Step 8: On Joining an Exotic Pet Auction

Do you intend to go to an auction to buy an exotic pet? That could be a wise move, because for sure, you are going to see lots of wonderful species there. If you have gone to one before, the proceedings should be familiar to you.

 

But if it is going to be your first time, listed here are the things that you should know about an exotic animal or exotic bird auction.

 

1. Most auctions are a one-day event. Some could extend the event to two or three days. There is also a specified date as to when and where they are accepting consignments. Joining an auction isn’t limited to being a buyer of exotic animals. You can also join as a seller of such.

 

2. Some animals aren’t accepted in auctions. This includes state regulated animals such as deer and elks, as well as all other types of poisonous animals and certain skunks. So if you are a buyer looking for a rather venomous animal or an animal not allowed in your state, don’t go to an exotic animal auction anymore, because you are not going to find what you are looking for there.

 

3. Cameras and videos aren’t allowed in an auction place. For security purposes and other related reasons, the auction sponsor reserves the right not to allow any form of camera and other image-taking equipments. So when you attend an auction, leave these things at home, because you can’t use that inside anyway.

 

4. Auction sponsors get a sale for every item sold. If you intend to join the auction as a seller, you have to be informed that your sale is subject to commission of 5% to 20%, depending upon the price of the animal you are selling. So you can adjust your prices accordingly.

 

5. Auction sponsors could request for a registration fee for sellers. To ensure that the animal will arrive on the date of the auction, sponsors will ask for a registration fee, either refundable or non-refundable according to the agreement. Ask exactly how much they are going to charge per pet.

 

6. Admission fees can be collected from buyers. If you are coming as a buyer, a minimal amount could be asked of you as entrance fee. Usually for a 2-day event, the price is within the rage of $8 to $15. A single day event will usually be less than $10.

 

Is there an exotic pet auction coming up near you? If there is one, and you do want to get an exotic pet, join it. Your next best friend could be there!

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Step 7: How to name you exotic pet?

Having a pet is just like having a baby. Pet owners take much time and effort in giving names to their pets much like they would do with their own children. Getting the right name for an ordinary or an exotic pet would give more distinction and personality to the pet.

 

It is hard enough to choose an ordinary pet and choosing an exotic pet makes the choice doubly difficult. It is always important to think twice before choosing an exotic pet because they are more difficult to take care of than ordinary pets.

 

The first thing to consider when choosing an exotic pet is your degree of commitment to the pet. Owning and taking care of an exotic pet is no joke and one should always be prepared for challenges. Exotic pets are also more expensive to take care of since they have special needs and requirements.

 

Once you have chosen an exotic pet, the next part is to decide on its name. Like most people, your exotic pet will be known for its name for as long as its life span, so be careful when giving your exotic pet a name.

 

Choosing a proper name for an exotic pet can be quite hard but every exotic pet owner can do that with proper research and a little creativity. Make sure the name you choose for your exotic pet is appropriate and can easily be recognized by the pet. The purpose for naming the pet is to have something to call him by which will make him respond so don’t give the exotic pet difficult names.

 

The name given to an exotic pet will distinguish it from the other household pets. Giving short and easy to recall names can be an important factor in making the exotic pet conscious and responsive to the owner’s training and commands.

 

Pet experts believe that a pet that is given a wrong and inappropriate name can lead to difficulties in training and behavioral patterns. The pet will also have a difficult time recognizing his own name and won’t be as responsive to the owner had he been given the proper name.

 

Names with one syllable are ideal because they are easily recognized by pets. Remember that you are naming an exotic pet and not a person. Even people will have a problem when they are given difficult sounding names so keep the name of your exotic pet as simple as possible.

 

Choosing one-syllable names that sounds the same with training commands like sit, talk and come will make the exotic pet easier to train. Also avoid giving your exotic pet a name that can cause embarrassment to both of you and even your neighbors.

 

Today, it is common and acceptable to name pets after humans. Words of caution though; never give identical names to your child and your pet or else, both of them may come at the same time when you call them. Worse, this may cause embarrassment to your child.

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Step 6: Knowing the Temperature Requirements of Exotic Pets

So, you want to get an exotic pet, huh? Maybe you are tired of your regular dog and your good old cat. Maybe the bird joyfully chirping outside your window isn’t good enough for you anymore.

 

You want more challenge and adventure, as a pet owner. You want to take on the challenge of taking care of exotic animals as pets. Yes, exotic animals like skunks, spiders, and snakes.

 

But before you do just that, you have to know the proper condition of the type of exotic pet you intend to take care of. Mostly, exotic pets can’t live in the same condition such as yours. You first have to know its habitat temperature requirements.

 

For starters, try to research things about the pet and the particular species that you want. From where do these animals come from? Do they come from cold countries like Antarctica? Or hot ones like Kenya and South Africa?

 

The room temperature of the animals you intend to take care of should be maintained to match their natural habitat. If they are used to cold weather and you are in an equally cold country, like the U.S., then you should be fine. What about if they are used to a hot, humid place? That is going to be a problem, for sure.

 

If you intend to take care of an exotic pet that is used to weather not similar to yours, then the pets will definitely not survive long. The only thing that you can do is to set up a room and make its temperature akin to what the animal is used to.

 

Temperature is really important. So the next time you intend to take an oriental exotic animal to your relatively cold country, think twice. You might not be making a good decision. The pet you intend to take care of may not even last for a few days. It is just going to be a waste.

 

So the main thing here is, don’t get exotic pets originating from relatively hot countries, unless you really wanted to go into great heights simulating their natural habitat for them. If you are fine with that, then you can go ahead and take care of that pet. But if that is simply too much of a hassle for you, then don’t do it. It may not be worth it.

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Step 5: Buying Necessities at the Exotic Pet Supply Shop

George was fascinated with reptiles at a very young age. This all started when the school went on a field trip to the zoo and was immediately followed a book entitled “Creepy Crawly Things” given at the end of the tour.

 

This fascination became a reality when George’s parents purchased a tarantula at the local pet store. This creature belongs to the arachnid family because of the venomous fangs that are used to kill prey.

 

The tarantula loves to eat fresh meat. Unlike other spiders that usually eat whatever gets trapped in the web, this one waits in a certain spot and ambushes the prey. The victims are usually insects, other spiders, birds and amphibians.

 

Since it is quite difficult to catch these creatures, the best place to get them is from an exotic pet supply shop.

 

The first thing any owner must provide is shelter for the pet. The tarantula should be placed in a glass aquarium with some rocks or old wood to make it feel comfortable in its environment. This will cost an average of $40 and is very easy for anyone to set up.

 

Some jell should also be purchased to give the spider some liquids together with live insects such as crickets or worms as part of its diet. This doesn’t hurt the wallet that much since the tarantula is only fed once a week.

 

Tarantulas are nocturnal animals so having a small lamp installed will be just right to give it some warmth in its home. The owner should make sure that it doesn’t exceed 30 degrees, which could be too much for the spider to handle.

 

Even if many Americans prefer to have dogs, cats or fish as pets, there are many who prefer to have spiders instead. These eight-legged creatures are not noisy compared to other animals, don’t produce any harmful odors from urine or feces and are easy to maintain.

 

The price for a tarantula on the market ranges from $20 to $50. This will depend on the type, the gender and age when it was purchased. The exotic pet supply store also carries books of how to take care of this kind of spider.

 

Deciding to own a tarantula or any other exotic pet is a huge responsibility. It will be a good idea to do some research first and know the dos and don’ts in order to have fun with this creature around.

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Step 4: Food for Exotic Pets

 

Some people consider having an exotic pet as a companion in the home. This can be a bird, a snake, a spider or even a scorpion. Though some of these are venomous, proper care must be enforced to make sure such incidents don’t happen.

 

Aside from making the home similar to the habitat of the pet, the most important thing is giving the right diet. If the animal is a frog, insects such as mosquitoes or flies, which are difficult to breed at home, can be purchased from the store.

 

Those who decide to have a snake at home will make the creature happy by feeding it a live mouse. If watching how the rodent dies sickens the individual, it can be killed and frozen then just warmed in hot water before giving it to the pet.

 

The reason the mouse should be placed in warm water first is because snakes won’t eat anything cold. This is considered to be a waste of money since the creature will just spit it out after.

 

If the owner finds buying insects or mice expensive, it will be a good idea to raise them at home. This is very challenging but with proper care, this will surely save money in the long term.

 

The only risk this poses is the possibility that these might escape and do damage to the home. Some people who wanted to raise crickets gave up after realizing how inconvenient it was because of the noise.

 

The best advice is to perhaps only buy a sufficient number so that there wouldn’t be any problems caused by raising the exotic animal in the comforts of home. The animal lover can compare the price of the pet store and those offered online before making an order. The customer should keep in mind that some retailers give discounts for bulk orders.

 

Some exotic animals are herbivores. Instead of buying this from the supermarket or the pet store, the person can try planting these in the backyard. There might be too much for the pet to consume so some can also be used when preparing dishes at home.

 

There are many things needed to make sure the pet is well treated at home. Aside from taking this to the vet or providing adequate shelter, the best is still maintaining a proper diet to make sure it is always healthy and strong.

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Step 3: Setting The Stage for Your Exotic Pet

While it’s fabulous to be able to show off your exotic pet, the cost of maintaining one is really considerable. One of the more expensive things you have to note is simulating the proper environment for your exotic pet, aside from insurance, food costs and veterinary maintenance checks.

 

A rule of thumb of simulating the proper environment is to put it in a place where it will feel most at home, or close to home. This is very challenging, especially since the said exotic pet is never originally designed for domestication. And another thing is that you won’t find your neighbor having the same exotic pet to run to just in case you encounter problems with it.

 

This is also another good reminder you must not forget: you may be the only one within your home who can actually care for and maintain that exotic pet, since some people might be iffy to the idea of feeding your pet ferret while you are away. You have to give a considerable amount of availability for your pet. Make sure that the pet cage is positioned in a place where you can frequently monitor it.

 

Some elements of proper environment for your exotic pet include ventilation or lighting, available resources for your pet to “play” in (depending on what constitutes safe play as far as your selected exotic pet is concerned), easy accessibility to food and the like.

 

Constant communication with breeders will further help expand your knowledge on how to properly care for your exotic pet. In case anything happens, post a list of contact numbers near your exotic pet’s area for easy access. But proper and meticulously done research on your exotic pet prior to building the environment already takes care of pretty much everything.

 

For other people’s safety, you might want to put your exotic pet in a slightly isolated area, far from children who may be better off not mingling with them. Keep the exotic pet distant but still viewable.

 

Some exotic pets don’t exactly welcome the idea of being fawned over by strangers. It might even take more time and considerable training for it to warm up to you, much more with other people. Keeping it out of your sight too much may cause it to escape and wreak havoc on somebody else’s home.

 

Make sure that you have the environment completely under control. Set boundaries with alarm systems that will alert you if your pet is going where it’s not supposed to go.

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Step 2: Choosing the Best Cage for Your Exotic Pet

 

When owning an exotic pet, the first thing you should consider is the cage. You should find the right materials when making a cage for your exotic pet. You may also find ready-made cages that have installed housing systems.

 

If you prefer buying a snake as your pet, you should prepare a cage that can suit the size and shape of your snake. The size of the cage may depend on the age of the snake. You should also consider the environmental living conditions of the snake.

 

You may also consider using aquarium tanks as your extra cage for snakes that are less than six to seven feet in length and are required to have swim breaks. For desert snakes, you may prepare a screen top cage to provide ventilation. Tropical snakes may need a cage that has a top raise cover screen to sustain average temperature.

 

Make sure that your cage has glass-based screens so that you can view your pet clearly. You won’t have a hard time in cleaning glass aquariums. However, they are heavy since they are solid and should be placed on a steel stand. You may put solid round castors so that you can move it easily.

 

You may also find melamine cages that are easier to clean. They are perfect for bigger snakes since they are usually made with large space. It is designed to resist moisture. You can also find plastic-made rubber tubs that are used as breeding cages. This will also serve as your secondary cage in case you need to clean or repair your primary cage.

 

If you can’t afford these kinds of cages, you may have the option of using plywood made cages that are cheaper and easier to find. You can create your own design using good grades of plywood, which can give you a nice finish to your snake cage.

 

For those snake owners who make their own cages, they always prefer using plywood and melamine crafts since they provide the cage with good insulating properties.

 

Cages made from glass may have the tendency to lose heat fast especially on its front portion. You may also find a hard time working on glass cages since you will need special tools for cutting edges and portions of the glass.

 

Always keep in mind that your cage should provide security for your snake as well as to smaller kids. Make sure that you find the right place in your house where you will place the cage. Your cage should provide the same environmental conditions that your exotic pet needs in order to survive.

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Step1: Steps in Acquiring an Exotic Pet License

Some people like animals. And some are especially fond of the real exotic ones. Exotic animals are those not usually made as a pet. It is definitely not a dog, a bird, or a cat. Exotic animals are usually found in jungles, forests, and the wild. Examples of these are skunks, snakes, or even tigers and lion cubs.

 

Some local governments require people, who intend to take care of these exotic pets within their yards or homes, to secure an exotic pet license. For one, in Illinois, it is illegal to own and take care of an exotic animal. In Georgia, you can take certain species of a skunk as pet without a permit.

 

But as a precaution, here are the steps you should do the moment you intend to take an exotic pet home.

 

1. Look for a listing of pets considered as exotic within your area. You can try the internet, there you will be able to find information about pets and owning one where you live. But as a rule of thumb, if your pet normally lives in the open, it is most probably wild.

 

2. Check your local laws and see if there is a rule against owning exotic pets. As stated earlier, there are states that don’t allow it outright. For some states, it is okay. And others will require that you hold an exotic pet license. Call your local information service. They should be able to connect you to the right department to get the necessary information.

 

3. Process the necessary papers. If in case the state that you live in does require an exotic pet license, you have no choice but to comply. Compile all the necessary documents that they need and pass it on to the proper office accordingly.

 

4. See if there is any vaccines or removal of body parts like teeth is required. Because some exotic pets can be harmful, local state laws require owners to do something like these in order to protect the other people within the community.

 

5. File for the permit as necessary. After making sure that you have all the papers and the requirements met and ready, you are now ready to make a trip to your local government office to file and secure the permit with them.

 

These are the things you have to do to acquire the much needed permit for that sweet old exotic pet you always wanted. Hopefully, you need not transfer to another state just to take care of it!

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Why Choose Reptiles As Exotic Pet?

 

Pets are a source of enjoyment and fulfillment for most people. Pets like dogs and cats serve as loyal companions to people and are rewarded with tender loving care by their owners. However, there are people who pour out their affection to exotic pets.

 

Exotic pets are named as such because they aren’t domesticated and tamed and are most often found in the wild. However, the popularity of exotic animals as pets has encouraged pet stores to stock up on exotic pets to meet the rising demand in the market.

When a person hears exotic pet, the first thing that comes into his mind is an animal that is uncommon and maybe wild. There are quite harmless exotic pets like hamsters, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits. On the other hand, there are also exotic pets that may seem ferocious and wild at first glance.

 

Reptiles are one of the most favored exotic pets especially people who have a love for the outdoors. There are different kinds of reptiles but the mere sound of their names can evoke fear from people who don’t know an iota about their nature.

 

Among the common reptiles that have been purchased or adopted as exotic pets are snakes, crocodiles, turtles and iguanas. The frightening lead character in the legend of the Loch Ness is said to be a reptile. No one can of course validate this belief and scientists are still at a loss as to the truth behind claims of people who have seen the monster.

 

But not all reptiles are scary. The misconceptions people have about the nature of reptiles that are often regarded as exotic pets came from ignorance and lack of willingness to accept reptiles as exotic pets.

 

A person who is planning to buy a reptile as an exotic pet should bear in mind that most reptiles eat meat but there are reptiles that eat plants. Make sure that you know everything about the chosen reptile because there are reptiles that can be considered venomous.

 

There are people who believe that keeping snakes as exotic pets will bring them luck. Some prefer to keep snakes because they are a natural deterrent to the thousands of rodents living in the neighborhood.

 

There are plenty of reptiles to choose from and anyone with a penchant for these strange and eerie creatures can choose from a variety of reptiles that can be found roaming in the environment or being sold in pet stores all over the world.

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa

Health Care Tips for Your Exotic Pet

 

Having your exotic pet on a regular check up with a veterinarian is an important part on your exotic pet’s health. There could be important things that you would like to know in order to maintain the quality of health of your exotic pet.

 

Make sure that you develop good communication with your veterinarian so that it would be easier for you to contact him in case your pet needs a check up or treatment. You may find your exotic pets having problems with their health.

 

The most common illness for most exotic pets like snakes is anorexia. This is caused by factors like the husbandry where low temperature may cause exotic pets to lose their appetite. Snakes have the tendency to lessen metabolism when it is fall.

 

Anorexia among snakes is also caused by the low quality of food fed to them. Another reason could be the wrong way you present food to the pet. It is important that you should know the right way on how to serve the right food for your pets to make them eat well.

 

If anorexia isn’t properly treated, this may lead to other diseases for your exotic pet. It is important that you should have knowledge on how to give your pet good health. Here are some tips in order to keep your exotic pet healthy.

 

1. Make sure that you bring your snake to your community veterinarian if symptoms of lost appetite is seen.

 

2. Observe the snake whether there are changes in his eating habits and if it can eat the same amount of food that you usually give.

 

3. Make sure that you supply heat in its cage by setting up a heating system that will provide the needed temperature for its body metabolism. Low temperature is the common reason why snakes lose their appetite. Their body metabolism tends to fall.

 

4. You should know the proper manner of serving food to your exotic pet. You should also pay attention to the quality of food that you serve.

 

5. Make sure that your husbandry is properly maintained and you have to keep it clean.

 

Exotic pets like snakes should be examined if there is no progress in its appetite. Your veterinarian may reevaluate his findings and make new clinical diagnosis to check if there are parasites affecting the health of your exotic pet. If necessary, x-rays and ultrasounds may be conducted to determine the real health problem of your exotic pet.

 

By Ihda Khairun Nisa