I’m curious about what it’s really like owning exotic animals. Anyone with unique pets, care to share your experience?
Honestly…just expensive.
Jamie said:
Honestly…just expensive.
Yeah, that’s the first thing I thought of too.
I had three pet rats and called them ‘the boys.’ I cared for them a lot, but they were considered ‘exotic’ by my vet, and those vet bills were rough! I remember crying in my car after reading one of the bills.
My last rat, Dennis, got tumors, and I had the option to pay $400 to remove them, but they’d just keep coming back. In the end, I decided to put him down. It was heartbreaking, and I realized I couldn’t go through that again.
I really do love having them…but it’s a huge commitment. Lots of time, money, and energy go into it. There’s a lot of joy but also some sadness. At the end of the day, they come first, no matter what.
I had a woodchuck and it was honestly my favorite pet. I’m hoping to get another baby next year since my girl passed away suddenly. I miss having one around.
It does cost a lot, but I actually make a small profit by breeding giant beetles! I’m based in Europe, and I usually earn about €300 a month, which goes right back into the hobby.
Breeding beetles is such a fun, addictive hobby. I’m always looking for new species to add. I also give advice to new beetle hobbyists, so feel free to message me here if you’re interested!
It varies depending on the pet. I keep invertebrates, rodents, and reptiles. With exotic rodents, it’s a lot of trial and error, like making their food yourself because you won’t find it in stores. Finding a vet who knows how to handle these animals is another challenge.
With reptiles, it’s easier since there’s a lot of info and community support. Invertebrates like tarantulas and isopods have dedicated online groups and forums, but with some lesser-known rodents, it’s harder to find support.
I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. 
I have isopods and a giant American millipede. Mostly, they’re low-key, but catching my millipede out of the dirt and seeing it crawl around is adorable. I also had a snail, which was oddly stressful because I was always worried it would fall, but I loved that little guy.
I had dart frogs for a while. It was tough to keep them fed in the winter since my fruit fly cultures failed. Crickets were too big for them, and I couldn’t find enough other food. I lost them in the end, but they were amazing pets. I’d love to try again but maybe start with something hardier.
It’s so rewarding, but dealing with the backlash from people and animal rights groups can be discouraging.