A Beginner’s Guide to Creeps, Slithers, Squeaks and Squawks

With the holidays fast approaching, many people are considering granting a friend or family member’s wish for an animal companion. This series explores the requirements and realities of owning popular pets.

As an LSU assistant professor of zoological medicine and director of the Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana, Javier Nevarez, DVM, has treated everything from obesity in pot-bellied pigs to bladderstones in birds. Before buying any exotic, Nevarez recommends families consider the following:

Responsibility: Who is going to take care of the pet? Pets are a good way for children to show responsibility, but ultimately the responsibility falls to the parent.

Lifespan: While small mammals typically live five years or less, birds and reptiles can live 15 to 20 years.

Daily clean-up requirements: Because exotic pets are kept in a confined area, their pens have to be cleaned daily.

Food: Some exotics need fresh vegetables and owners literally have to make a salad. Some eat mice or rats. Besides being expensive, some food is not available in bulk and requires frequent trips to the store.

Veterinary care: There are a limited number of vets who can care for exotics. The annual cost of vet care is similar to a dog or cat.

Required research: Exotic owners need to be prepared to do their own research.

Unfortunately, most pet stores are not a good source of information. In fact, Nevarez says 80% to 90% of the health problems he sees in exotics result from improper husbandry—the way the owner cares for the animal. In most cases, well-meaning owners are simply acting on bad advice and information. Nevarez suggests speaking to professionals at LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and members of local clubs who are reputable and in animal care before going to a store. He cautions owners to be wary taking advice from anyone who will benefit commercially, to enter a store with a list of specific products and to resist both temptation and persuasion.

Habitat requirements: The right equipment can be expensive. For example, investment in a secure reptile enclosure can run $200 to $300 including a lights and substrait.

Health of the family: Exotics should not be kept in homes with family members who have serious allergies or whose immune system has been compromised including HIV, cancer or joint replacement patients; organ donors or recipients; and the very young or the very old.

Possibility of salmonella contamination: Less than 10% of all salmonella cases are reptile associated; 90% are food related. However, the risk can be definitely increased with free-roaming reptiles. Responsible parenting and pet ownership requires parents to make sure their children wash their hands well after handling any animal.

Child-friendly choices

While Nevarez admits the exotics available for ownership are endless, he says, “With anything beyond reptiles, small mammals and birds, you start to get more complicated in terms of care and risk or injury, money, headache and heartache.”

Nevarez recommends the following pets to parents to help narrow their search.

Birds

Recommended: Cockatiel, budgie (also known as a parakeet) and possibly a Quaker parrot.

If cared for properly, birds have long life spans—15 years or more. Besides being colorful additions to the family, Nevarez says children enjoy these particular birds because they are extremely interactive pets.

Not recommended: Other types of parrots, who are more prone to biting.

Small Mammals

Recommended: Rats, guinea pigs and gerbils (recommended for children older than 10).

Despite their reputation, rats are very clean, interactive, friendly rodents with a relatively easy upkeep. Guinea pigs do require a lot of maintenance to keep the cage clean of strong-smelling urine. The speed and escape skills of gerbils make them a difficult pet for younger children to keep; however, they are a good choice for older children.

Many small rodents are nocturnal, so the animal needs to reside somewhere other than the child’s bedroom. While an office is best, Nevarez insists the animal’s cage should never be located in the kitchen or dining room. Due to the potential for contamination, families must avoid cleaning animals’ cages, bowls and other items in the kitchen sink.

Not recommended: Hamsters, who have a tendency of biting and escaping, and hedgehogs, who are and are prickly and difficult to hold.

Reptiles

Recommended: Cornsnakes, small leopard geckos, crested geckos and bearded dragons.

Nevarez explains most reptiles are not meant to be handled frequently. So why have a reptile for a pet? Children who are curious about nature can learn a lot by observing animal behaviors such as a snake shedding its skin. For a more interactive cold-blooded friend, Nevarez endorses geckos and dragons. He says the lizards are like dogs; they can identify their owners and will come to the front of the cage and wait to be fed.

Not recommended: Green iguanas, who need heat during the winter and their own furniture.

If your family is considering an exotic, visit
LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine

Association for Avian Veterinarians

LSU’s advice on reptiles

Facts about children and pets

Choosing small pets for kids

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