Are you interested in having an exotic animal as your pet? These exotic animals are often some of the most unique, interesting and beautiful creatures on Earth, but they also come with their share of risks and responsibilities. You need to think about the climate you live in and whether these animals will thrive there, especially if you live in an area that has particularly cold winters or hot summers. If you want to find out more about the 10 big animals you can keep as pets, read on!
1) Fox
Foxes have a lot of personality. They’re cute and cuddly, but they can also be mischievous and need lots of attention to keep them entertained. The downside is that they don’t like to be picked up, so you’ll need to train them in advance if you want to pick them up. Foxes are very clean animals that spend a lot of time grooming themselves, so you won’t usually find too many fleas or ticks on your fox.
2) African bush elephant
African bush elephants are large, intelligent animals that can weigh up to 14,000 pounds and grow to 13 feet in height. This is one of the largest land mammals on earth and, despite their size, they are incredibly agile. They’re also surprisingly social animals that live in matriarchal family groups with a strict hierarchy led by a female queen elephant. When fully grown, elephants typically have tusks or teeth that can grow up to five feet long and live for about sixty years in captivity.
3) Cougar
Cougars are not only large, but they’re also solitary, so you’ll want to make sure your cougar has plenty of space in its enclosure or room. Cougars need a lot of exercise and stimulation, so you’ll want to play with it often. Female cougars can be very aggressive when they’re caring for their young, so a male cougar is usually recommended.
4) Bengal tiger
Bengals are big cats that live in Asia. They’re endangered, so owning one is a privilege. They’re very intelligent and need a lot of space to roam around in. However, they can also be playful and affectionate with their owners.
5) Tiger
The tiger is one of the largest cats in existence, usually weighing about 500-800 pounds. To keep a tiger you’ll need a home that is at least 6000 square feet and has plenty of space for it to roam around outside. They need to be taken care of by someone who has had experience with them before, which can be challenging because they are difficult to handle. Tigers can live anywhere from 15-20 years, so if you’re up for an adventure then adopting one may be right up your alley!
6) Hippopotamus
Hippos are pretty big animals, but they can make great pets. They have a reputation for being aggressive and violent, but these negative traits are often due to poor living conditions or mistreatment. If you give your hippo enough space and proper care, they will make a great pet.
7) Serval cat
The serval cat is a wild animal which can be kept as a pet. Serval cats are the largest of African cats, and are native to sub-Saharan Africa. In captivity, they can live up to 12 years on average, but in the wild servals have a life expectancy of only about 6 years due to their natural habitat being heavily preyed upon by other animals.
Serval cats need an outdoor area with trees and tall grasses for climbing and scratching.
8) Reticulated python
The reticulated python can grow up to 26 feet long and is nonvenomous so it’s safe to keep them in your home. They are often found in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, but they can thrive anywhere that has a warm climate. The reticulated python is on the list of animals that you can keep as pets thanks to their gentle nature, but because they’re so big they need a lot of room and live around 30 years, which means you should really plan ahead before getting one.
9) Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are incredible creatures. They are very intelligent and capable of learning sign language. They even have their own sense of humor. However, they do require a lot of attention and care, so they should not be kept in captivity unless you are willing to provide them with this kind of attention. Chimps also require a lot of space to roam around, so if you live in an apartment or have limited space outside, then this is not the animal for you.
10) Tundra wolf
The tundra wolf is a subspecies of grey wolf that lives in the Arctic region. This animal has been hunted to near extinction by humans, and there are only about 500 left in the wild. To combat this, there are some efforts to breed them in captivity so they can be reintroduced into their natural habitat. They usually weigh between 45 and 90 pounds, but they can get up to 160 pounds when they’re full grown. They live an average of five years, with males living longer than females.