Really stupid question: Why?

peasant

I'm a dog and cat person myself, so ..well, how should I put it ..I just can't see the attraction / point in keeping some exotic pets like lizards, spiders and so on. I mean, you get very little interaction out of them (or am I wrong there ?), have to be very carful about environmental conditions and feeding and (to me) these animals just seem kind of "out of place" in an Irish living room.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to dismiss keeping these animals ...I just don't see the attraction at all. Can somebody please enlighten me?

tovalee

i agree to a point. Ive kept all kinds of pets. but i alwasy come back to the furry variety. once the novelty and "cool" factor wears off of a snake or lizard, theyre really not that much fun.I'm sure others would disagree, but to each his own

Dyr

Im getting a scorpion this week, my first non furry pet, I'll let you know what the attraction is (or is'nt) as it happens

"exotic" is probably the key word, I think its the chance to observe a creature that you would never have seen otherwise. Quite often, one that you've been interested in for a long time, like how many people thought that snakes/lizards/scorps/spiders/fishies were neat as a kid??

jezza

My sister got a turtle before she went to college, its horrible and its neck looks like a cucumber with red lines in it... i think the fecker is fried half the time, could swear hes trying to climb out and he can make scratchy noises in the bowl.... hes so boring, doesnt even have a name

Kersh

I have kept snakes - a royal python, corn snakes, rat snakes, and king snakes, and they are great crack, watching them, handling them, etc, you have to have the interest to keep them though, it should noyt be an impulse buy. I myself definitely dont see why people keep cats, but I can sort of see some recreation/fun with a dog, at least a dog keeps coming back, ...cats just come and go as they please, and are not really loyal. Buy like has been said
'to each his own'

Dinxminx

I would love to have a boa constrictor to see it grow. I just think it would be fascinating to watch a snake's living habits.

Sigma Force

It's all well and good saying you would like an exotic animal..exotic = anything from a rabbit to a snake.

Yes watching some of these animals is interesting and only real enthusiasts should take on a reptile or other exotic, they require a lot of care and snakes esp. pythons/boas etc grow to a huge size and people end up not having the space or money to feed them...that's when they are no longer wanted and the novelty wears off.
Or when they realize a hutch isn't suitable for a rabbit to live in permanently, that they do live beyond a few years..approx 10 yrs.

Unless committed in the long term and that you also have the money and access to an exotics vet an exotic animal is not a good idea, stick to watching them on wildlife documentaries.

Many people do prefer exotics to dogs or cats, in Ireland people in general still haven't got the first clue about owning a dog so when the whole exotic thing comes into play it's a real night mare.
Until people realise that letting your dog wander the streets unneutered isn't on there is no hope for exotic animals, not to say there aren't genuine educated owners of exotics out there but as with all types of pets there's not enough educated ones.