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
Oh, wow, I remembered some more. More recently, I had a pet rat. They really are very smart. I've had a scarlet macaw, and currently own a quaker parrot (aka a monk parrot). I've had a couple iguanas, and have three ferrets. With the amount of aquatic life that I've had it would be impossible to name them all (they are such cool pets), but some of my favorites include a peacock bass, a clown knife, and red-bellied piranha. Check 'em out!
By Danielle on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:06PM
I used to have two squirrels, but they werent pets really.. way to wild and crazy. I released them when they were old enough
By overtgabby on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:17PM
People who get exotic animals should find out what they are getting, first. We've known 2 couples who had ferrets: "Oh they're just so cute!", but both houses smelled like an Army latrine, even though one had theirs in a cage in the garage.
Personally, I love tigers, and I know that there is a Malaysian sub-species that only gets to about 140 lbs., about the size of a large German shephard, of a Rottwieler. but I have no fantasies of having a pair roaming my fenced back yard, partly because of the fear that Muffin & Boopsie migh get get bored with Purina Tiger-Chow, and decide to get a hot dinner some night, like the neighbors dogs, or their kid.
By ed-Lauderhill on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:51PM
When we are discussing the risks & hazards of keeping exotic animal as pets in the home, could someone edit out the various commercials for discount pet supplies, and foods? "Never mind fungus, bites, smell, and infections; buy from us!"
By Stan Hall on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:51PM
No!! the best exotic pet I have are my Fainting Goats! There are about 6000 around. They make the greatest pets! Sweet and loving like a dog.. Generally easy to care for... Fencing only needs to be 3 feet because they can't really jump! I actually take mine for walks at the dog park. Or bring another one with me to petsmart or petco. Everyone loves them!
You should get a pair if your town/city allows it!
Little Falls Farm
By Terry on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:28PM
HI...I own 2 pets that most people would consider exotic. I have a Short tailed Opossum and a Siberian Chipmunk. Both are female, both are very small about the size of a hamster. They live in hamster cages and are very easy to care for.
By Denise on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:31PM
you ppl hav wierd pets!!!!
By poop on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:34PM
Our adult son had a pair of spiny hedgehogs as "pets" for his two sons; they (the hedgehogs), were entirely nocturnal. How fun! The female would allow herself to be held & petted; the male invariably snarled and snapped (although he was only the size of a tennis ball). How fun! It turns out they are an illegal pet in the state of Georgia; they, their cage, and their food were eventually donated to the Macon Natural History Museum.
By diane chamers on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:50PM
weve had a wolf hybrid living in our house for over 4 years. hes the best dog weve ever had.
By allen on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:39PM
My brother works at a pet store and they always have really weird pets for sale! They mostly have fish(both fresh water and marine).If you dont find what you are looking for they will order it for you!
By johannalovesgum4 on Jan 4th 2009 at 3:05PM
Good old birds, they make the best pets in the world. They talk to you and they love to be held and cuddled and they can play on their own and they will interact with each other or even with dogs and cats. I have a scarlet macaw, an umbrella cockatoo and a green cheek conure and they are wonderful pets.
By babyblueeeyes2 on Jan 4th 2009 at 1:59PM
haha I breed reptiles like chameleons and bearded dragons for a living. I'm surprised Frilled Dragons weren't more fascinating than Bearded Dragons on this list. I have one myself, and I have to say... I'm still getting used to her puffing out her frills at me whenever I move too fast in my room. lol
Was thinking about getting a sugar glider, but be WARNED. lol They can be extremely unfriendly if not handled from birth! They really do require some of the utmost of caring.
Oh and c'mon. An axolotl? It's nothing to be afraid of. Well, I'm 18 now... and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who wanted a living pokemon when I was a little kid...
:) Great list!
By EchoRukia on Jan 4th 2009 at 2:00PM
What happen to the sweet puppy? http://www.candycoateddoxie.us
By Abigale on Jan 4th 2009 at 2:00PM
...unless the writer was referring to the Asian leopard, which is nothing like the big cat variety that we think of when we consider a leopard. "Lap Leopards" have the tiniest bit of wild cat in them. They would never grow as large as the author states. And they are also readily available in the States. No need to import from India, thats for certain. With all of the red tape of USDA, CiTEs, USFS, and the ESA and AWAI, I can't imagine how a person would be able to import any sort of exotic without a great deal of licensing.
By Joey on Jan 4th 2009 at 2:14PM
19. 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.
Correct, your squirrels are not even close to Sugar Gliders. Sugar Gliders are marsupials, squirrels are rodents.
By Ron on Jan 4th 2009 at 2:17PM
Thank you, but I'll stick with the pets I like and they happen to be Siamese cats.
By Vivi on Jan 4th 2009 at 2:22PM
That's funny- "can grow to the size of some dogs." Like what, a poodle? My cat is bigger than most of these lap leopards, and he's just a gool ol' tomcat.
They are pretty cats, though, these lap leopards. People just need to know that they are not some sort of wildy exotic and huge leopard-domestic mix.
By Ari on Jan 4th 2009 at 2:43PM
I know a breeder of the Serval cats who look like spotted leapords. Serval are very responsive to their name. They play fetch and love to interact with gusto. However, they are not like raising a large domestic cats. Servals require special care, supervision, attention, dedication, and a life long commitment. Having one of these cats is serious and must not be purchased on a whim, or because you were caught up in the moment with awe. Servals are incredibly beautiful, graceful, and loving. They require, and deserve special attention to details. They do not reproduce like domestic cats and often a kittens are rare and hard to comeby, therefore making them very expensive.
The Bengals come in with spots, marbling, and 'snow' markings. They are crosses which have some of the grace and beauty of the Serval, but smaller and more domestic. They are legal in most places where ever house cats are legal, and are recognized and shown in TICA, a cat association. The Bengals are also very exotic looking, and are much better as housepets.
Several vets now offer pet health insurance making it much easier to get good care without breaking you.
By Renee Spahr on Jan 4th 2009 at 9:38PM
My wife and I have had a lot of exotic pets. In the 80's we had a Vietnamese pot-belly pig. Later we had several different kinds of constrictor snakes from common to the very exotic. We kept them in the living room in large aquariums, either laying down or standing upright depending on their size. We also had Hybrid Persian cats runnning loose in the house.
By Ralph Kampen on Jan 4th 2009 at 3:19PM
Wow. I don't think some of the pets should be up there. I here of tons of people who own snakes. There not that exotic. I almost bought a hedgehog once. But I wasen't sure I could take care of it, so I put my money in a cheaper pet, hermit crabs. I'm soon gonna try to get one again. Most the animals above are illegal to own in alot of states though (Not mine).
By fireball11121 on Jan 4th 2009 at 3:13PM