Buying and Caring for Three Exotic Pets: Chinchillas, Mice & Monkeys

Some people are content to own regular pets such as cats, dogs, birds, and gerbils while others prefer the more exotic, such as chinchillas, alligators, mice etc. wanting the status of having owned an exotic animal. It is the owner's choice if they want to take on the many responsibilities that are involved in taking care of an exotic animal.

The chinchilla is a great choice for a pet. The lifespan for the chinchilla is typically 15 years, however 18-22 years is not uncommon. Body length is about 10-14 inches, tail is another 5-6 inches with gentle handling from a young age most chinchilla's will become tame. They will bond with their owner, even though they do not like to be cuddled or handled. Chinchilla's are very playful and active. They can be kept singly or be paired especially if they are littermates or if the animal is introduced to a mate or new owner at a young age.

Cages need to be large, and multi-level cages with platforms, ramps and perches are ideal. The chinchilla is nocturnal so will be most active in the evening and night. They should be kept in a fairly quiet area during the day. They prefer a consistent routine for handling at feeding times and may become stressed out by changes to its routine. They are active and playful and will need a good size cage to freely roam around and exercise. Along with regular access to dust bath, chinchilla's need a variety of toys to keep them busy and active, especially items for chewing to keep their incisors teeth in good condition. Chinchilla's require a lot of roughage, and their diet should mainly be made up of good quality grass hay along with pellets made only for chinchilla's. Treats should be given in moderation one teaspoon per day, total and its diet can include fruits such as fresh, or dried apples, grapes, raisins and vegetables, sunflower seeds, and rolled oats. The digestive system of chinchilla is fairly sensitive so any diet changes should be gradual. The owner should be gentle and consistent to gain the trust of the chinchilla.

People think of mice as white mice, but in fact there are well over 40 varieties. There are exhibition quality mice, which are the rolls Royce of the mouse world, can be found in exotic shades such as sable or pearl, cinnamon and Himalayan, blue or silver. They are far removed the common house mouse as a racehorse is from Dartmouth pony.

Pet shop mice are somewhere in the middle-often they are piebald, or brown. It may hard to find mice in pet shops today because it is not as popular as rabbits or guinea pigs. Mice as pets, requires little space. It can be kept indoors, and is extremely cheap to feed. Mice will sit on your hand, wash themselves, and generally explore.

Female mice make the best pets, because their urine does not smell like that of the male. It is sensible to keep two female mice together to provide company for the other. Two male together in a cage will vehemently fight for territory and will smell pretty rough. You should keep your mice in a wooden box or cage, but ensure that there is adequate ventilation to prevent condensation. If the cage has a glass front then make sure that there is a gap to let air inside or drill little holes in the roof of the cage. Keep mice in a fish tank or plastic water bowl however make sure you place a metal grill over the top. Mice need sawdust for the cage bottom, and hay or paper to nest in. Do not use shredded paper to align the bottom of the cage it isn't very warm. Instead you newspaper, it is glossy and cozy.

You should clean your mice out at least once a week, and it is a good idea to have two cages so that you can alternate when you clean the cage. Mice love to play in an old toilet paper roll tube or kitchen towel tube. The standard mouse wheel is always popular however make sure it is big enough and to wash it every now and then. Learn how to pick a mouse before owning one. The proper way to pick up a mouse gently by the root of its tail not the tip and transfer them to your palm. Hold on to the tail to prevent a nervous mouse leaping from your hand. Contrary to popular belief picking up mice this way does not hurt the mouse.

Feed the mouse a basic diet of whole or rolled oats, with a little hamster food and budgerigar seed occasionally for variety. Feed the mouse bread, preferably whole meal, daily soaked in water and squeezed out. Dog biscuits are good for its teeth. You should always have water available, and nursing mothers will appreciate milk. In the summer they love the yellow dandelion heads, and seeding grass, but please don't over feed them. They can also nibble on a little carrot and mice are also partial to boiled rice and pasta. Mice are basically omnivorous, however it is a myth that they love cheese. It doesn't do them any good and is only used for mousetraps because of its strong smell and texture that sits perfectly on the spring of the trap.

Mice can live for up to two years. They are ready for breeding when they are about 8 weeks old, and they can deliver a litter of up to 12 babies in three weeks. The babies are born pink and blind, and you should not disturb the nest too much. If you want to pick up the babies you should remove the mother, press your palm into the sawdust in the cage to disguise your scent, and do not keep them out of the nest for too long. After 6 days or so the fur will grow and color will appear. After 10 days the mice will open their eyes, and it is safe to enough to handle them at this age. Mice that are not handled properly will become nervous and may jump off your hand when you pick them up.

Mice are not affected by many ailments. If you suspect that your mouse is not well, do seek a veterinarian's advice without delay. However, mice are very healthy animals and if looked after properly throughout their life are likely to remain fit and active.
Choosing a monkey as a pet depends on what species of monkey. You may be looking at an animal that will see you as a member of the family for its lifetime, which can be 30 years. A rhesus macaque monkey, for example, can weigh up to 45 pounds at adulthood and require total social bonding for its entire life in order to be healthy and fulfilled.

Monkeys are among the most fascinating creatures to humans because they are human-like. Physically, that's amazing, however socially, its very challenging. Throwing feces, urinating in all directions, pinching, scratching, are all part of being monkey. Keeping a monkey as a pet means a lot of mess and typically a lot of odor. The dietary requirements of a primate are similar to that of humans. A balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, breads, proteins, and plenty of fluids is essential. Providing such a diet can be costly, and because monkeys can suddenly turn into picky eaters, waste can be costly too.

Only the largest primates, such as the great apes, would probably be considered lethal, though the smallest capuchin monkey can be really nasty. Monkeys can throw temper tantrums, just the same as a two year old, however they're more dangerous. Some monkeys have canine teeth that equal that of a large dog, with even stronger jaws. Long, strong fingers and fingernails can do dangerous damage and when it is on a rampage, it may not be only you they attack, it may be your home and your belongings. What many people don't realize is that most primates will only bond with one human being. Thought they are social by nature, they typically will only come to trust one person. So, asking someone to try to take care of your monkey is not recommended. Laws regarding ownership may vary, but it is illegal in many places to own primates and very difficult, naturally, to buy them legally. There are reasons behind their laws, so it pays to research and understand why. It makes sense that monkeys are owned strictly for commercial purposes. Please do your research before intending to own any exotic animal as pets. The realities of inviting exotic animals into their extended family are often shocking, overwhelming, and can become unbearable.