Five of the oddest household pets

Exotic pets usually come with more work and time than traditional pets like cats and dogs and not only initially cost a fortune, but can cause your cash flow to wither and die as their exotic needs drain your wallet.

Not all odd pets cost and arm and a leg, and often maintenance, housing and feeding costs can be managed on a small budget, but veterinary fees must be factored in too.  Remember to research and obey the laws pertaining to keeping exotic pets and be sure to invest in pet insurance should your beloved pet become ill or injured...no matter how odd your pet is!

Aptly named, the Giant African Land Snail can reach up to a foot in length! They can cause a lot of destruction to a garden, so need to be carefully managed. Giant African Land Snail owners say they make interesting pets, and are sure to cause a sensation in the neighbourhood.

Kinkajous are nocturnal tree-dwellers, also known as honey bears or nightwalkers, and although they resemble monkeys in some ways they are actually members of the same family as raccoons. Their wild populations are declining due to habitat destruction, hunting, and the illegal pet trade, so be sure of the source of your pet Kinkajou. In the wild, they primarily eat fruit and nectar.

Alligators are renowned, alongside pythons and iguanas, as the most “exotic” pet one can own, mainly due to their aura of danger and mystique. While alligators have been called “friendly” and “companionable” by owners, it is important to remember that they are still wild animals and need a lot of space and a warm climate. Owning an alligator is not for the faint hearted.

Hermit crabs may not seem to be the most ideal pet, but owners think differently. There are a variety of websites and pet shops devoted to hermit crab care and ownership and owners insist Hermit crabs are interesting, quiet pets that are relatively easy to care for, as long as they are given a proper environment and food.

Pot Bellied Pigs are becoming as common as household pets that the term “exotic” or “odd” hardly seems to apply anymore.  According to owners, Pot Bellied Pigs are like two year old children - intelligent, curious, mischievous, and, sometimes manipulative. They are sensitive creatures and on the intelligence scale they are only two species away from the intelligence of humans.

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