12 Cutest Exotic Pets You Can Legally Own!
#12 Wallaby
Direct members of the kangaroo family, wallabies are natively found in Australia and the surrounding
areas.
The cute herbivore generally lives up to nine years and is virtually the same as a miniature
kangaroo in appearance.
Their food habits consist of eating grass and plants, which fuels their purpose as a
household pet.
Many people adopt wallabies because they’re adorable, live-in lawn mowers, but their personality,
social skills, and physical attributes also stand out.
The somewhat goofy animal has oversized feet, small arms, and a sweet face.
When wallabies are born, they continue developing in the pouch of their mother for a few months
afterwards.
Because of this, they generally enjoy being cuddled and sleeping in comfortable spaces.
Although their friendly personalities may dominate the majority of wallabies raised
in a domestic environment, the animal does require a ton of space and is best suited
for a family with a large backyard, high fences, and a suitable enclosure.
#11 Serval
Servals are highly intelligent felines with large ears, long limbs, and beautiful markings.
Their tawny coats and black spots help them to blend into the tall grasses that they call
home, however because of their stunning features, the wild cats have transformed into household
pets for people that are willing to keep up with them.
Originating from Africa, males can be up to 40 pounds and over 2 feet tall when they hit
maturity.
They are highly predatory creatures and appreciate the act of catching and playing with their
food, which means that their primary diet should consist of live animals.
This is where servals begin to differ from regular household cats, since they prefer
to eat rodents, fish, reptiles, birds, and other small animals, as opposed to traditional
cat food blends.
Servals don’t just differ from normal cats in their appearance, though – they also
need a lot of room to exercise.
They can roam up to 4 miles per day when in the wild, meaning they require a large enclosure
that allows them to dig, jump, and even swim to catch prey like fish, without being able
to escape.
For this reason, and many others, servals are fairly high maintenance and should only
be kept by owners who are equipped to handle them, but their beautiful markings and interesting
behaviors make them a unique animal to keep.
#10 Skunk
Skunks, native to the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico, are mammals who
are well-known for the liquid they spray when frightened or threatened, which releases a
nasty odor into the air.
While this might not sound like pet material, skunks that are bred in captivity almost always
have their scent glands taken out when they are young to prevent this from occurring.
Coming in coat colors from the typical black-and-white to brown, white, and even ginger, skunks are
a curious-by-nature critter who are simultaneously playful and loving.
Although skunks are high maintenance in housing and keeping their lively personalities entertained,
their diets are pretty simple.
They enjoy a variety of different meals from regular veggies and fruits to oat blends and
yogurt.
Comparable to cats and dogs, skunks are lovable and friendly when raised in the right environment,
and require all of the socialization and common care that common household pets do.
This includes frequent veterinary visits, examinations, and even spaying and neutering
the animal when it comes time.
#9 Bearded Dragon
Native to Australia, the bearded dragon is an exotic lizard that has become an incredibly
popular household reptile.
They have become so common that they’re even offered in pet shops and lizard shows
across the world, however because Australia doesn’t allow their animals to be exported,
the majority of beardies are bred in captivity.
The oldest bearded dragon ever recorded was a whopping 20 years, however the average lifespan
of the scaly creature is anywhere from 6-10 years.
Housed in large tanks, a bearded dragon can grow from just a few inches long up to 24
inches.
Unlike some theories suggest, their size does not depend on their habitat, and they will
quickly outgrow a small tank.
In addition to needing a larger enclosure to thrive in, special heat lamps are required
so that their bodies can absorb specific amounts of radiation.
Beardies also need to be kept at a particular temperature and, as omnivores, demand both
vegetation and small insects to make up their diet.
#8 Fennec Fox
Fennec foxes are one of the smallest members of the fox clan, and although they aren’t
the most common fox breed to keep as a pet, their adorable features have driven their
popularity in households through the roof.
Physically, they mimic the small, whiskered face of a kitten with large, upright ears.
Reaching a maximum of just under four pounds at full growth, the Fennec fox is a nocturnal
and incredibly active creature originating from the Sahara and North Africa.
Like dogs, the tawny and white-colored foxes can be raised to walk on a leash, fetch toys,
and even come when being called by their name.
Despite their intelligent ability to learn, Fennecs are usually troublemakers, even when
they’re raised from youth, and should always be supervised or contained when they aren’t
being watched.
Because of their massive amounts of energy, frequent playtime and interaction is essential
for the cute creature’s development and overall happiness.
#7 Capybara
As the largest rodent in the world, the capybara is comparable to a giant, semi-aquatic guinea
pig.
Their bodies are covered in long, thin fur, but unlike their smaller ancestors, capybaras
have webbed toes and resemble the facial features of a beaver.
They come from Central and South America, more specifically in Brazil and Panama, around
waterholes such as rivers and ponds.
When in captivity, access to water is necessary for a capybara because of how dry their skin
is, adding to the list of special requirements they need to thrive.
Also referred to as a capy, the fuzzy animal can live over nine years on an herbivore’s
diet consisting of a few very specific plants.
Due to their size, which can reach two feet tall and 170 pounds when fully mature, capybaras
require a large space to accommodate their need for a pool and shaded areas.
Just like typical household rodents, they use a series of purrs, squeals, and grunts
to communicate and are incredibly intelligent, albeit shy during first introductions, making
them the perfect addition to a prepared household.
#6 Hedgehog
Hedgehogs, with their small, rounded bodies, are a unique alternative to traditional pet
store critters such as hamsters and guinea pigs.
They are cute and curious creatures, identifiable by spines that are usually not painful but
require special handling since they can be prickly.
With seventeen species coming from different parts in Europe, Africa, Asia, and New Zealand
(as an introduced species), the small animals are usually brown and white in color and can
be as big as 2 pounds, with their body size comparable to guinea pigs.
Like many common rodents, hedgehogs do not have very high intelligence, but their adorable
features and lovable nature make them a great pet.
Hedgehogs are animals that must be interacted with frequently to get them socialized with
humans.
After this point, they are usually very cuddly with their owners and are confident about
exploring their surroundings.
Unlike many other exotic animals, hedgehogs have been domesticated and bred in captivity
for years upon years, making them an excellent option for owners who can’t afford the extravagance
of owning wilder creatures who need special care.
Unlike some typical small pets, hedgehogs are fairly clean animals that require minimal
maintenance in their caged habitats.
They should always be observed for problems, but hedgehogs that are well-fed and content
with their environment enjoy cleanliness as much as their owners do.
Their easygoing attitudes make them a wonderful starter pet that are similar to pet-store
critters, but different enough to make them an exotic animal.
#5 Pygmy Marmoset
The marmoset is a type of smaller monkey that ranges across many different subspecies who
have been kept as pets for many years.
The pygmy marmoset is one of the smallest types of monkey in the world, growing up to
just under 6 inches excluding their tails, which can reach 8 inches in length.
They originate from South America, specifically in Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and the
Amazon of Colombia, where they are quick-moving tree dwellers.
Also called “finger monkeys”, because of the tiny creature’s love for latching
onto human appendages, the adorable primates are popular because of their photogenic faces
and adorable behaviors.
A lot of work goes into keeping a pygmy marmoset happy and healthy.
For starters, they are expensive to care for, since they require a suitable habitat, a specific
diet, and regular veterinary care.
Finger monkeys are also highly social animals that need to be challenged with fun activities,
frequent human interaction, and even contact with others of the marmoset species since
they can live in groups of up to 15.
Their constant need for attention makes them a high-maintenance pet, but people around
the world appreciate the sweet connection that can be made between the tiny primate
and their owners.
#4 Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees, otherwise referred to as chimps, became a popular exotic pets to own after
celebrities began adopting them throughout the last several decades.
The incredibly intelligent primate comes from Africa, where its species once thrived but
has since become endangered.
Although you can legally own a chimp in several places, it’s not wise to do so.
A normal, wild chimpanzee’s day consists of socializing with a pack of up to 120 other
primates, eating, playing, and sleeping.
Like people, chimps enjoy being entertained and will often act out in cases of boredom.
They reach adulthood at age 13, where they become more demanding of attention and will
use their physical strength to cause damage around them if they are not content.
This is considered the “teenage” stage of a chimp’s life, where it can become more
difficult for unequipped human owners to care for their growing pet.
While they can make incredibly cute pets when they are younger, chimps are still wild creatures
and have nearly double the strength of a human and are known to bite.
Owners often end up needing to give them up and sadly one of the few places that can accept
them are medical research facilities.
#3 Slow Loris
The slow loris, originating from Southeast Asia and the surrounding areas, is a variation
of a fuzzy primate with an elongated body, flexible limbs, and large, round eyes.
Their adorable faces have made them an Internet sensation after several owners shared videos
of their slow lorises eating and interacting.
Despite their fame, the slow loris requires incredibly special care to match their sweet
appearance.
One of the most unique parts of the slow loris is their toxicity.
Released from a gland in the elbows, the unique animal will lick the secretion, which activates
its poisonous properties when mixed with saliva.
The slow loris can then spread the toxins across their fur and the fur of their babies
to protect them from predators.
Because of this, they must be carefully handled and raised within a proper enclosure so that
their deadly venom can’t come in contact with their owners.
While the slow loris may not be the best pet for everyone, similar to fish, they are incredibly
unique to watch.
They are excellent climbers who crawl up tree branches and ledges with slow and precise
movements.
Once they’ve settled, their captivating eyes and stunning markings make them one of
the cutest exotic pets available to own.
#2 Kinkajou
From Mexico to Brazil, the kinkajou is a monkey-like creature in appearance, with its thick fur,
long tail, and adorable face, however the exotic animal isn’t a primate.
Nocturnal and tree-dwelling, kinkajous are usually difficult to observe, however in a
domesticated environment, they are more easily interacted with.
When raised from youth, kinkajous usually have calmer temperaments, however they can
also be very curious.
Like many animals, the kinkajou enjoys exploring its surroundings, therefore it should be kept
in a large cage with enough toys and levels to entertain their meddling nature.
In addition to this, the smaller creature, who has a lifespan of roughly twenty years,
requires a good amount of socialization.
Between human interaction and contact with other members of their species, these elements
all add up to create a happy and healthy lifestyle for the kinkajou.
#1 Sugar Glider
Like kangaroos, sugar gliders are marsupials and begin their lives in the pouch of their
mother.
From there, they are one of the most unique and adorable exotic creatures, with distinct
markings, clawed paws, and large eyes.
Within the past several years, their popularity has blown up immensely because of their peculiar
yet sweet appearance, however like any other wild species, they require special care.
A sugar glider is an incredibly social animal that thrives in groups of two or more of the
same animal.
Their playful behavior requires consistent interaction with their human owner(s), but
their lovable faces make this a fairly simple task to achieve.