exotic pets
Exotic pets are wild animals gone domestic; explore the absurd, fascinating and sometimes illegal exotic pet industry.
Allie's Story
Four years ago, I rescued a bearded dragon lizard named Alice. Alice turned into Allie. Allie was a sweet bearded dragon lizard. We didn't know her approximate age so we were told she was seven to nine months old. While I didn't have enough information on her, I dived right in to a world I didn't know anything about bearded dragon lizards. There is a lot of conflicting information about them and due to that conflicting information, I didn't know if I was doing everything right. When I asked her previous owner about what she ate, she told me to look it up and that was it. I went website to website, looking for information, looking for things she would need for a happy long life with me.
By Tracy Lawson6 years ago in Petlife
Rat Life
I have six rats; five girls and one boy. They all live together in their double Critter Nation cage. My boy is neutered so he can live with the girls. His name is Vlad and he is an albino rat. He is lazy like a good boy usually is. Then there is the youngest girl. Her name is Basha and she is an Agouti Berkshire rat. She might be slightly more cute because she was born without a tail, but we won't tell the others we think so ;). Then there is Fluffy. She is our crazy girl. She is blue and has curly hair all over. Then Ivonne; she is a black Berkshire girl. She is the boss and the mastermind behind all their naughty behavior. Then there is Corrine. She is our pretty grey variegated girl. She loves food slightly more than all the other rats. Rat number six is our girl Odette. She is a cream color and a variegated hooded rattie. She is so sweet and loves to give kisses all over the place.
By Sara Logsdon6 years ago in Petlife
Keeping Pets in University Halls
Anyone that has been to university can probably tell you stories about animals being kept SAS style in halls. I can tell you stories about everything from fish to sheep being kept in university halls, it was not uncommon to see a hamster cage being passed between flats on inspection day or a cry for help on the university message boards saying, “Can anyone look after my snake for a night so he doesn’t get found?” Pets were hidden under beds, in cupboards and locked in bathrooms whenever the maintenance team came around (on the rare occasion they responded to one of our problems).
By Charlie Mcloud6 years ago in Petlife
Dogs, Cats, Giraffes... Oh My!
As an adult, I prefer to reside in the city over the country. But I must admit some of my best childhood memories come from growing up in the country or visiting my grandparent's farm! I still have memories of my uncles going hunting and watching my grandparents clean the fresh kill then prepare it for dinner throughout the week. I miss driving my dirt bike on dirt roads, mixing dirt and water to make mud pies, and letting them dry out in the sun.
By Nanette Tenpo6 years ago in Petlife
Bred for the Bullet
Cub petting has risen in popularity in recent years due to the increase of social media content containing wild animal encounters, rides, walks, and selfies. Wildlife tourist attractions, WTAs, showcase a range of exotic animals and experiences including cub petting, walking with lions, tiger selfies, and bear feeding. Interactions are often presented as educational and tourists are sometimes told cubs are orphans that have been taken in by the business usually masquerading as a sanctuary. This increased consumer demand for wild animal interaction has provided the perfect opportunity for WTAs to turn their animals into profit centers for a non-stop flow of customers who fuel the photo-tourism industry. Unfortunately, businesses that offer wild animal interactions operate far from the idyllic connotations that the word “sanctuary” implies. Specifically, focusing on young cubs (including lions, tigers, jaguars, bears, leopards), being subjected to the unnecessary human interaction that directly disrupts their right to a natural upbringing, resulting in serious negative consequences for the physical and mental well being of the big cats involved.
By Molly Gill6 years ago in Petlife
Life With My Non-Human Family
I have never been a ‘people person.’ They are far too opinionated for my liking. That’s why I live my life with multiple species of animals, and just one human boyfriend who is the exception to my disliking of humans (In all honesty, he is just another living being that I love and care for). Now, I’m not saying I hate humans; in fact, there are a few I tolerate, and some I actually like, but I wouldn’t complain if I didn’t socialize with people, I would have my animals for company.
By Leanne Ryles6 years ago in Petlife
Life of a Bearded Dragon
Hello, my name is Manny Lizard Legacy Brown, but you can call me Manny. I am a one-year-old bearded dragon and I am currently living with an amazing family. When I was nine months old, my first family put me up for adoption, because they were afraid of me getting hurt by the larger lizard they had. On March 23rd, 2017 it was a normal day, maybe a little chilly out. I looked out my window and saw my old family put a blanket over the top of my tank and take me to their car. I hid under my log because I was afraid and didn't know what was going on. It felt like we were driving for a long time, but it was only a couple minutes. My old human picked up my tank and put it into another truck and I heard two females' voices. The next thing I know I was being driven to somewhere else, again it felt like forever. I moved around my tank to get a look at my surroundings and saw a human girl sitting next to me talking with the older female driver. After a moment the human sitting next to me got out of the truck. I saw the two human girls picking my tank up with the blanket still on the lid and they took me inside. I couldn't see where we were going, but the next thing I knew I was set down on a stand. I moved to the glass to get a look at my new home and I saw two big dogs and a small cat. I looked up and saw a human girl with red hair holding a phone and it looked like she was taking a picture of me. After she was done, an older looking girl looked at me and took of the lid to my tank off. I closed my eyes and the next thing I know I felt a finger pet my head. I looked up at the human and just stayed there. The human grabbed my roaches and dropped one in my tank, and I didn't know I was hungry, but I ate at least four of them. Then I was given worms next, which are my favorites. She put my lid on again and left to go do something. I fell asleep for a couple of hours and when I woke up I saw a man looking at me. I watched the man take off my lid and put a hand in to pet my head. I just stayed there and did nothing. He put the lid on my tank and sat in a chair watching TV. It was dark out when I saw the older human girl take my lid off, and lay her hand next to me. I don't know what I was thinking, but I climbed on her. I felt myself being picked up and it was a weird feeling because I had never really been held by my old human. I felt myself being put on her chest and she ran her hand down my back and told me that she loved me and that she would always make sure I had what I needed. The other girl came over and said the same thing. After a bit I was put in my tank with fresh water and food. I heard both humans say they loved me and I just didn't understand how they can have so much love for a little thing like me. My last thought before I went to sleep was that I was loved and I will love my new family just as much.
By Christine Brown6 years ago in Petlife
Bearded Dragon Set Up 101
Bearded Dragons, also affectionately referred to as "beardies," are a type of desert reptile native to Australia that also happen to make awesome pets. As with any pet, there are things that you need to do in order to ensure they can live life to the fullest.
By Amanda Steuart6 years ago in Petlife