Where to Get An Exotic Pet

Having come to the decision that you want to own an exotic pet, you then have to think about where to get one. These days keeping snakes, scorpions and other “unusual” animals has become so much more mainstream than it once was, that there’s seldom much of a problem finding animals on offer. However, when it comes to buying any new animal, all sellers are not the same and the old expression “caveat emptor” – buyer beware – is definitely something to bear in mind if you’re looking to buy exotic pets.

Pet Shops

An increasing number of pet shops stock exotic pets alongside more traditional kinds and there is also a number of specialist outlets around the country which specialise exclusively in unusual types of animals. There are lots of advantages in buying your new pet from an established shop – for one thing, they’ll be licensed, which means you can be assured that their animal care and knowledge of the creatures they sell meets certain standards. This is obviously important from an animal welfare perspective, but it also means that you should be able to rely on them to give you at least some basic advice on how to care for your pet.

You don’t only have to rely on your local authority’s licence; before you finally make your purchase, it’s worth visiting the premises you are thinking of buying from and make your own mind up. Even a fairly quick look around should tell you a great deal about how well the animals are cared for – and if they look fit, active and well-nourished. If you’ve done your research properly along the way, you should be able to recognize a good specimen when you see one – and likewise when one isn’t – so put that knowledge to good use!

Take a look around at all the other animals too – even the ones that don’t particularly interest you. Clean cages don’t mean that the shop owner knows everything there is to know about exotic pets, but it does suggest that he or she cares enough to look after things; remember, you’ll seldom find a great example of any kind of pet in a grubby tank.

Other Keepers

Depending on what you want to keep, you may find that getting your pet from another keeper might be something to consider. Private sales of exotic animals are like private sales of second-hand cars; sometimes you can find yourself an absolute beauty – and other times.......! In both cases, the same advice is good – if you aren’t yet an expert yourself, take someone experienced along with you and don’t be afraid to walk away if you don’t see anything you like.

Buying from a fellow enthusiast has its advantages – not least in terms of price. Quite a few species of exotic pets breed well in captivity, so keepers can often have surplus stock and many have been involved in keeping these animals for a very long time, making them not only great for acquiring your new pet, but also valuable sources of information.

Society and club newsletters often have “for sale” adverts which can be a useful way to find out if anyone is offering what you’re looking for; alternatively, ask around the people you know who keep exotics to see if any of them can point you in the right direction.

Animal Sanctuaries

While the local rescue centre may be the place to look if you want to give a poor stray dog or cat a good home, the same is not often true of salamanders and scorpions. However, very occasionally animal sanctuaries or charities do have exotic animals that are in need of a re-homing. Although it’s not a likely route to pet ownership – and the choice is certain to be limited – a phone call on the off-chance can sometimes pay dividends, so it’s worth a try.

Wherever you eventually do go to get your new pet, the trick is to buy a healthy, well-fed and active one; no one has the monopoly on that – so pick wisely and you and your new companion should do fine.