# Ask The Guy Who Owned an Exotic Pet Store. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2009, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016 "2009-01-06T00:16:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/181 "2009-01-15T03:40:07Z")
How about sloths? I love them as the critters they are, and can’t imagine them as pets, but, is there a fan base for them as pets? ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/182 "2009-01-15T13:16:03Z")
> [@elelle](#): > > How about sloths? I love them as the critters they are, and can’t imagine them as pets, but, is there a fan base for them as pets? Actually there is. Both two toed and three toes sloths are commonly kept as pets. They make decent, if somewhat boring companion animals. Be aware that they need frequent, proper bathing and are quite capable of moving quickly if startled. Those claws can give you a nasty wound. A bottle fed baby though is unlikely to ever become aggressive with it’s perceived “mother”. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/183 "2009-01-15T18:27:45Z")
> [@elelle](#): > > How about sloths? I love them as the critters they are, and can’t imagine them as pets, but, is there a fan base for them as pets? > [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Actually there is. Both two toed and three toes sloths are commonly kept as pets. They make decent, if somewhat boring companion animals. Be aware that they need frequent, proper bathing and are quite capable of moving quickly if startled. Those claws can give you a nasty wound. A bottle fed baby though is unlikely to ever become aggressive with it’s perceived “mother”. Any animal that poos only once every couple of weeks has a plus in its favor. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![slytlyuzd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@slytlyuzd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slytlyuzd)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/184 "2009-01-16T00:47:29Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > A plastic one. All reptiles will need occasional handling when cleaning up the habitat. This is usually done every other month or as necessary. A thorough clean up involves removing all the decorations, substrate/bedding, and fixtures. Everything gets changed that is changeable. Decorations and fixtures like water bowls or heat rocks are scrubbed up. > > Now that said, a nine year old is more than old enough to understand and follow this regimen. Likewise, if he receives an allowance, he’ll have to buy food for his pet once a week or so. ALL reptiles that I will suggest to you should be housed in either a terrarium with a tightly fitting screen lid or a large sterilite/rubbermaid container deep enough for them not to crawl out. ALL need a UV light bulb on a TIMER that is on while the sun is up. > > Snakes: > > Corn snake: A terrarium snake. They come in a wide variety of colors and patterns and only need to eat once a week. They feed on mice. Most will be on live from the pet store unless you locate an exotic store or a breeder who uses frozen/thawed mice. If you can’t deal with that idea then stick with live mice. Babies should be fat and sassy. Expect to pay: $25.00-75.00 for most usual colors. > > Ball python: terrarium or sterilite: Also known as the royal python these snakes MAX out at 6 feet, but most never make it past 4. They are docile, friendly snakes with a pleasant disposition and a pronounced reluctance to bite. They eat mice. Babies should be thick, chubby if not fat, and active if not asleep. Look out for snakes that are gaping their mouths or staring at the roof as this is a sign of sickness. $35.00-99.00 depending on age, ASK ABOUT CAPTIVE BRED STATUS > > To AVOID: Other kingsnakes, milksnakes, gartersnakes, grass snakes, larger pythons, boa constrictors, and anything too exotic to identify at a glance. > > Lizards: > > Leopard gecko: A terrarium pet: Fun little lizard that reaches about 8 inches in length as an adult. A wide variety of colors and patterns available, they have a pleasant disposition. They like it warm and will need either a heat producing light, or an additional heat mat or rock in their habitat. They eat a variety of insects which should be dusted with calcium powder before each meal. Mealworms can usually be purchased in a cup and doled out over a week’s period. $30.00-60.00 > > African Fat-tail gecko: For care see above. Not as pleasant as a leopard, but still quite friendly and reluctant to bite. $30.00-60.00 > > Bearded dragons: Sterilite pet. Getting larger than the geckos, these are desert lizards originally native to austrailia. They are among the most intelligent and interactive of the lizards available as a family pet. They have an excellent personality and with handling often become lap lizards that adore attention. They are omnivores and should be fed a mixed diet of insects, leafy greens and fruits. They NEED HEAT. $45.00-99.00 > > Mali uromastix: terrarium or sterilite: A spiny tailed, chubby little iguanid. They eat greens and fruit but need a lot of heat. $45.00-99.00 > > To AVOID: Iguanas, Water dragons, ALL MONITOR SPECIES (you will commonly encounter savannah and nile babies), All skink species, anoles, chameleons. > > Turtles: > > Stay away from aquatic turtles, they are too difficult for someone that does not have experience with aquariums, or a good amount of money to invest in a set up. > > Tortoises: Russian: Medium species that is pleasant. $60.00 seems to be standard. > > Amphibians: > > Many children love pac man frogs, the huge obese mouths with feet from south america. They feed on insects and goldfish and get about the size of a softball. They come in green and albino. keep the water clean and change it every day. $15.00-30.00 > > Feel free to post any questions you have, I’m glad to help out. 🙂 Pardon my intervention, but it suddenly dawned on me mayhaps you could shed some light on the inane fact…why do you get an overwhelming musky/ nasty taste in your mouth when bitten by a sizeable constrictor. I was once the designated snake sitter for someone I barely knew …just lucky I guess… I will never forget the parting comments of this individual as she unloaded the new house guest and his furnishings…yeah he eats mice ..like potato chips… and oh when he bites you the wierdest thing will happen… that was many years ago and I never thought to pursue an explanation to the mystery…I would appreciate your input ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/185 "2009-01-16T01:16:20Z")
I doubt it’s connected to the bite at all. I’ve been bitten hundreds of times and the only thing I can think of is that the snake is excited and fear musking. Sometimes they only release a little and the scent is greasy enough to sort of sit on your tongue if you inhale with an open mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/186 "2009-01-16T01:42:50Z")
Constrictors BITE? I thought they just suffocated you? ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/187 "2009-01-16T01:48:32Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Constrictors BITE? I thought they just suffocated you? Of course they bite. How do you think they hold onto their prey while wrapping it? ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/188 "2009-01-16T03:41:52Z")
Hands? I usually cheat and tape the paper directly to the box. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/189 "2009-01-16T04:05:13Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Of course they bite. How do you think they hold onto their prey while wrapping it? With their coils? ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/190 "2009-01-16T04:40:33Z")
Acid Lamp: Curiously, I’ve been thinking about aquiring a Bearded Dragon - even finally satisfying myself that there was a Vet in Oslo who competently specialized in lizards just last week. I’ve talked with some owners over at repti dot net and am satisfied that it’ll be the eventual pet for me. But could you give me your opinion on the following questions? - I’ve never owned a reptile before. (Only cats.) Would the climate in Norway make it difficult for it, even if I kept it inside in a properly heated habitat? - The vet I’ve come to trust lives about an hour away by public transportation. Is transporting a lizard hard? Would the temperature change from [35c/20c/x where x can be anything between 20c to -30c] it’s habitat to my flat to the outside be harmful for it? How would it deal with abrupt temperature changes, if sick? I do not have my driver’s licence yet. - How much time need/ought to be spent with the animal each day to acclimatize it to your presence? How wary are they of strangers and how territorial are they? Do they thrive better in pairs? Are they easily socialized to their own kind, or should they be kept seperate except for breeding purposes? I’m sure I’ve got another dozen questions, but night beckons! Thanks for the great thread so far! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/191 "2009-01-16T04:51:23Z")
I would have never guessed that a thread on exotic pets would be so interesting. Are there any lorises that aren’t illegal? What would they be like as a pet? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/192 "2009-01-16T05:19:08Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > I’ve actually kept Bluegill and Green Sunfish as pets. Now Green Sunfish are cool. Beautiful fish with neon blue lines near the cheeks and they have lots of character. I’m sure they can stand their own against some Piranhas living in the same tank. > > You keep the Green Sunfish long enough and they’ll come up and bite your finger. Piranhas don’t really live up to their reputation. The ones I’ve seen don’t even feed when you’re watching too closely. I had piranhas for many years. There are several different types. I had one that had a black tail that was nasty. When he got a gold fish he would go from back to front like a buzz saw. It took seconds for him to eat it. He only ate live fish. I other varieties that would eat worms. They were red tails and grew bigger. When I had to clean the black tails tank ,I used a glass partition. He showed no fear when I had to put my arms in there. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/193 "2009-01-16T05:38:02Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > For an animal with almost no facial muscles, it’s expression was clearly puzzled. A lovely turn of phrase, that. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/194 "2009-01-16T06:53:20Z")
now that I’m caught up, I too would like to say thanks for the thread, and where’s the book? A post-modern Herriot, that’s what we have here folks. ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/195 "2009-01-16T07:00:06Z")
I want a training story! Have you ever trained … anything interesting … to do … um, anything interesting? Ever run into a customer who has? Bat retriever? Attack weasel? Maze-running beetle? Knitting fish? Patent attorney echidna? ---
**Author:** ![slytlyuzd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@slytlyuzd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slytlyuzd)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/196 "2009-01-16T08:15:52Z")
\*\*How strange, could be olfactory. Maybe her comment combined w/the musk added to the incident. The odor was definetly pungent and no doubt this python and Dick shared a common ancestry. From what little I know of reptiles it became evident that he had not had all the food he desired, the change in diet from ‘only pink’ rodents to large red squirrels should have had a calming effect. I was not as tough as your young orange haired helper. Thanks for the response and as a testimonial to the cult like following this topic and author have amassed …Guys its too late for me , but next time a girl with faraway eyes routinely asks what it is you do for money…were it me ,in deference to this gentlemans unselfish dedication I might forget the "i’m an astronaut and I own this bar line and go with 'well … you know … EAD …hmm thats right exotic animal dealer . …and something in reference to holding an exotic trouser boa, not to be confused with the more mundane ball python might be appropos…I think it has limitless possibilities. …iIn closing …but what for our mentor… …just the endless posts that don’t feed the caimen…Perhaps a donation to the Acid Lamp stubby finger memorial fund each time a foray by a young EAD proves successful,another exotic animal finds refuge for the night …oops time to take my medicene. Thanks for the bantor ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/197 "2009-01-16T14:15:16Z")
> [@Gukumatz](#): > > Acid Lamp: > > Curiously, I’ve been thinking about aquiring a Bearded Dragon - even finally satisfying myself that there was a Vet in Oslo who competently specialized in lizards just last week. I’ve talked with some owners over at repti dot net and am satisfied that it’ll be the eventual pet for me. > > But could you give me your opinion on the following questions? > > - I’ve never owned a reptile before. (Only cats.) Would the climate in Norway make it difficult for it, even if I kept it inside in a properly heated habitat? > - The vet I’ve come to trust lives about an hour away by public transportation. Is transporting a lizard hard? Would the temperature change from [35c/20c/x where x can be anything between 20c to -30c] it’s habitat to my flat to the outside be harmful for it? How would it deal with abrupt temperature changes, if sick? I do not have my driver’s licence yet. > - How much time need/ought to be spent with the animal each day to acclimatize it to your presence? How wary are they of strangers and how territorial are they? Do they thrive better in pairs? Are they easily socialized to their own kind, or should they be kept seperate except for breeding purposes? > > I’m sure I’ve got another dozen questions, but night beckons! Thanks for the great thread so far! 🙂 Loads of questions here: As to temperature changes, assuming that you do not have to take him out in the cold too often he will be fine. For longer trips, Heat up a large stone in the oven, wrap it in a towel and place it in an insulated container, like a styrofoam cooler for transport. this will provide a nice warm ambient temp that should keep him fine. Don’t let him catch a chill, it is the easiest way for upper respiratory infections to set in. TO acclimate your beardie, start with 5-15 min twice a day and gradually move up to the point where he can be out several hours with access to a warm place. most become “lap lizards” within the first year. Beardies can be social, but I recommend keeping them solitary to avoid territorial fights. You shouldn’t have a trouble with strangers or territorial nips to you unless you fail to socialize your dragon. They will give plenty of warning before a bite though, these include running away, puffing, hissing, and erecting the beard of spines about their neck. Aside: I Adore the Norwegian Forest Cat. When we finally get a cat, that’s the breed for me. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/198 "2009-01-16T14:19:06Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > I would have never guessed that a thread on exotic pets would be so interesting. > > Are there any lorises that aren’t illegal? What would they be like as a pet? You found a question I don’t have the answer for. I’ve never seen them available, so I assume that either the interest was never there, or they are not available. I have a dim recollection of one dealer that had a larger species though,…I’m not sure. okay: According to a quick googling they are available in some areas. It seems that the majority are imports and undergo de-fanging. Not a good sign. If you can find an breeder, go ahead, but they musk, have a toxic bite and need a varied diet. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/199 "2009-01-16T14:24:12Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > I want a training story! Have you ever trained … anything interesting … to do … um, anything interesting? Ever run into a customer who has? Bat retriever? Attack weasel? Maze-running beetle? Knitting fish? Patent attorney echidna? Well we trained a [Red Tegu](http://www.oregonreptileman.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/red.tegu.jpg.w300h416.jpg) to lick grape lollipops. I don’t know if that counts as training though. Most of our animals only got the most basic handling interaction before going to their new homes. Infant mammals were simply carried about at all convenient times to ensure that the line human contact never got too distant. Let me think about it for a while, I’m sure something will come to me that’s both interesting and entertaining, unless you want to know how to train your dog to get you a beer? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016/200 "2009-01-16T15:03:41Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > I’m sure something will come to me that’s both interesting and entertaining, unless you want to know how to train your dog to get you a beer? Um, why? Do you know how to DO that? 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-owned-an-exotic-pet-store/480016.md?page=11)