I've owned lots of animals, including cats, dogs, and fish, but some of my most interesting pets have been exotic ones.

 

 

Now don't get me wrong... my St. Bernard/Rottweiler mix dogs were simply amazing in coloration, demeanor, and intelligence, but they weren't very exotic. I'm talking about the Chinese Water Dragon I had that caught quite a few interesting looks. I had gotten him when he was a couple weeks old from a breeder, and he was about 4 inches long from snout to tail. Once he hit 4 months, he started getting pretty big and I had to build a custom cage. At his largest size, he was 4 and a half feet long from snout to tail and weighed around 4 pounds. He got along great with the dogs, never hissing and even occasionally climbing on their backs while they lying on the ground. He would also climb on my shoulders and just lie there when I took him outside during the summer so he could get some natural sunlight. Kids thought he was the coolest thing they had ever seen, and the look on women's faces when you ask them 'Wanna see my dragon?' still makes me laugh.

 

 

My Chinese Water Dragon was just one example of an exotic pet. I did have to handle him a lot so he would be used to it (much like taking a dog around other dogs, to help reduce/prevent hostility). While exotic pets aren't necessarily for everyone, I don't feel they should be ruled out... after all, sometimes it's the unconventional things that stick with you the most.

 

 

This rave written by Joe Rosendorf Jr.  This is merely an opinion based on personal experiences, and is intended to inform based on those experiences.