Exotic Pets You Didnt Know Were Legal

Melissa cares for a diversity of exotic animals and has completed a certificate in veterinary assisting and a bachelor'southward caste in biology.

A cuddy big cat, the lion, lying on its back — A cuddy large cat, the lion, lying on its back

Are Exotic Pets Dangerous?

The public, and creature rights groups in particular, always seem to have such a negative impression of more unique animals beingness kept as pets. "You own that?" "How tin can yous have that every bit a pet?" "That's dangerous!" "It must be wrong for the animal!" And the e'er-and then-popular and ideology-driven merits: "That animal belongs in the wild!" Well, all animals certainly come from the wild, only that doesn't mean they can't be happy (or happier) in domesticity.

The existence of these animals should, at minimum, call into question coating bans of exotic pets on the pretense of public safe. The goal of this commodity is to illustrate how pet ownership is being decided upon by the speculative and highly unsubstantiated emotions and ideologies of people who besides have no involvement in keeping these pets and possessing no empathy with this personal freedom, or those seeking to restrict pet ownership as a whole because of animal rights agendas, thus infringing on the freedom of choice and lifestyle pursuits of others. For more than information on this, scroll down past the list.

10 Exotic Pets That Are Non Dangerous

Fennec Foxes
Tamanduas and Ii-Toed Sloths
Bennett'south Wallabies
Muntjac Deer
Spotted Genets
African Servals, Savannah Cats, and Other Minor to Medium-Sized Felines
Bushbabies
Capybaras and Patagonian Cavies
Kinkajous
Boa Constrictors

A reminder: This commodity is non a care sheet, nor do I endorse any of these animals every bit pets. I do support open up-mindedness, and I oppose pet bans. Always do your inquiry before inquiring nearly whatsoever fauna.

The fennec fox licks its nose.

Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr

1. Fennec Foxes

Keeping a pocket-sized desert pull a fast one on in a home surroundings may sound as though this small mammal may be a fish out of h2o. However, fennec foxes are actually one of the nearly popular exotic mammals. This is because they thrive with the proper owner, being one of the easier exotic animals to manage.

Different other foxes, these animals make good house pets. Many use a litter box with varying levels of consistency, and the droppings are dry since this desert dweller conserves water efficiently.

Fennec fox intendance may exist comparable to that of a loftier-maintenance ferret. A reasonable enclosure for this minor mammal should exist, at minimum, a multi-level ferret enclosure such equally a Ferret Nation. In pocket-size enclosures, fennecs should exist let out to play daily.

They weigh as much equally a chihuahua and are harmless. Bat-eared foxes are similar animals that are not privately-owned in high numbers.

2. Tamanduas and Ii-Toed Sloths

I include this unique animate being only to show how an creature beingness "wild" and exotic certainly doesn't hateful information technology has to possess the danger of a Bengal tiger. Not all animals are ready to pounce on your next door neighbour or bat its paws at moving cars.

How many people would experience threatened by a ii-toed sloth? This is an fauna that an baby can probably out-clamber. Sloths are high-maintenance pets, and at that place's a lot of misinformation floating around about them.

Currently, their captive-bred populations are small, and they are (thankfully) unpopular as pets. To properly adapt them, they should have a large room or an aviary with sizable branches and ropes to climb on. But with the right owner, the beast'southward welfare needs can exist met.

Scroll to Proceed

iii. Bennett'south Wallabies

Unlike kangaroos, wallabies are only too small to exist any possible threat or nuisance to anyone. So why should they exist banned anywhere? Wallabies are by and large outdoor pets, and should exist kept in a sufficient pen with available shelter.

Owners can seal a connection with these marsupials early past carrying them in a makeshift pouch sling in their early boyhood. After this criterion is met, wallabies thrive in domestic settings. Outside of ideologies, no valid reason exists to ban these animals as pets.

4. Muntjac Deer

Similar to pot-bellied pigs, muntjac deer are kept past some every bit house pets, and they are unique to their larger counterparts. Muntjac deer reach the size of a large house cat, and are reported by their owners to be extremely affectionate.

If you realized that your neighbor was keeping a pet deer indoors, that might sound baroque and destined to be a problem. All the same, aside from the owners needing to deal with the excessive chewing habit this species is decumbent to, they are wonderfully enriching pets that thrive with the proper human'southward care.

My small spotted genet sitting. — My modest spotted genet sitting.

5. Spotted Genets

I can personally attest to the harmlessness of this supposedly intimidating-looking exotic pet. An episode of the prove Wild Justice on the National Geographic aqueduct volition call them a "wild African exotic mammal."

To me, they are a high free energy, arboreal, and nocturnal "cat-ferret." They combine many qualities of different animals, too as possessing a few of their own, and make a very rewarding pet for the right owners who tin can tolerate them.

Owners who like to snuggle and hold their pets for extended periods may want to turn owning a genet down—they just aren't mentally congenital for it. Genets are very skittish and hate to exist restrained by humans, and the last thing any person needs to worry about is their neighbour'south genet attacking them. Scratch marks can be expected for the possessor who volition collaborate with their pet genet (mine have significantly decreased since my genet's childhood).

I have as well gotten some angry nips and the occasional seize with teeth due to food protection, fearfulness, and simple playing, merely I take survived these superficial wounds. My genet is extremely hesitant to leave my room, let alone the house, non that I would permit that to happen. If he did escape, my biggest fear would be his death, not him "sneaking into someone's doggie door and messing with someone" (as was literally stated by the Wild Justice episode). Every genet owner knows that is preposterous.

half dozen. African Servals, Savanah Cats, and Other Small to Medium-Sized Felines

As the most "intimidating" animal on this list, servals deserve a spot on this list. Why? Not because they make excellent pets for boilerplate pet-keeping people (they require demanding husbandry and caging requirements), but because they are so sadly oftentimes lumped into the same category as tigers, lions, and leopards, which results in their unfair banning.

This type of ban has recently occurred in Ohio, because when people think of a wild feline, they by and large think of big cats.

While servals may have an intimidating size, nearly of their meridian comes from the length of their legs. They have a build similar to a cheetah (which, despite being a big cat, is likewise not then unsafe to people), and hunt much smaller prey.

A pet serval is not even likely to stalk a child if, past worst-case scenario, it bankrupt costless from its possessor's home. In fact, from what I can find, servals have been responsible for no human fatalities or fifty-fifty any significant injury in the United states of america.

I tin can assure any person that they would rather spend an hour in a room with an aroused serval than 10 minutes with a protective dog on its turf that they don't ain.

A serval and a baby Geoffroy's cat.

Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr

A siberian lynx lying on a rock. — A siberian lynx lying on a stone.

Tambako the Jaguar via Fluckr

Other medium-sized felines:

Bobcats. In this category, bobcats possess the biggest potential to be unsafe considering they actually accept large prey despite their size. Yet, outside of rabies cases in wild bobcats, there are no reported bobcat attacks (this disease makes some animals highly ambitious) and are really said to be the easiest of all the medium exotic pet cats.
Asian leopard cats, ocelots, jungle cats, and Geoffrey cats. Asian leopard cats, ocelots, jungle cats, and Geoffrey cats are also small cats that will not hunt downwardly neighborhood children in the event of an escape. However, they do not make good, easy pets. The owner would need to be willing to create double door entrances to their house, have an outdoor pen for the true cat, and deal with excessive odor marking via spraying.
Savannah cats. Savannah cats are domesticated cats mixed with serval blood. The highest serval percentage (53%) Savannah is an F1, and their prices run from $vii,000 to $22,000. F4 generation Savannah cats are similarly alpine, and F3 and downwardly are smaller and far more domesticated (more than like a regular cat) than wild. They are simply interesting cats with dog-like characteristics. Bans be for this particular pet due to fear of the unusual. These animals pose no threat to public rubber.

A bush baby perching on shoulder — A bush babe perching on shoulder

Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr

7. Bushbabies

Welfare-wise, it'due south hard to defend having primates as pets. This is considering they require dedicated individuals who have the beast smarts to understand their complex needs. The prospective owners should also preferably set them upwardly in colonies so that they can benefit from social enrichment. Either that, or they should take a human owner who can spend meaning amounts of fourth dimension with them.

Unfortunately, many monkeys are purchased on a whim by people who believe they can be treated like small people. In the finish, they take a relatively intelligent but highly instinctive and high free energy animal with retained wild characteristics; hence, why primate bans are so quickly brought upon counties and states.

For the previously stated reasons, I've never been interested in owning monkeys without garnering the needed feel and fiscal means, but I think bush babies differ from monkeys, other prosimians and certainly peachy apes (which don't belong with any private owner—no exceptions).

Bushbabies should not to be confused with slow lorises, which are not readily bachelor in the U.s. and for the most function, cannot be kept as a pet ethically.

Common marmoset eating fruit.

Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr

8. Capybaras and Patagonian Cavies

Many states or counties who exempt rodents from their definition of a wild or exotic' animal, thinking that this category only covers hamster-sized mammals may be interested in knowing what animals qualify for that definition.

Capybaras. Capybaras are the globe's largest rodent, clocking in at 150+ pounds. Their size solitary would arouse involvement from the not-exotic pet experienced crowd. Even so, if you have a k with a water source like a pool or deep pond, these massive semi-aquatic rodents tin can potentially exist an enjoyable pet that clearly are of no danger to those uninvolved with this animal's care.
Patagonian cavies. Patagonian cavies are smaller, more terrestrial versions of the animals (both are closely related to guinea pigs) who require some room to roam, and are evidently not dangerous equally well.

The idea of a large rodent as a house-pet may audio weird to another person, but it truly is a harmless pet that a person should be allowed to keep if that is their want.

9. Kinkajous

Thanks to mundane popular culture worship, kinkajous may have found a way to make a name for themselves amongst the typical cat and dog owning public. Well, one in particular at to the lowest degree:

Aptly named Babe Luv by owner Paris Hilton, this medium-sized pet proved to be not so suitable for ruby-red carpet photograph ops. Leave it to naïve celebrities to requite exotic pet owners bad names due to their mishandling. Logic should induce someone to conclude that this normally secretive arboreal mammal (from the raccoon family unit) wouldn't appreciate bright lights and unfamiliar scenarios. It is also illegal to own these animals in California, along with every other non-dog or cat.

Exotic pet ownership requires some remnants of mutual sense and 'animal smarts,' and while Ms. Hilton did get "attacked" past the small mammal (bitten more than one time), she went to the infirmary for a tetanus shot and the bites were described as superficial. There were no life-ruining deformities there, merely the overly sensationalizing and predacious media at its finest.

Kinkajous crave a spacious cage and need an outlet for their energy at night. Consistent treatment volition make them wonderful pets for true exotic animal lovers, and they are relatively pop in terms of exotic mammals. Coatimundis and ringtail cats are besides closely related exotic pets that are similar. Those who aren't their owners actually have no business minding if someone brings 1 dwelling house.

A large boa constrictor on a couch. — A large boa constrictor on a burrow.

Squamata55 via Flickr

10. Boa Constrictors

All reptiles are undomesticated and considered to exist exotic pets. Notwithstanding, near of them are essentially harmless; nevertheless, the words "boa constrictor" may send chills down the typical snake-o-phobe'due south spine.

Somehow, this animal has received a reputation as being chancy to the same level of the two larger species that are responsible for the most deaths: the Burmese python and the reticulated python (death rates from these animals, even so, are yet quite depression.)

It may be of interest to some people that previous to 2010, boa constrictors, despite immense popularity as pets in the reptile trade, were responsible for nil recorded homo fatalities in the US. Nor am I aware of any incidences in other countries, but the The states is a more sufficient sample size.

There are many miserable people who feel as though keepers of these constrictors deserve to die, but any snake owner knows that their chances of dying driving on the highway to choice up their pet'southward dinner is extravagantly higher.

Close-up of a boa constrictor head. — Shut-upwardly of a boa constrictor head.

bmairlot via Flickr

Fatalities Caused by Boa Constrictors

In 2010 a pet, 9-foot boa constrictor strangled its owner while he was showing it to a friend.

Therefore obviously, this species has caused 1 decease. However, one could only imagine the stupidity and unfairness that would result if we decided to ban everything that has caused a single death.

We'd essentially have to ban our existence. More importantly, this Hub is addressing public safety, and an attack against the owner of the animal is not considered to be an attack against a member of the uninvolved public. So non only are boa constrictor incidences pathetically rare (as are incidences with the larger snakes which have actually killed people with a regular occurrence), but they are fifty-fifty less probable to occur toward a person who is not involved with the care of the animal.

Therefore, outside of groundless fear, discomfort with a neighbour owning these animals is unjustified and senseless.

A Closing Note: Why Exotic Pets Don't Threaten Public Safety

The words "exotic pet" frightens many, but little practise many people know that when they back up exotic pet bans, they may exist empowering bans for their own pets, such equally ferrets, carbohydrate gliders and select rodents that they don't consider to be exotics (non to mention breed-specific legislation of domesticated animals).

The discussion exotic has never been synonymous with the words "large and dangerous," simply of course, this is its chief association. Animate being rights groups are not ignorant to the give-and-take—they just tend to keep repose on their anti-position toward more common and less overtly threatening animals such as hedgehogs, saccharide gliders, reptiles, and others and then they can gain this group's back up to accept the large guys down kickoff. There are, however, many articles that signal their disgust with keeping fifty-fifty small-scale pets similar these.

All Exotic Animals Are Not the Same

A common tactic by anti-captive animal organizations (such as The Humane Society of the United States or the Animal Legal Defence force Fund) is to ever so subtly, throw all so-called exotic animals into the same category when these groups speak to legislators. In other words, if a chimp mauls their owner, a fennec trick is also responsible for it. If a homo contracts monkey pox from a pet Gambian pouched rat, you should fearfulness disease from any other animate being that isn't domesticated, even though domesticated animals are capable of zoonotic transfer as well.

Every Animal Species Poses Some Take chances

Tin can domesticated animals harbor potential pathogens or cause deaths? Admittedly, and oft domesticated animals such every bit rabbits, guinea pigs, and livestock are included within assessments of 'exotic pet zoonosis.' Rarely are there ever incidents like these from animals that are often banned without question such as wild felines, canines, and other largely uncommon pets. Each fauna species present unique risks—this simply applies to all animals in general, regardless of 'domestication' and popularity.

Therefore, when I say that the animals on this list—which are all not legal in some states—are "non a threat to public safety," I'm non suggesting that they pose zero threat to individuals like a stuffed animal does, or that a person should leave small children solitary with these animals and fall asleep in the adjacent room, but that they pose the same threat, or far less, than a typical canis familiaris or cat.

Animals of whatever respectable size have teeth and can cause small injury. This should be distinguished from a severe injury (all are equated when an exotic pet is the perpetrator), simply even incidences of this occurring toward people who aren't directly involved with the creature are rare or have never occurred.

Blanket Bans Create Misinformation

The legislative goals that brute rights groups are calling for imposing bans on entire groups of animals without exception under the guise that they are all dangerous, even though some clearly aren't. They know this, only their true goal is to eliminate ownership of animals to support their ideologies. The discussion of exotic pet ownership then becomes a battle of which side tin effectively exploit the ignorance of non-animal oriented legislators.

Some people even keep cheetahs as pets. — Some people even continue cheetahs as pets.

Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr

Everything Y'all Demand To Know Nearly Pet Cheetahs
v Irrefutable Arguments That Back up Exotic Pet Ownership
What is an Exotic Pet?

Questions & Answers

Question: Where tin can I become a Fennec fox?

Answer: Contact a breeder and get on a waiting listing.

Question: How do exotic "medium cats" not run a risk public safety?

Answer: These cats have never caused a fatality in the U.Due south. and generally merely pose risk of injury to people who ain or choose to contact them.

Niggling confused on June 17, 2020:

Other than the boa constrictor I'm good. I just don't know enough to really say this just, The rest of the animals all seem right to me!

Name on May 27, 2020:

By the mode what exotic pet do you lot have.

J.Read on Feb 29, 2020:

Although I can empathise humans being scared of animals, I cannot understand their lack of want to be rid of such fearfulness.

Ranting at this author is in no way productive, or in the example of some, accurate.

In that location is one matter I am very surprised no ane has mentioned and that is that all animals accept come up from the wild and all cats and dogs have been reared downwardly the chain of their convenance from a dangerous version of antecedent.

Where do people think their pet cat came from in the beginning identify?

If the people in dominance years agone were as uptight as it sounds similar today's are being, then there never would of been a single pet dog or cat to ever exist today, so no lassie, no beethoven, no real law dogs, no homeward spring, no marley and me, no mr pickles, none of em!

Aubree on Feb 24, 2020:

I would own any of these animals I love animals and i volition take adept care of them.

Bruce on Jan fifteen, 2020:

I recall you lot requite too much responsibility to the owner to protect the public - and also themselves. It'southward like maxim cars should only have safety features that protect the uninvolved public, not the possessor/operator, who should only practise research and take their chances with a potentially unsafe vehicle.

Jocelyn on August 19, 2019:

I want muliple of the animals on this list :)

I already have 3 cats, a bunny, 2 chinchillas, 7 rats, iii mice, and a bearded dragon.

My rats and mice are chosen nasty but any, they are very sweetness pets to me.

Plus its chosen I breast-stroke them lol

Bingo on August 06, 2019:

There were to many choices tin can we vote more than once. Pz

I on May 19, 2019:

I believe that anyone with the right resources and the right knowledge (that can mean anything from going to a breeder in combination with a lot of google searching to owning a like creature) can own whatsoever animal. Even some exotics tin be easier than dogs and cats, but that doesn't mean y'all shouldn't research at all. I am not quite an developed notwithstanding, but when I am I promise to own many exotic animals (they are and so interesting in my opinion, non that dogs and cats aren't.)

People shouldn't ban animals only considering they aren't domestic. They even ban domestic creatures every bit pets. Heck, cows are domesticated and they still ban them in some places.

And why do people ban animals just because "they are wild and vest in zoos?" A zoo isn't the just place that can provide proper housing for these animals. They should only place bans on animals that are a threat to the general public, and only in crowded areas.

When I consider an creature as a potential pet, I also need to consider if it is illegal. I am not a big fan of that.

I am not a fan of this. on May 03, 2019:

I disagree with animals that are exotic pets.

L on April 27, 2019:

I experience exotic animals are boggling pets if properly cared for. I myself take five Crested Geckos, iii Leapard Geckos, a Tortuois, a Bearded Dragon, 6 Rats, 2 Goats, ii Miniature donkeys, and 2 Peacocks.

My rats get a bad rap. They are called "filthy" "disgusting" and "horrid" animals which, in my opinion, is then unreasonable and big-headed it'southward funny.

Thanks for posting this amazing article! I accept read a few of yours and really liked them! Keep up the expert work!

~Fifty

J on February 28, 2019:

i wont a Capybara are cool

KILLA 401 on Feb 25, 2019:

tis is true

foreign hen on February 21, 2019:

modest wild cats are cool

Ethan on Jan 22, 2019:

I have 3 boa constirctors love them

gutygyugyu on August 08, 2018:

where is all this info in the commodity coming from?

Casey Lewis on August 05, 2018:

BS article. In 2013 two boys historic period v and 7 were killed past a boa constrictor in Canada while they were sleeping. Exercise your research before posting this crap. Whatsoever parent would be completely irresponsible to have a large constrictor in their home with kids.

FlowerPelt on May 22, 2018:

i want a Fennec Fox!

Jazmin on May 01, 2018:

I desire a mountain king of beasts

Janisa from Earth on March 26, 2018:

I'd really dearest to have a hedgehog and a raccoon, don't know if those are exotic plenty. A wild cat would also be amazing! :D

Sam on January 15, 2018:

Hello I am getting a wallaby in the most hereafter for my b 24-hour interval and I am then exided lol

DD on December 14, 2017:

WHAT IS THIS THING ITS Absurd

Destin on December 13, 2017:

I had 2 sugar gliders, i escaped and 1 died

-Destin

Kathy on May 20, 2017:

Yup! As long equally the animal is safe, tin be kept legally, is not listed as endangered/threatened/etc, information technology is vaccinated and you lot have a vet, y'all know how to make sure you and the brute stay safe, and y'all tin take care of information technology and make sure it is happy, and it was not taken directly from the wild, owning the brute should exist completely fine! Some animals are meliorate off in the wild, but some are fine as pets.

Usman on April 06, 2017:

I love snakes but to dangerous I have a corn snake

Smile emerald on April 06, 2017:

WHERE IS MY SUGAR GLIDER!?!OR GECKO!?!

Frida Nyberg from Sweden on November 25, 2016:

No Chris, a Boa constrictor can't Eat a human, unless we're talking infants. This snake rarely exceeds 2.v meters (eight feet), and no matter what the size, tin can never swallow an adult homo or fifty-fifty an older child. They can strangle y'all, just that's a different affair, and is extremely rare, as for a snake to strangle you, they have to first view you as potential prey.

Chris on November 05, 2016:

by the way boe constrictors aren't condom because they tin can eat a homo.

Chris on November 05, 2016:

this was a very corking article. I might evidence this to my ii period lang. arts although my grade finished the unit of measurement.

Keysa on September 22, 2016:

I would never keep a monkey.

I'd personally like a Wallaby someday but I'd build the right enclosure outset.

Coatimom on August 23, 2016:

I am and then glad I plant this..tired of all the sites like born free etc. that practise non even accost how social and affectionate so many animals tin be...my coatis literally climb up me when I get home ...a lot of people own dogs and cats and do not take care of them that is a lot worse than owning an exotic. Coatis have brought me much joy for the last twenty years and I recently discovered I will have to move to some other state to legally have one.

Donna on July 19, 2016:

Note - the fellow who was killed by the boa was drunkard, and decided to dance around with the animate being around his neck to show it to his terrified girlfriend. The snake tightened its grip to avoid falling, and unfortunately cut off blood flow to his brain. He naturally fell down, scaring the snake fifty-fifty more, and the girlfriend ran outside.

The paramedics didn't get in in time - the serpent was absolved of responsibility for the accident, and from what I heard, was taken by Henry-Doorly Zoo, not euthanized (since it didn't attack anyone).

sage on June 04, 2016:

i love all of the animals so much

Bill Kelly from Wyoming on April 26, 2016:

I've owned pet snakes for over ten years. During that time, I'm enlightened of 5 deaths in the United states.

Two of those deaths involved reticulated pythons that were ill. In both cases, the owner was trying to administrate medicine alone. I don't know exactly what they were doing in each instance, but medicating a serpent usually involves either giving a shot, putting medicine in a prey item and feeding the serpent, or putting a tube downward the snake's throat and pouring liquid into the stomach. No one likes getting a shot, and anything that simulates feeding can trigger a snake'due south constrict and feed response. On top of these problems, whatsoever unhealthy animal is more than likely to react defensively to a strange situation. In both cases, the possessor underestimated the response.

The most famous decease was the piffling daughter in Florida. Her female parent used illegal drugs. Her mother'due south boyfriend used and dealt drugs. The little girl was malnourished and underweight. Even the boyfriend's pet serpent was underweight. Children are often abused past bad boyfriends. This child didn't accept a chance regardless of what kind of pet he kept.

The fourth instance involved a guy who was found in the doorway of his Burmese python's muzzle. He had a blood alcohol of 0.2. Good things don't happen when people have that high a blood alcohol. No 1 is absolutely certain that the snake killed the guy. Even if the snake constricted the guy, nosotros don't know whether he did something in a drunken stupor that led to the attack.

The last case is the boa constrictor mentioned in this commodity. I've heard that the snake did not assail but was only exploring and constricted the owner'south neck in guild to climb onto a shelf or something. That account says that the guy blacked out and may have hit his head. Sometimes in martial arts, someone is put in a sleeper concord and just doesn't wake up again. That's a freak accident, but it doesn't suggest over aggression.

There's no example for any of the big snakes being specially dangerous to their owners. Snakes over about 12 feet in length crave a little more attention to logistics, but they aren't dangerous to their owners or the full general public. One big danger of any snake over 9 or 10 feet is tripping over a role of the snake's body if one is walking and carrying a snake that is draping part of its body towards the footing.

Cheers for a skillful article.

uwy on March 28, 2016:

information technology isn't practiced to continue wild cats as most of them are endangered and if it is in captivity it does not contribute to conservation and by ownership it people create a demand for it and the number of these species in the wild refuse. although the conservation status is "least business concern" it may drop and in that location is a possibility that they could become extinct.

but it is a absurd exotic pet and I would like to own 1

Jewel on March 08, 2016:

I like all of these animals, except perchance the boa constrictor .......\/013

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on November 03, 2015:

I don't understand twitter :-(

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on June 04, 2015:

About of these animals are 99% of the fourth dimension born in the states. Sloths might be the simply exception.

Yvonne on June 04, 2015:

Yes, but this article without that information is just promoting bad determination making. Well-nigh of these animals are not bred in united states and then yous end upward ordering i on the internet like the new latest gadget. There is no mode to be sure the person you are dealing with is reputable, or responsibly convenance or legally harvesting. You lot have comments of "hey that is cool, I want one" with no thought as to what goes into ownership. This is why there are then many animals in zoos and sanctuaries who began as pets and end upwardly mistreated, displaced, animals with wellness problems. The same way popular animals stop up in rescues. If you accept information on how to go about properly finding a reputable breeder of any of these delight let those commenting know so they tin can purchase a healthy animal they tin can beloved for a full lifetime.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on June 03, 2015:

Yvonne--that'due south not what this article is about.

Yvonne on June 03, 2015:

I remember an aspect you are missing is where these animals are coming from and who are they going to. Many exotic pet breeders and importers are strictly in it for the profit which can lead to an unhealthy animal and many people practice not practise enough research into what type of fauna is best suited to their home.

Isabelle on May 24, 2015:

Too bad savannah cats are banned in my province. I would dear to accept a big true cat like that. They are so beautiful!!

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on May 16, 2015:

You're welcome.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 16, 2015:

Thanks Kristen.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on May xvi, 2015:

Melissa, this is interesting to say the to the lowest degree. It depends on how much environs you accept and what your neighbors say. Some of those animals I never heard of before, while the residuum I'll say pass. Voted upward!

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on March 31, 2015:

I wouldn't say zero, simply close. Recollect, injuries are also a function of public rubber issues, non just fatalities. I recall a non-pet owner getting attacked by a bear (I'll have to practise one on them afterwards), and my contempo write up lists the potential uninvolved public incidences with big cats. Ane example:

"August eleven, 1993 Georgetown, OH: Two teenage boys suffered facial cuts when a panthera leo attacked one, and the other attempted to intercede. The boys were walking when a "pet" lion escaped from his cage and attacked them unprovoked."

Of course, this has to do with smaller populations (especially hyenas and chimps) and more precautionary deportment taken, but that's to exist expected. It is a GOOD thing that overall, exotic pet owners accept been responsible enough to severely limit fatalities and injuries. Just what an awesome site!

Frida Nyberg from Sweden on March 30, 2015:

Practically and looking at history, even big cats, bears, wolves, wolfdogs, hyenas, chimps, large snakes (like retics and burms) and venomous snakes all pose ZERO public condom threat.

http://exotic-exotics.tumblr.com/danger

(I used your article on dangerous animals for a lot of sources.)

That's what actually pissed me off most the new "documentary" (what a joke), chosen "Wild and Dangerous: The World of Exotic Pets". After they had already blamed extinction, illegal wildlife merchandise, animal cruelty and all sorts of things on "exotic pets" as one big, wide brush - then they said that WORSE than all of this, is the "public safety threat". That'south when I turned off the film, but 15 minutes in, because I couldn't stand up anymore bullshit.

E on March 06, 2015:

great article

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on September xv, 2014:

Only in a few states, but they aren't really in the private sector.

Abdullah Alharbi on September 15, 2014:

Is legal to have cheetah as pet in United states of america?

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Baronial 24, 2014:

Jane, not only are Savannahs not dangerous, simply neither are servals. That is the point of this article. Some Savannahs have more serval blood than domesticated cat.

Jane Hash on Baronial 24, 2014:

Savannah Cats should not be listed in this article. They are Not exotic. Though they are NOT dangerous at all.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on Baronial 17, 2014:

Thanks Ryan.

Ryan on Baronial xv, 2014:

Oh wow!! Extremely interesting article. I'll definitely have to read more of your articles. Cute animals on this list. I observe information technology fifty-fifty funnier reading the people replying to you. Anyone with common sense who read your article(s) should easily see that you lot have feel & have done more than than enough research. Thanks for making me laugh. If people believe that the animals listed are meant to exist wild their entitled to their stance. I practise like the fact that multiple people seemed to skip the bold words before the commodity begins that you aren't saying that these animals should be bought and sold legally. Your just proverb that lumping all exotic animals is ignorant. I strongly believe not everyone should be immune to own certain dogs. Also someone said that taking a desert fauna & making it a pet is cruel. Well is it vicious to ain a St. Bernard or Siberian Croaking in a warm climate? I personally say not at all. Thank you for your knowledge and expertise. To a higher place all thank you for really knowing what your talking about before writing your article. For to many people are doing that nowadays.

Nancy on August 05, 2014:

I have seen in television that there are people that keep snakes every bit their pet.

Aeris Wright on August 01, 2014:

Great commodity!

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on July 16, 2014:

Thanks joehelsing, they are difficult.

Joseph Brown from Yorkshire, Britain on July 16, 2014:

I've always wanted a sloth. Great article.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on July 03, 2014:

Thank you J. R. LaGreca

Jody R LaGreca from New York, New York on July 02, 2014:

Fascinating, informative and well done!

spike on June 29, 2014:

here's the affair most people don't even demand a domestic dog or true cat much less any exotic i keep and take kept annihilation from hawks and owls to many reptiles such equally monitors and boas i mainly keep venomous now i personally recollect with the use of intelligence anything tin can be kept every bit a pet and i use the term pet loosely

Olivia on May 28, 2014:

i actually want a Fennec fox AND a small big cat. I would personally bask a babe lynx.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on May 12, 2014:

ameagari-- You've earned the dunce cap of the week out of the posts I've received, even though the calendar week'due south not over, for failing to realize that this mail is not my ONLY post. I've addressed people making statements like "no, that brute belongs in the wild", for two years, and I have articles Defended to them:

https://soapboxie.com/social-issues/Understanding-...

https://pethelpful.com/exotic-pets/argument-exotic...

https://pethelpful.com/exotic-pets/simplelogic

https://discover.hubpages.com/animals/dogssuffer

This is why I said "how original". I've addressed these assertions, tirelessly, tediously. Near every other calendar week or then an idiot starts attacking me with the exact same arguments. This week, that's y'all. It's an insult to myself to fifty-fifty try to answer to your points. The utilize of your Fauna Planet link every bit 'proof' that exotic animals are oft illegally caught from the wild for the American pet trade is then unfathomably pathetic. I've probably visited that page 20 times and spoofed information technology twice.

Just....go. Don't humiliate yourself here anymore.

ameagari on May 12, 2014:

Oh, how original! a rebuttal that consists of ironically proverb "how original!"

Melissa, I thought you deserved a somewhat respectful reply to your hub, but after reading your responses to your detractors-- including the one direct above this-- I really don't have enough respect remaining for you to offer ane.

Leigh Anne is correct. It'south a shame that your desire for a cute, unique exotic trumps the countless reasons that these animals should be given the respect to be left wild. I'm sorry her response to you wan't original-- the lack of originality may have to do with the footing in fact. Sometimes when you keep hearing something it's because YOU NEED TO Heed.

I'm going to respond to some of your points. This is, by the way, a subject I do follow closely. I accept and do care for exotic pets which have been given upward by owners who idea it was cool to accept them, until they realized that meeting these animals' basic needs was beyond the ability of whatever normal home or caregiver.

melissa said: "Where are you getting this data? Is this a bailiwick that y'all commonly follow? Where is the proof that most exotics are illegally poached? Information technology is -illegal- to do that and there are heavy restrictions on wild imported animals nor does it pay for poachers to catch any animals on this list and smuggle them to the U.S. You are gratuitous to indicate out any proof to the contrary."

Endeavor a google search. You're a large girl, I am certain you tin can discover the info if you were actually interested in facts. Simply merely in case, here's 1 for you lot.

http://www.animalplanet.com/television-shows/fatal-attract...

E'er read virtually the poachers and illegal importers who use /record/ to demark birds to the inside of their clothing, wrapping their beaks in tape to go on them quiet? Most don't survive the trip simply yes, information technology does pay when the poacher manages to sell the one or two out of 20 that did survive. I've seen the pictures of the aftermath.

melissa said "Regardless of all that it is arrogant and oppressive to ban something merely considering yous don't concord with it."

Really? We're the ones who are ignorant and oppressive? Ignorant-- my dearest that is the kindest thing I can say about you at this betoken. Oppressive? Yeah, I'd call it oppressive to keep a non-domestic fauna that has-- by god or by evolution-- been designed to live in a wilderness you are completely incapable of recreating, with others of its kind-- that'south what I call oppressive. But it's merely an animal right? And yous love it and hug information technology and squeeze it and telephone call it George so it'south only FINE.

melissa said: "There are millions of people out in that location who would love to ban non-vegan nutrient, and I tin can certainly tell you lot animals would be a fan,?"

Oh aye, I'm certain the lions and alligators and raptors of the world would appreciate existence forced to become on a vegan diet. Oh, wait. Vegan diest aren't natural. What nosotros're supporting hither is NATURE, and allowing creatures to remain and thrive in their natural habitats rather than be a cool talking bespeak amidst your friends when you bring the exotic out at firm parties.

Melissa said : "What if I took something of import from you because I had a footling 'moral objection' despite having little substantiation. "

TRIVIAL moral objection? Here's my trivial moral objection-- THOUSANDS of exotic, non domesticated animals are subjected to improper living weather condition, corruption, bad, unnatural diets, and abandonment because of YOUR Picayune desire to own a cool pet.

Melissa said: "Why don't you think about that for a while."

Indeed, information technology would be squeamish if people could THINK. You should try it.

You should besides attempt some research. The data on why exotics and not-domesticated animals brand extraordinarily difficult and inappropriate pets is all over and readily available. Talk to anyone who works in exotic animate being rescue.

Nigh bloodcurdling of all is your obnoxious attitude toward anyone who has expressed any differing stance to yours, any proposition that people shouldn't ain exotics. The comment immediately preceding mine where you smugly dismiss someone's very polite and conscientious objection is a stellar case.

I wonder if y'all'd make a practiced pet. I hope you have some pleasant dreams where y'all get to find out what it is similar.

Dogs and cats are human companions. They don't need a cage to remain with you, to come back every solar day and prevarication down past yous on the couch. The animals on your listing do require cages and restraint. That should make you think.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 06, 2014:

How original Leigh Anne, haven't heard that before.

Leigh Anne on May 06, 2014:

No. Exotics are not meant to be kept past humans who, afterwards realizing that the needs of the animal are beyond what can be provided, are just going to stop up relegating the animal to a life of neglect, abuse, or restricted motion. Exotics need to exist wild. Leave them there. There are thousands of exotics that are abandoned by owners who simply wanted to feel special owning an exotic. If you really love animals, this is not how to bear witness it.

Muebles de jardin from madrid on May 03, 2014:

beautiful docoment!

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Apr 22, 2014:

Jabberwocky-- Her comments were utterly untrue. The animals on this list (fennec fox, small wild cats, tamandua, bush baby, sloths, boa constrictor, wallaby, deer, capybara) are either not normally taken from the wild to supply the pet merchandise in the U.S. or never.

Many people just automatically assume a non-domesticated animal was captured from the wild. They are probably thinking of one or 2 animals where this might exist truthful (chetah, orangutan, tiresome loris), and of course, this was true at one betoken in history, merely at present we accept convict breeding. It's not rocket science.

Be disgusted all you want. I don't usually respond kindly to people who accuse me of animate being cruelty subsequently having stated a wholly ignorant, made up statistic equally a fact. But I actually did not call her arrogant nor did I "insult" her so it sounds like yous're merely angry that you agree with her wrong opinion and needed an alibi to call my reply 'infantile'.

Your comment is more deserving of an insult. Try using your ain brain quondam. Your quotes make no sense at all. They sound like a precautionary alarm that blanket every beast that can be considered 'exotic' all the same some exotics are far easier to care for than dogs and cats if the owner has basic competence. And of grade, more difficult animals tin can be owned also. I'g tired of repeating myself. Information technology'southward as simple as the right brute for the right owner.

Jabberwocky on April 22, 2014:

I was absolutley appalled by response to lyndarox's comments. She was just stating her business for these exotic pets, and you berated her and insulted her intelligence. She may not have stated her sources, but it has been made known to the public by vetrinary and animal groups (non just animal rights activists) that exotic animals do not brand skillful pets.

Even if that were not the case, to belittle someone for objecting to your opinion shows a staggering lack of argue skills. To tell someone that they are "arrogant" for just being concerned for these animals is icky. Are you lot capable of a civil fence or just sling insults like an infant when someone has a decending opinion?

"The American Veterinarian Medical Clan, the United States Department of Agronomics (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have all expressed opposition to the possession of certain exotic animals by individuals.

Exotic animals practise not make skillful companions. They require special intendance, housing, diet, and maintenance that the average person cannot provide. When in the easily of private individuals the animals endure due to poor intendance. They also pose safety and health risks to their possessors and whatsoever person coming into contact with them."

https://world wide web.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/020801c....

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on March 04, 2014:

Thanks ZookeeperByNature.

ZookeeperByNature on March 04, 2014:

Correction to i of the paragraphs I made above due to a typo:

Despite the millions of Boa constrictors that be in American households and private facilities across the nation where they are legal, they take *Not* established a unmarried confirmed invasive populations in the continental U.S., and Florida has even made an exception for them that still allows their ownership as pets whereas they take banned big pythons.

theBAT on March 04, 2014:

Interesting hub. Perhaps, What is important is the objective conclusion of whether the beast can co-exist in an urban community. Is the "exotic pet" on the endangered listing? Thanks for sharing.

ZookeeperByNature on Feb thirteen, 2014:

It's not _public_ safe, those are not Boa constrictors you lot are hearing almost. In fact, there are non really any invasive boas anywhere in the United states, aside from Puerto Rico. (Interestingly enough, at that place are boa species that are native to areas such as California and New Mexico.)

The snakes you are referring to are really Burmese pythons, which are noticeably different than boas. For one, they go larger, much larger, and 2, they reproduce at a faster rate since, unlike boas, they lay eggs instead of giving life birth.

Despite the millions of Boa constrictors that exist in American households and private facilities across the nation where they are legal, they accept established a single confirmed invasive populations in the continental U.S., and Florida has even made an exception for them that even so allows their ownership equally pets whereas they have banned large pythons.

Those that have managed to escape (which is more than likely than someone dumping them) accept either been found, captured, or do not sustain themselves long enough to breed and dice off shortly after due to ecology hazards, such as the great North American common cold fronts.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Jan 29, 2014:

Thank Amanda, I hope to get one in the future.

Amanda on January 29, 2014:

I loved seeing boas on this list. We have one (along with two Kenyan sand boas and 2 ball pythons), and he's a delight. He'due south fifty-fifty pleasant while in shed, bless his niggling eye.

Those fennec foxes audio amazing! Not the right pet for me -- we have enough rabble-rousers in the house already with the 3 cats, 2 dogs, and 4 pet rats, but I'd love to come across one upwards close someday.

Melissa A Smith (writer) from New York on January 27, 2014:

Good to know they made new plans.

Cassandra Cooper on Jan 27, 2014:

It'due south non _public_ safety, co-ordinate to Dna studies, the majority of snakes loose in Florida originate from one convenance facility that was destroyed during a hurricane. That's why facilities now accept to follow strict disaster rules when a major storm is about to hitting. People releasing their pets is most a not-existent cistron. The constrictors' numbers are also falling considering of the cold snaps occurring there lately. The "invasive" snakes are kind of tropical and sub-tropical and so they don't survive temperate weather condition very well. If it is even a problem, information technology is merely 1 or two states' problem.

I am glad to see boa constrictors on here! I have a wonderful boa who has ever been only the sweetest snake. He has never hissed at me, and only struck at/bit me when I was feeding out of the enclosure due to his feeding response. One time I smartened upward and began to feed in the enclosure, that'south all stopped! Hook/tap training a ophidian is much more than reliable and less stressful than feeding in a separate enclosure. He'southward not the to the lowest degree bit cage aggressive and is fifty-fifty sweet when in shed.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on January 14, 2014:

I simply plant 1 boa-related fatality brianna.

brianna on January 14, 2014:

well I tin see the boa cause many pet owners and their kids have been killed by their boas.Most are banned due to more and more Exotic Pets being released past iresable pet possessor or merely plan escaping into the wild and the black marketplace.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on December 30, 2013:

I'm enlightened of invasive species, and it IS public condom because that's what the legislators are saying. That's why it's called 'unsafe wild brute act', ect. Furthermore, there are NO significant mammalian invasive species that originate from the pet trade, but plenty of domesticated animals that have gone feral and are messing up the environs (dogs, cats, pigeons, wild pigs, horses), and then that blows your statement far out of the water I'm afraid.

It's not _public_ safety on December 30, 2013:

It'south environmental safety. For example, boa constrictors escaped from their owners in Florida thrive in the Everglades; they're multiplying hugely and causing massive ecological impairment right at present, basically eating every meat they tin can find. Dissentious invasive species is i primary reason for import/export restrictions on certain things.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on December 17, 2013:

Jasmine, I made the bespeak yous're making in this article: https://discover.hubpages.com/animals/exotic-pet-a...

But the principal point is that out of nearly every exotic pet incident, the victim is the -owner- or the person assuming the risk of being involved with the fauna, which is relevant to 'public' safety. It is not mutual for exotics to escape and assault, unlike with dogs, which are traditionally left behind easy to escape fences. If people treated dogs similar tigers, I would agree, attacks past tigers would crush dogs, but that won't ever happen. The animals listed here are unlikely to crusade a fatality to anyone other than an infant.

Jasmine on Dec 17, 2013:

While I do concur that exotic animals are given a bad rep, I also wonder have yous idea nearly the comparison you are making? You mention how at that place are more incidents of "domesticated animals" similar dogs hurting people than in that location are "exotic animals". All the same, couldn't it be that information technology just seems like in that location are more incidents because of the fact that there are far more than dogs in homes than these other animals? If you were to take the total of "domestic animals" in homes and apply that number to come up with a percentage of harmful incidents and and then take the total of "exotic animals" in homes and use that number to get a pct of harmful incidents most likely you will detect that the numbers are not that far autonomously. So while I concord that exotic animals should not exist lumped into one category I also say that what we telephone call domestic animals should not be given a bad rep either. We are all animals in this earth and the chances of a harmful incident by any animal that is in a home is almost the same to me.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on Nov 27, 2013:

Thank you for that dandy comment DACA! I wish my state was as lenient as yours. Nosotros tin can but have fennec foxes.

DACA on November 27, 2013:

Wow Bonnie you might desire to exercise a footling research. I share my dwelling with several foxes (red flim-flam-vulpes, vulpes) and they did not come from the "wild." They were privately/ranch raised for the past 200 years. They have an outdoor run and they can cull if they want to be in the business firm or outdoors. They utilize a litterbox and several of them slumber at the end of my bed. They are so incredibly "wild" that we take them into schools to exhibit them for K-5th graders! Vicious little beasties have nigh licked the confront off many an unprepared child (mostly considering we go correct later on lunch)! :P

We also have nearly 20 Fallow Deer and we're on waiting lists for both Muntjac Deer and Patagonian Cavies. None of these animals came from the wild. Most of them would be unable to survive in the wild and would dice a dull painful death caused by starvation.

Melissa I really enjoyed your commodity and the positive spin it put on exotics! Nosotros're incredibly lucky to alive in a state that allows us to have these critters in our home (with proper permits).

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on October 27, 2013:

Haha well my snakes seem to get stressed hands so I don't similar moving them. Balls tin can exist very funny near feeding I'm sure you know.

desolatefox on October 27, 2013:

Lol! Well, that makes life interesting for yous, I'yard sure. That's why I feed in dissever plastic tubs. Some people say information technology doesn't make a difference, just at least a couple of my snakes seem to know what the tub means. My immature carpet python has only ever bitten me while in or leaving the feeding tub, never in her enclosure or while being handled. While in the tub, she strikes the side whatever fourth dimension I move too close to it. I ever worry the silly thing is gonna break a fang doing that.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on October 26, 2013:

My snakes associate my presence with food and ever take information technology as an opportunity to lunge at me.

desolatefox on October 26, 2013:

Interesting commodity. I've read a few of yours after ending up on Hub to read a review of the film Blackfish.

I dearest savannah cats, I swear one 24-hour interval I will own one. For now though, nice to see boas making the list. ;) I have one, and he's pretty docile. A trivial muzzle aggressive, but that'southward understandable.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on October 22, 2013:

I agree cjarosz, these small pets pose no i any real risk.

cjarosz on October 22, 2013:

Interesting wait on things. Some of these are and so cute! If just I could actually accept ane. I call back people create the scare that they accept of animals period. We pose more threat to any beast, and so they do to usa. How many have went extinct, or on the brink of information technology?

afffrrrtgjkklll on October 03, 2013:

Awsomwe

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on September 27, 2013:

I'm not sure where you read that, Bonnie. Getting drunk is perfectly legal equally long as you lot aren't behind the wheel. I recall alcohol is a major public safety threat and pocket-size pet foxes are not (whether under someone's control or not), so I wonder why unnecessary attention is paid to them and other animals. I wonder, if the 'manufacture' for more than singular exotics is booming so much, why no major retailers provide any products for the millions of owners of pets like those on this list bated from the ophidian?

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on September 22, 2013:

Thank you Kallie. They are unremarkably around $2-2,700.

Kallie on September 22, 2013:

I actually just met a guy who used to privately breed Kinkajous for private homes. His prices were incredibly high because he figured if they were willing to spend the coin on one of his, they would exist able to provide for it comfortably, he also kept in contact with the ones he sold and had them on contracts. The laws changed and he was unable to continue to sell his Kinkajous, but he says that they fabricated the most magnificent pets and were keen for 'boilerplate pet owners' who would put in the time to spend with these animals. Bully article and good listing!

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on September 15, 2013:

Thanks Carrie. Some animals should remain unpopular as pets because they don't fit the lifestyles of most people, unlike dogs and cats. However animals like ferrets are good for anyone who doesn't listen the smell!

Carrie Lee Night from Northeast United States on September fifteen, 2013:

Interesting HUB! the first one mentioned (the pull a fast one on critters) They are soooo cute. I never knew people had them equally pets. I remember a while dorsum when people said they owned ferrets people gasped in disbelief, just now they are very common. I think every bit time goes past we will start to have more homeowners host exotic pets. I know potbelly pigs, hedge hogs and flight squirrels are becoming more than common. I wonder what's side by side ?

I remember when I was a kid my aunt had a baby raccoon, merely that didn't work out for long considering it became very aggressive and had to exist confided to the cage...thus she could'nt take care of information technology anymore. Cheers for this hub :) Have a wonderful calendar week

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August 28, 2013:

Thank you toptenluxury.

Adrian Cloute from Cedartown, GA on Baronial 28, 2013:

Those are some crazy ideas for exotic pets. Neat hub! Voted up!

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August xix, 2013:

Steven, it is probable that a zoo that accepts pet cast offs isn't really a decent zoo. Some exceptions could be I guess. I recommend posting this data in these locations: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/grouping/FennecFox/

https://world wide web.facebook.com/pages/Exotic-Animals-For-... even hither: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/grouping/Kinkajous/ ... but delight screen homes thoroughly. Ask about past feel, expectations of exotics, ect. This is a great rescue that could provide info or perhaps adopt your pet: http://crittercamp.weebly.com/ Delight practice not merely give your pet abroad! Unless the person has exotics already and y'all are comfortable with them. Beware that 'road side zoos' may put your animal in a small cage with lilliputian enrichment...

steven on August nineteen, 2013:

i was wondering if it is better to take some animals to the zoo to live or to give them up for adoption coz i really love my fennec foxes merely their mother just put to nativity and i am on my way out of the land can some 1 assist me?

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Source: https://pethelpful.com/exotic-pets/10-Exotic-Pets-that-Pose-No-Threat-to-Public-Safety