The New Intimacy

Would you want to own an exotic pet if you could?

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Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
I just saw a show on Cheetah's. Apparently they are the only big cat that has actually been hand raised and kept as house pets since early Egypt. The Emperors of Rome had them as pets too.

I know my neighborhood and certainly my subdivision would never allow it, but it is fun to imagine owning such an amazing exotic pet. With their numbers dwindling in the wild, I wonder if that, more then zoo's, is going to be the only long term hope they have of survival too?

If you could own an exotic pet, would you? If so, what would it be?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Yes, I would love to own an exotic pet. I would love to own a .....
Peggi , Bignuf , beachluv51800 , Beck , GenderSexplorations , lexical , Ash1141 , PassionQT , paralax , gehuwd , Ghost , hyacinthgirl , dhig
13
No. Exotic pets belong in the wild where they came from.
DeliciousSurprise , slynch , EJ , Kindred , ily , Ansley , padmeamidala , Valentinka , Coralbell , Sohotdinosaur , Pink Jewel , lexical , Wild Orchid , darthkitt3n , kokopelli , El-Jaro , ellejay , MrWishyWashy , The Curious Couple , dv8 , Breas , MaryExy , married with children , hjtee
24
Other?
Peggi , wrecklesswords , js250 , Rossie , Katastophy , haley730 , MaryExy
7
Total votes: 44 (41 voters)
Poll is closed
09/29/2011
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Contributor: Peggi Peggi
I would love to own exotic animals although I wouldn't actually do it because they are better off in their natural habitats for the most part. I did have a "pet" wolf when I was younger, because where I used to live they ran wild. Well, a mommy was hit by a truck and her babies were left to fend for themselves and all but one had died. Since we lived in a massive desert area without fences in the yard for a very long time, it was fine to feed it and still let it run free, so I would sneak food out to it every day. Looking back, once it got bigger it might not have been the safest thing to do, because it still was wild, but it was fun!

I have owned pets like snakes and tarantulas as well, and still keep such pets. Also, I keep exotic fish when I can find them!

I think if I could keep a big cat like a cheetah or a puma or something I would! But it wouldn't be fair to the animal, so that's why I also chose "other".
09/29/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I want a Savannah:



(Sorry the picture is so huge.) I think that's about as exotic as I'm willing to go.
09/29/2011
Contributor: padmeamidala padmeamidala
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
I just saw a show on Cheetah's. Apparently they are the only big cat that has actually been hand raised and kept as house pets since early Egypt. The Emperors of Rome had them as pets too.

I know my neighborhood and certainly my ... more
I wouldn't want to own an exotic pet. I'm more of a kitty cat person.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Valentinka Valentinka
I'd better not, but my boyfriend has a dream of owning a chameleon
09/29/2011
Contributor: Beck Beck
Oh yes we want a freaking zoo! Not wanting something that can eat me so not big cats, bears, or large snakes. Most likely just some fish, lizards, and snakes
09/29/2011
Contributor: GenderSexplorations GenderSexplorations
Either a Savannah cat or a pair of sugar gliders. Sugar gliders are just about the cutest things ever and savannah cats are just amazing.
09/29/2011
Contributor: wrecklesswords wrecklesswords
I'm honestly torn. Part of me says "no, they belong in the wild." But the other part of me says "Ooooh, shiny exotic pet!"
09/29/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by wrecklesswords
I'm honestly torn. Part of me says "no, they belong in the wild." But the other part of me says "Ooooh, shiny exotic pet!"
Ya, me too. I think it'd be neat but I'd only seriously think about it if I could definitely provide the environment it needed to be safe and healthy. If I can't reasonably reproduce an environment the animal would be happy and healthy in, then I wouldn't do it.

I think a Sphynx cat is probably about as exotic as I'll end up going.
09/29/2011
Contributor: lexical lexical
I would love to have pretty much any kind of exotic pet, with two exceptions. I LOVE animals, so I'd be happy with a pretty, exotic parrot or a dog or a kinkajou or an aardvark or just about anything you can come up with...BUT!

I really don't like monkeys. They creep me out. A lot.

Also, pigs. Pigs don't creep me out, but I think they're gross and annoying and mean. When I was in college, all of my close friends were pre-veterinary students, so we spent a lot of time out at the barn. Have you ever been in a room full of momma sows and squealing piglets? Your ears and nose will never be the same.

Other than pigs and monkeys, I'd have just about any animal out there, as long as it's not going to kill and eat me...And as long as it's legal. And as long as it's captively and responsibly bred and not snatched from its natural habitat.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Ash1141 Ash1141
I would love to have a lemur or fennec fox but in reality wouldn't even if I could.
09/29/2011
Contributor: PassionQT PassionQT
Hedgehog! Too cute...
09/29/2011
Contributor: paralax paralax
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
I just saw a show on Cheetah's. Apparently they are the only big cat that has actually been hand raised and kept as house pets since early Egypt. The Emperors of Rome had them as pets too.

I know my neighborhood and certainly my ... more
i'm going through a pretty horrible break up so i've decided to buy 2 sugar gliders so i have somthing to love unconditionally. i decided on them because their a bit odd but have a sense of freedom that I don't (ie flying) plus i can put them in pocket and take them out with me.
09/29/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Exotic fish would be cool, but:
a. expensive
b. temperature sensitive
c. cat food.
09/29/2011
Contributor: MrWishyWashy MrWishyWashy
I voted no, but after further thought, I'd love me a monkey!!!!
09/29/2011
Contributor: The Curious Couple The Curious Couple
I wouldn't want an exotic pet. A cat or two is good for me!
09/29/2011
Contributor: Kkay Kkay
Hm. If I would be able to care for it appropriately, sure.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
I used to envy people with a falcon standing on their forearms, but not any more.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Katastophy Katastophy
I don't know if it quite counts as exotic, but I own two snakes. One is a Ball Python, and the other is a Pastel Columbian Boa.
In terms of animals on the more exotic end of the scale, I'd love to have a baby tiger, but I know that it would be too much to handle. I would rather just volunteer somewhere where I can see and interact with them.
09/29/2011
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
As I've worked in both zoos and aquariums, I've taken care of many exotic animals...
09/30/2011
Contributor: haley730 haley730
I would love to own extotic pets, but I think they belong in the wild.
09/30/2011
Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
I'd like a Fennec fox. Part of me would love to have a slow loris, but since they must be de-fanged and declawed to be ownable, I couldn't bring myself to do it.
09/30/2011
Contributor: MaryExy MaryExy
It would be cool, but most could not be accommodated properly in a person's home. They need a ton of room, especially something like a cheetah. The most exotic pets I'd consider are parrots and iguanas, and those both would need huge cages or entire rooms to themselves.

I'd picture temperature being a big issue with cheetahs. Aren't they used to savannah weather?

Zoos promote a natural environment for animals. I think that they would be a much more viable option than private homes for helping most wild species survive.
09/30/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
nope, wild animals belong in the wild, not in my home.
10/01/2011
Contributor: hjtee hjtee
I think it's selfish to be taking animals out of their natural habit for human enjoyment/pleasure.
10/01/2011
Contributor: Angelica Angelica
I want a skunk that is de-stinkified. Skunks are really cute! My teacher in highschool had 2 as pets.
10/01/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I want a Savannah:



(Sorry the picture is so huge.) I think that's about as exotic as I'm willing to go.
HOW BEAUTIFUL. Looks very "wild".
10/01/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Angelica
I want a skunk that is de-stinkified. Skunks are really cute! My teacher in highschool had 2 as pets.
They are supposed to be very trainable too. Fun pet.
10/01/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by hjtee
I think it's selfish to be taking animals out of their natural habit for human enjoyment/pleasure.
While you have a point, those natural habitats are fast dissapearing. A friend of ours travels to Africa twice a year. He owns businesses in three different African nations. He says there really IS "no wild Africa" left, and with human habitation, war, famine, and deforestation, there may be less in just a few years. Sad, but true. Zoo's may be the last stand for MANY species. If a few are pets, it may increase the gene pool for them too.
10/01/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by haley730
I would love to own extotic pets, but I think they belong in the wild.
We agree...we just wish there was a "wild" to have them live in. An ever more scarce thing.
10/01/2011