gentle with them, the list above is great. These pets are easy to adapt to their area, easy to handle and they are able to deal with children that are loud and rambunctious at times.
The animals listed above are very smart, have unique personalities, enjoy being played with, and are usually easy to care for. These pets will keep your children interested because they are responsive in nature and they enjoy the attention that your child can give them.
What are the Friendliest Exotic Pets?
The friendliest exotic pets to own are:
- Rats
- Bearded Dragons
- Cockatiels
- Guinea Pigs
- Rabbits
The great thing about these exotic pets is that most of them are quiet and enjoy being messed with and given attention. These pets are very smart, love to interact, have good temperaments, do not bite (usually), love to play, love to solve puzzles, come in a variety of sizes and colors, are social animals, and love life for many years.
Another great thing about these pets is that they are great with children, work well around other pets, bond well with their owners and they can be good alternatives to animals such as cats and dogs that can cause allergies and take up a lot of extra space.