Are you into pets, but dogs and cats won’t really fill that void? Try something a little more exotic --- though I’m not talking about tigers or lions, some species of animals are illegal to be kept as pets, so here I am, with my pet Donatello the turtle, to educate you on some other cool animals you could keep without the legal hassle.
Remember: as cool as these animals are, always ask about how to properly care for them from whoever you buy them from, or do some research on the net.
Turtles! I’ve loved turtles since I was a kid, mostly in part because of the Ninja Turtles. It’s not that you want to be any of them, but it was cool imagining that they’d be your ninja friends and hang out with you if you had pizza! Here are a couple of species of turtles that are safe to keep as pets:
Box Turtle – These critters are land-dwelling creatures and are easily located in mossy areas of forests, and other damp habitats. These are omnivorous creatures and will eat berries and small insects. They are strong little turtles that can grow up to 6 inches long.
Slider Turtles – I’m guessing these are the type of turtles that the ninja turtles were. These are the kinds of turtles you see in pet stores in a tank, because of their tiny size. However, proper care is required, as they can grow up to 11 inches long, so better make sure you have a tank that can accommodate a turtle that size! Put in plenty of small rocks and a swimming area for the tank, as these turtles just love to play. These are available and abundant in the California area.
Painted Turtles – Like the slider turtles, this species of turtles are aquatic. They require a larger tank, or a small pool, always making sure that the water is clean. They are omnivorous as well, and they can be fed feeder fish, chicken meat, special food sticks or lettuce.
Mud Turtles – Like the name implies, they prefer damp, muddy dwellings. These turtles rarely grow over 5-6 inches, so they’re easier to keep indoors. In captivity, special turtle food is recommended, only if you can’t provide insects, tadpoles and fish.
Ssssnakes! Okay, so they may not be as socially accepted as turtles, but boy, do they make scary pets! Remember, snakes from the wild usually tend to be much more aggressive than the ones grown in captivity. So for your own safety, get a snake from a pet store instead. Some species for inexperienced pet lovers:
Corn snakes, king snakes or ball pythons are bound to do you good. These three tend to be gentle, and keeping in with their diet and environmental needs doesn’t take too much attention. Should you do a good job, they can live up to 20 (corn / king) and 40 (ball python) years long!
Lizards! Although lizards are usually inexpensive to buy, it’s with the light/heat equipment that’s gonna cost you. Remember to do your research before a pet store tells you what the BEST (expensive!) equipment is. Leopard geckos are ideal for starters, since they’re small and don’t really require the UVA/UVB lighting. Bearded dragons, on the other hand need large terrariums and proper lighting to grow.
Remember that research is still the best thing to do. Also, consider if you could properly care for that pet, because it’s gonna be with you for a long time, given that you take proper care of it.
