The Most 'off the Beaten Path' and Unusual Pets You Can Totally Own

Fancy yourself as someone that's "off the beaten path" and non-traditional? If so, then you'll love these exotic and unusual pets!

09:32 16 September 2020

Did you know that 85 million families in the United States have pets? If you're in the minority, then you might feel a bit left out.

 

Because of that, perhaps you're thinking about adding a new family member. But you don't want to go for a boring dog or cat; you want something cool and exotic!

 

Are you interested in owning unusual pets? Then keep reading! We'll show you some of the coolest pets you can add to your household.

 

Hedgehog

 

Hedgehogs are cute and what's even better is, they're solitary animals! Many furry pets require at least 1 buddy, but with hedgehogs, you don't have to worry about that. So if you're tight on space and/or don't want to have that many pets, this can be a great choice.

 

These spiny critters live around 5 to 7 years long and are very easy to feed. Simply pick up hedgehog food from pet stores and feed them fruits and insects as well.

 

They might take a little to warm up to you, but if you handle them enough and they get used to you, they'll snuggle up to you in no time.

 

Hedgehogs might be cute, but be aware that they poop a lot. So you need to be prepared to constantly clean up after them and give them baths.

 

Skunk

 

Skunks can be terrifying with their disastrous odor. But if you de-scent them, then skunks actually make really cool pets! In fact, there are breeders that domesticate these animals and de-scent them at a very young age.

 

These little critters are very intelligent and extremely curious, so you need to be prepared to keep a watchful eye on them. Plus, there's barely any formulated skunk food available, so you need to be very meticulous in what you feed them to ensure your pet is getting all the nutrition it needs.

 

In general, feed them a diet that's 2/3rds lean protein and 1/3rd vegetables. The veggies should be fresh, never canned. You can also give them some nuts, grains, and fruits as snacks.

 

Hissing Cockroaches

 

You might've had a visceral reaction to the suggestion of having cockroaches as pets. Surely they should be stomped out, as they're a pest?

 

However, many people enjoy keeping hissing cockroaches as pets. These are giant arthropods that grow as big as 4 inches long. They live 2 to 3 years, sometimes more.

 

All you need to raise hissing cockroaches is a 10-gallon tank with a screen on top (they're great at escaping!). They're easy to feed as well; they'll eat dog or cat food, fresh fruits, and leafy greens as treats.

 

If you're not comfortable handling insects, you can always just keep your hissing cockroaches in the tank. Otherwise, many owners of these exotic pets love picking them up and letting these roaches climb all over their hands and arms.

 

Snakes

 

These cold-blooded animals come in a variety of breeds. This means that even if your personal tastes vary vastly from your friends', you can all still each own the perfect snake! From the small corn snake to the massive constrictor, snakes are definitely some of the most beautiful pets around.

 

No matter what type of snake you get, you should feed them frozen feeder mice instead of live ones. While snakes in the wild hunt prey, domesticated ones might get hurt by mice. Plus, the feeder mice will die in less humane ways.

 

By using frozen feeder mice, you'll be able to keep your pet snake safe. All you have to do is warm them up a little in the microwave and your snake will feed on them just fine.

 

You can keep most snakes in tanks. Depending on the size of your snake, you might need to get a massive one to accommodate it. You'll need to ensure there's plenty of branches and hiding spaces, as well as a heat pad so they can get the warmth they need.

 

Like with the hissing cockroaches, if you're not brave enough to handle your snake, it'll be happy just living in the tank without contact. But if you'd like to hold them, you can certainly do so with many snake breeds.

 

Capybaras

 

Are you a big fan of rodents? Then you're sure to fall in love with capybaras! These are the world's largest rodents, and they're super relaxed, which makes them fantastic to have around.

 

Capybaras essentially look like giant guinea pigs and are herbivores. So you'll want to feed them high-quality hay, as well as some fruits and vegetables.

 

These rodents need lots of space to be happy, plus they're a social animal, which means they need at least 1 companion. They're also semi-aquatic, so they need access to a body of water. In fact, they eat, sleep, and breed in water, so it's vital you provide them with a decent-sized pool!

 

Piranhas

 

Maybe you're someone who likes owning fish tanks, but you don't want boring bettas. Why not consider getting some piranhas?

 

They do have some special requirements for their tanks, so they're not for beginning fish enthusiasts. Also, they'll need at least 100 gallons to swim around in, whether you get just 1 or at least a group of 5. If you have anywhere between 2 to 4, they might cannibalize one another.

 

As far as their diet goes, piranhas eat practically anything. You can give them fish, insects, fruits, plants, seeds, and nuts.

 

Don't try to feed them live fish, as they can catch diseases from them. Try and stay away from chicken and other meats that you eat, since they're a bit too fatty for them.

 

Consider Some of These Cool and Unusual Pets

 

After reading this article, hasn't this list of unusual pets inspired you to think outside the box? While regular furry companions like dogs and cats are certainly enjoyable, getting rare pets can be quite an adventure!

 

Did you enjoy this article on legal exotic pets? Then make sure you check out the rest of our blog for more interesting reads!