Strange Pets

Following on from our Facebook post listing a few strange pets, I decided to delve a bit deeper and see what other weird and wonderful animals and creatures people keep as pets. I decided to do a countdown like the charts!! Not a top 40 though; that would take far too long and it's lunchtime soon!

So, in at number 5 of the wierd and wonderful pets is...

a Tiger.... Yes an actual Tiger!! In some countries they are leagal to keep as pets. For me there are a couple of points to raise about having a Tiger as a pet. First of all the moral implications of it. To keep a Tiger in captivity as a pet brings in to question the restrictions it puts on their instinctive nature to hunt and roam as far and wide as they want. Secondly, would I let it sleep at the end of my bed? Probably not!! Nevertheless, an impressive beast!

Number 4...

a micro pig. I have heard stories of people buying 'micro pigs' only for them to grow...and grow...and grow...and grow...you get the picture. No one can deny how cute they are and it's clear for all to see how their popularity has increased over the years, however, one piece of advice; make sure it is a micro pig and you don't end up with one the size of a Gloucestershire Old Spot! Oink!

Number 3...

Palm Civet! These guys are pretty awesome and not particularly common as pets. Did you know they eat coffee beans which then ferment in the gut and those beans are then used to prepare a specific coffee? Just in case you want a heads up as to which coffee it is, it's Nescafe....not really, it's a coffee called Kopi Luwak. Another interesting fact...they smell like popcorn. Crazy eh?!

Number 2...

Tailess Whip Scorpion. Now these guys are so fascinating to look at and handle. We had a couple in the shop a year ago and they weren't on sale for long before they sold and it's easy to see why. As you can see from the picture, they look like something out of a sci-fi film. They come from tropical and sub tropical regions and their nature is docile as they hardly ever display defensive signals. They have a flat body and just 6 legs, unlike arachnids which have eight. Check them out!

Number 1...

Marmoset! For me these guys are amazing. In fact I'd love to have one! There are a couple of stumbling blocks though. Firstly, the cost; if you search around on various exotic pets for sale websites you'll find them listed between £400-£800, and that's just for the animal. Secondly, they require a lot of time and patience. You can't leave them alone all day or let them do their own thing all the time. They need time investing in them. If you have the time and money to look after these awesome monkeys then what an addition to your family they would be!! I mean, who doesn't want a Monkey as a pet; if Ross Gellar does then everyone should.