Exotic animals help and advice?

I am thinking of buying an exotic animal (lizard e.t.c) . Looking for advice and help eg sites, prices,looking after them.Exotic animals help and advice?
Things to keep in mind about reptiles..


1) You don't just feed them, you replicate an environment


2) Most of them are not social and will not develop a 'friendship' with you, though, some species are a lot more personable


3) Most reptiles are fairly long lived.


4) If you enjoy technical stuff like keeping things within certain parameters then you may enjoy reptiles..





Keeping reptiles isn't just about keeping a pet, it's also keeping an entire mini environment maintained around the pet. While it's not much work with most species, it is something you have to remember to do everyday.. For instance, I have a red foot tortoise, not only do I have to feed and water him everyday. I also have to make sure his temperature stays in an appropriate range despite fluctuations in my home from weather. For instance, it was colder in my home today, so I had to lower his heating bulb a couple inches closer to him. Tomorrow, it's supposed to warm up, so in the morning I'll have to move it a couple inches away from him. I have a laser temperature gun so that I can check basking temperatures all over his enclosure in a few seconds.. Once I make sure it's warm enough, I mist one side of his enclosure with warm water so that has has a swampy 'mini-climate' and a dry side of his enclosure..


That's a more complex species, there are easier ones.


Some typically recommended beginner ones are leopard geckos, crested geckos, corn snakes, ball pythons, bearded dragons and blue tongued skinks..





If you can find a store that specializes in reptiles near you, even a couple hours away, I would drive there and see what reptiles appeal to you. Make a list of which ones you thought you really liked, and then come back and ask for care specifics on the ones that actually appealed to you. I wouldn't buy one that day, just go to see what you like. Then come back and research the care..


While I could tell you corn snakes are one of the easiest reptiles to keep, if you think they're gross, that doesn't help you. I think a bearded dragon is too much work for me, they need to be kept pretty warm and lots of crickets, just not my thing. BUT, if you really like bearded dragons, then it may be worth it to you to do the work.. You won't know till you actually meet some face to face..


Exotic animals help and advice?
I wouldn't really class a ferret as an exotic pet. I thought exotic pets were mainly reptiles and amphibians.





Most people choose exotic pets because, firstly, they want a pet that is interesting to watch and secondly, they don't really care about the affectionate side of pets.(I've recently bought a snake and they really couldn't give a crap who you are, as long as you feed them.) So think about what kind of pet would be most interesting to keep in your room.





The main cost involved in buying an exotic animal is the cost of the animal itself and the initial start up cost. Because they're exotic, they will need different temperatures to what your house can provide which means thermoters, regulators, heat mats. Which are all very expensive. I bought a start up kit for 拢35 but will only last the snake for a year and is not great quality. (see the link below for more prices.) However, the snake will only eat about 拢1-2 worth of food a week, which is very cheap in comparison to other pets.





Most exotic pets are an investment. A corn snake will last around 10-15 years and a turtle can live between 50 and 100 years! So think about where you'll be in that time. You also need to think about whether you'll have the money to keep upgrading their home when they grow too large for it. (A snake can grow up to 1 inch per week, for example).





Other than that though, it just depends on what you fancy. If you like the look of a lizard, do some research. Make sure you know you're stuff before choosing one, but that goes with any pet really. Good luck!
exotic animals (or any animal) take ALOT mroe care and work often then a domestic animal.





ferrets are often the first though of one and so are lizards. These make great pets however you always will have to remember, they are an exotic and will retain some of the traits of a wild animal. So read up on them in captivity and in the wild
Ok, well first don't rely on stuff you read onlne about caring for your pets as your have no idea of how reliable it is.


Instead find a reputable specialist reptile centre. Temperatures, humidity and diet as well as enclosures and licensing and regulation varies according to species so you need to be specific and get advice and a book.I'd suggest you start off with a beginners reptile like leopard geckos.





I have kept lots of reptiles and used to work in a reptile centre and sanctuary.


If you email me i'll give you advice on the species i know well.





Think hard about this. You don't state your age. You need to know what you're getting into.


Start off small though, reptiles are hard to look after and you can really harm your pet if you get the humidity/temp and diet ratio wrong.





You need the knowledge first so it's cool that you're doing the background research.Great!
Depending on how much you are looking to spend, there are plenty of exotic animals including some special color morph (mutations) on more common-like species of reptiles.
dont know where you are in the world but where ever it is, i'm sure these sites will help


http://www.exoticpetsites.com


http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk





good luck :)