I’ve been wondering why some people choose exotic pets over the usual cats or dogs. What makes exotic animals so appealing? Would love to hear your thoughts!
For me, it’s personal. I have a woodchuck, and they’re such sweet and loving animals. To them, I’m basically their mom. They’re also super clean and use a litterbox. I’m really glad I decided to have one as a pet!
@Sam
Thanks for sharing! That’s so interesting.
My partner is allergic to cats and dogs, so I had to look for alternatives.
Jalen said:
My partner is allergic to cats and dogs, so I had to look for alternatives.
What pet did you decide on? 
Jalen said:
My partner is allergic to cats and dogs, so I had to look for alternatives.
What pet did you decide on?
I ended up getting a pet Old German Owl pigeon! They’re relatively easy to care for, clean, and surprisingly affectionate. Mine’s been with me for over a year now. He wears little pigeon pants to roam around the house and sleeps in his cage at night. I’d say he’s much lower maintenance than cats or dogs, though I do miss the reliability of those pets sometimes. Pigeons can have moody days, especially during their hormonal phases, but I’ve really grown to love having him around.
@Jalen
That’s so cool! I never thought of a pigeon as a pet. How did you find one?
Channing said:
@Jalen
That’s so cool! I never thought of a pigeon as a pet. How did you find one?
I was researching alternatives to traditional pets and found out about pigeons as companions. There’s actually a pretty big community for pigeon owners online! I got mine from a breeder nearby, but there are also rescues like Palomacy or Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue that ship birds to adopters. It’s such a unique experience having a pet pigeon!
@Jalen
That’s so interesting, thank you! I never realized how popular pigeons are as pets.
I think part of it is the challenge of earning trust from an animal that isn’t bred to be friendly. It’s a slower process, especially with rescues, but it’s so rewarding. I also love learning about their natural behavior and creating an environment that meets their needs.
@Spencer
That’s really interesting! When you got your rescues, did you get any guidance on their care or did you have to figure it out on your own?
Channing said:
@Spencer
That’s really interesting! When you got your rescues, did you get any guidance on their care or did you have to figure it out on your own?
Most of my rescues didn’t come with care instructions. I usually start researching as soon as I know an animal might be coming my way. That way, I’m prepared and can set up their environment before they arrive.
@Spencer
That’s amazing that you put in so much effort for them! I’m sure they’re in much better hands with you.
I’ve always connected better with exotic rodents than with cats or dogs. I’ve kept domestic rats since the early 90s and started keeping more unusual rodents later on. I just find it easier to understand their body language and bond with them.
@Sam
That’s really cool, thank you for sharing!
I just keep animals that I find interesting, and they happen to be exotic ones rather than the usual domesticated pets.
Ozzy said:
I just keep animals that I find interesting, and they happen to be exotic ones rather than the usual domesticated pets.
What kinds of animals do you keep?
Ozzy said:
I just keep animals that I find interesting, and they happen to be exotic ones rather than the usual domesticated pets.
What kinds of animals do you keep?
Here’s my current list:
1 Brown House Snake
1 Rough Scaled Sand Boa
1 Sinaloan Milk Snake
1 Children’s Python
2 Dumeril’s Boas
4 Western Black Widows
1 Brown Widow (+2 egg sacs)
1 Giant African Millipede
1 colony of Halloween Hissing Roaches
1 colony of Dubia Roaches
1 colony of Ivory Headed Roaches
1 colony of Rubber Ducky Isopods
1 (alleged) coydog
2 domestic cats (they just decided to live here one day).
@Ozzy
Wow, that’s quite a collection! How do you manage taking care of so many animals?
Channing said:
@Ozzy
Wow, that’s quite a collection! How do you manage taking care of so many animals?
I’m in a unique situation because I can’t work or go to school due to a disability, so I’m home with them all day. It’s still a lot to handle, though. I’ve decided not to get any more vertebrates for now, but the invertebrates are pretty easy to care for.