Why Are Hedgehogs Considered Exotic Pets?
I want to get a hedgehog but I found out they are exotic pets and are illegal in some states. I read up on hedgehogs and they seem very easy to take care of. I just want to know why are they considered exotic.
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“An exotic pet is a rare or unusual animal kept as a pet, or an animal kept as a pet which is not commonly thought of as a pet.”
When it comes down to it, pretty much anything outside of cats, dogs, fish, rabbits, and small rodents can be considered as ‘exotic’. It seems like one of the possible reasons for hedgehogs being made illegal in some states is that some species are able to carry foot and mouth disease.
If you’re interested in getting a hedgehog, be sure to spend a lot of time reading up first. Most pets require more work than you’d originally expect.
As other people here have said the definition of exotic pet is open to interpretation. I think most people think as cats, dogs, goldfish, budgies etc.. as being “normal” and anything unusual as being “exotic”. Pet hedgehogs (which originate from African Pygmy Hedgehogs – a wild species) are probably considered exotic because they are relatively rare as pets.
I think “exotic” like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Ferrets, for example, which are the third most popular pet in the USA are also considered “exotic”. However, if you tried telling your average working class Brit that his ferret was an exotic pet he’d fall about laughing. He probably keeps his ferret in a hutch in his back yard and uses it to catch rabbits (the reason they were domesticated over 2000 years ago in the first place).
While their care isn’t too complicated they do require a lot of patience and a careful watch. If your hedgie was to get sick it is difficult to find a vet with much experience with them, which is the reason I lost my hedgehog, they couldn’t diagnose her. If you take the time to properly care for and socialize them they are highly rewarding pets.