When I was little, I wanted to be an "animal doctor," or veterinary assistant. I am glad to have my current job instead, because when I see the crazy pets people have these days, I don't know if I could have handled being a vet. My friend, for example, just got a lap leopard. Have you ever heard of them? I hadn't. They are a mix between a house cat and a type of leopard and they can grow to be the size of some dogs. She had to order it from India and have it sent to her through international pet shipping. It is really unique, but it is also really expensive and has no pet health insurance. It got sick last month and she had to shell out over $5,000 to nurse it back to health. What ever happened to wanting a tabby cat?
Her unusual choice of pet got me wondering what other exotic animals people are keeping as pets. Looking at this list of top searched bizarre pets, I am curious where people get these sorts of pets. Websites like PetFinder and TerrificPets have some unusual pets, but none this bizarre.
The number one searched bizarre pet, a Sugar Glider, is native to Australia. How can they live in your living room? Number two, might be in your closet as a fashion item. PETA keeps a close watch on Chinchilla safety because they are popular for their soft fur. Their cousin, Degus, are also very fuzzy, all the way down to their furry paws.
Hedgehogs are the opposite of soft and fuzzy. Just like the video game character Sonic the Hedgehog, they are covered with little spines, like a porcupine. They aren't known to run fast like him though.
Snakes are becoming more popular as pets, but owning a Kingsnake still seems a bit too exotic for my taste in pets. I do hear they are easy to care for though. Other strange creatures on the list include the Axolotl, which looks like a fish with legs.
Do you own any of the pets on our list or another bizarre pet? Let us know! Find more information about these bizarre pets on AOL Search.
Top Searched Bizarre Pets on AOL Search:
1. Sugar Glider
2. Chinchilla
3. Wallaroo
4. Bearded Dragon
5. Chameleon
6. Hedgehog
7. Kingsnake
8. Alpaca
9. Degu
10. Axolotl
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posted by Brittney
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COMMENTS
Intersting mess; morphing some of our favorite stars.
I hope you didn't pay the graphic artist too much.
You would have been able to have that done a lot better at Dave & Buster's in their photo booth, I just don't know if they can work from photos. Lot's of people on dates do this and think this is what their offspring would look like; usually they come out pretty creepy too.
Sorry, but I think you would have access to many talented graphics people.
By Teriqua on Jan 1st 2009 at 4:25PM
Great!!!
AOL, we already have our world full of crazy people that don't take care of their pets. Not to mention the horrible over-population of our pets by greedy breeders. The last thing we need is a more stupid people with exotic pets to recklessly breed and sell.
By Teriqua on Jan 1st 2009 at 4:31PM
The single best place for pets on the internet is http://www.thepetwellnessstore.com . If you love dogs and cats that is the place to check out for the highest quality in pet care products.
By patricia567 on Jan 1st 2009 at 5:17PM
Sugar Gliders look like a deformed squirrel. I will stick with dogs. He He!
By englishbulldog74 on Jan 2nd 2009 at 1:03AM
Yes, I own two sugar gliders. They truly are a little different then other animals, and they are friendly if you give them your time and attention for about an hour a day. The bad part though, I have a cat and a solid white English Bulldog (in the bloodline of UGA) so it's crazy sometimes.
By Justin on Jan 4th 2009 at 7:11AM
Any pet Is a CUTTEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By jamiepea98 on Jan 4th 2009 at 8:13AM
My Pet TickleMe Plant
My favorite new pet is green and MOVES when you Tickle It! It's call the TickleMe Plant. It truly is an interactive pet plant. The leaves close and even the branches droop when Tickled! The leaves also close at night as if it is sleeping. You have to see the video and grow one to believe it.
I found it at http://www.ticklemeplant.com
By Tina on Jan 4th 2009 at 8:35AM
My daughter brought a sugar glider home without consulting me. A) They STINK!!! My whole house smelled like the animal. B) They BARK! I was sitting home alone one night watching TV and heard something barking. I looked outside to see if I could hear where it was coming from. I finally walked upstairs and opened my daughter's door and the the sugar glider was in his cage barking!
By Matchstick23 on Jan 4th 2009 at 9:03AM
Odd pets.... I work at a petshop and an exotic one at that! We get in lots of odd marine fish everything from your average clown fish to nurse sharks and Pirhana's to eels and teacup stingrays.
I myself own hairless rats two of which are hairless dumbo rats. I also own a Milk snake a pueblan honduran mix.
By Daughtersofdeath on Jan 4th 2009 at 9:26AM
Only reason your sugar glider stinks is because you are apparently too lazy to clean the cage. They are very very clean animals, but you must clean their cage occasionally which is very simple to do daily...imagine smell of your house if YOU didn't flush? Take responsibility or you shouldn't have pets.
By Sam on Jan 4th 2009 at 9:29AM
I have always loved animals and I own or have owned several of the pets mentioned on your list. Currently we (my children and I) own a Hedgehog, two Bearded Dragons, a snake,and then your more normal animals: a dog, two cats, a rabbit, fish and a turle. We did own a Sugarglider but it died a few months ago. Though these are somewhat unusual pets, it doesn't mean that they are not good pets. As long as research is done properly before purchasing, they can be good pets and intersting pets to have.
By Kelly on Jan 4th 2009 at 9:55AM
I am a huge animal lover. I have owned rats, snakes, hamsters, gerbals,dogs, cats, ferrets, igunas, horses. I now own a Wolfhybrid. 65% wolf & 35% malamute. She is the lite of my life. A very well behaved dog. She had a litter of pups and we kept 2 males. They are all spayed and nutered.
By Shawn on Jan 4th 2009 at 9:59AM
Do any of these owners consider that it is cruel to
separate these animals entirely from their own
breed? FOREVER! The word "pet" assumes that this
is a creature that you will love. Be loving and
consider them before you make this decision, rare
species or not. Please be kind.
By Songyken on Jan 4th 2009 at 10:50AM
I have sugar gliders and every time I tell someone about them they're like "what??" Haha they dont get it...
If your looking for an exotic, I would not recommend sugar gliders if you ever want to sleep again! These animals require VERY specialized diets (very expensive), a huge (usually expensive) cage, hours of bonding time (about 5 hours in a pouch per day and an hour of tent time at night). Plus, they live up to 15 years in captivity. They are a long term commitment that need require tons of care.
By Bethany on Jan 4th 2009 at 10:04AM
I have two Southern Flying Squirrels, Rocky and Toby. Great pets, they are NOT sugar gliders. They are native here in North America. They are adorable and make a very strong bind with their owner. However they are against the law t sell as house pets in almost every state in the U.S. I believe because they may be endangered. Mine were born in captivity in a state where it is legal to own them as pets. I don't believe they would survive in the outdoors if I let them free at this point because they have no survival skills....they think I am their mother.
By annie on Jan 4th 2009 at 10:05AM
The article is about unusual pets. We breed beautiful, exotic cats called Bengals. The look of a leopard with the temperament of a domestic cat. Feel free to visit our site at http://www.DiCaprioBengals.com to see these wonderful pets.
By greg & denise on Jan 4th 2009 at 12:45PM
I have never owned one myself, but when I was growing up my brother had 2 king snakes. Although I had to learn not to be afraid of them, his greatest morning thrill was to wake me up with one of them. When Mom would send him in to wake me up, he'd put one of the snakes up under the covers and it would slither up my chest and tickle my chin with its tongue! Many days I'd come screaming out of the bedroom!
Now, although I don't mind at all picking a snake up and handling it, I have never been interested in them enough to learn one from the other (even Kings). Because of this I never handle them unless someone tells me what it is and hands it to me. I'd never consider having one as a pet. It's not like you can get down and wrestle or play with a snake! And there's no way in the world I'd ever consider snuggling with one on the couch or the bed!
By Cricket Proctor on Jan 4th 2009 at 10:10AM
It's not exactly exotic, but hamsters can be a lot of fun to own! As a kid, I used to breed them for the local pet shops. That quickly became more than me or the pet shops could handle. Now I stick with one at a time! I always keep a large type "hamster ball" handy. Several times a week, and also while I clean the cage, I put him in there. I also have 2 small dogs. He loves to get down and play with the dogs. He'll chase them around the house, then they'll come back with the dogs chasing him (they've learned not to run too fast or they'll run him over). The hamster will also go behind a wall and wait for the dogs to come close and then come rolling out and startle the dogs. They have a ball together!
By Cricket Proctor on Jan 4th 2009 at 10:20AM
I have owned chinchillas for a long time and I absolutely love them. They are nocturnal but fairly easy to take care of and not very expensive to care for. Mine is trained to come to me when I open his cage and is very gentle. They definitely have their own personalities like anything else but when raised properly and worked with they are very enjoyable....especially when they take a dust bath.....very comical.
By Suzy on Jan 4th 2009 at 10:27AM
We have 4 sugar gliders and we have had them for around 3 months now. They are great pets if you take the time to bond with them. They are very smart and loving one of the best pets to get. If you have time for them, the have time for you. Also food is not very "expensive". They need fresh fruits and veggies which can be left over from dinner or just a few slices of the food in you fridge. Great Pets.
By emaurice24 on Jan 4th 2009 at 10:28AM