Exotic/Small Mammal Husbandry

Dogs and cats get a lot of attention in our veterinary world, but they are not the only critters that share our homes. Many people own reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and small mammals such as gerbils, rabbits and chinchillas. While even more “exotic” animals share some homes, such as non-human primates, birds of prey, big cats, venomous snakes, and other mammals such as coati, this article will focus on the exotic pets that the average person can own without any special licensing.

The most important aspect of caring for an exotic pet is making sure that their husbandry fits their species. The housing, heat, and humidity required for a bearded dragon is going to be very different from a chameleon. A rabbit needs a different diet than a guinea pig. And so on. Many diseases that veterinarians see with exotic pets are from inappropriate husbandry.

Diet is a very important aspect in exotic care. Rabbits, chinchillas, and guinea pigs should be fed mainly free choice timothy hay, with guinea pigs also needing vitamin C supplementation as they cannot make vitamin C on their own. Mice, gerbils, hamsters, and rats should eat a pellet diet formulated specifically for them. Ferrets are strict carnivores and hedgehogs are insectivores and therefore have their own specific commercial diets that should be used. In birds such as parakeets and parrots, seed diets are actually very unhealthy and will lead to irreversible health problems. Birds should be fed commercially available pellets along with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Reptiles not only require specific diets, but they have temperature, humidity, and lighting requirements that vary between species. It is important to use lights that have UVB for most reptiles and that these lights are changed frequently. Snakes are the exception and do not require UVB, but turtles, tortoises, and lizards do. Some lizards require gut loaded insects (insects that have been fed diets rich in calcium and other minerals), whereas other lizards require mainly dark leafy greens and fruits. Turtles and tortoises will require different temperatures and humidities than each other, but also turtles will require different diets depending on whether they are herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.  Chameleons are very delicate, requiring different temperatures and humidities throughout the day and often need a much more humid environment than most enclosures can provide.

In addition to the proper diet, bedding, temperatures, etc. it is also important that environmental enrichment be provided. Improper enrichment can lead to behavioral issues, medical issues, and a poor quality of life. This means proper perches, climbing structures, hiding places, and toys when appropriate depending on the species.

These “non dog and cat” species are unique and can bring joy and interest to our homes, but it is important to know that they have specific requirements that are not only different from dogs and cats, but also different from each other. Many diseases that come from poor or improper husbandry will develop over months to even years, making it very difficult to treat. These pets also do not show sickness in the same way a dog or cat may show it, making it difficult to even know that something is wrong until it is too late. Because of these unique animals, it is very important to discuss with your veterinarian their diet, housing (size of enclosure, temperature gradients, humidity, bedding, etc), and enrichment to be sure you are adequately caring for your exotic critter.