Have you ever wondered, how can you get your hands on some unusually exotic pet animals that can be part of your life?
Well you’re at the right place, so get ready to know some mysterious and incredibly awkward looking creatures from our blue planet that can be kept as cool pets.
Some people just don’t have the stomach for the usual cat and mouse animals, but prefer the challenge and thrill of owning something unique and rather eye-catching. It’s a great way to feed your exotic animal fetish and hobby-ish nature.
If you ever thought owning some exotic pets would be a colossal nightmare in care and possession, you would be surprised to know that the animals mentioned below are actually being kept as pets.
Note: It is your duty to ensure that you and your dream pet live in legal harmony according to your state law.
Here is the List of 30 Exotic Low Maintenance Cool Pets That Are Legal To Own.
Bearded Dragon Lizard
- Low Maintenance: Yes
Hold on, don’t be disgusted out just yet. The dragon lizard, tends to look like something out of The Hobbit but in reality, they are one of the gentlest reptiles out there. Despite their looks and being very strange animals, they love to be fondled and enjoy the occasional misty showers.
Often kept in glass aquariums, they are diurnal i.e. stay up during day and sleep at night. So you can watch them when you’re awake! Dragon lizards show great temperaments and can be handled so well, in fact even children can play them as well! Supervised of course.
Let’s face it, a selfie with this sucker on the shoulder is a definite eye-popper.
Chinchilla
- Low Maintenance: Yes
Aww! Look at the face, isn’t that just the cutest. The Chinchilla’s make a really good house pet for the average small family. The name though, sounds more like a Mexican drink off the bar. Keeping that Mexican energy note, these rodents are perky little energy balls making good pets for for teens and above.
Being light weight and very fragile, the Chinchilla’s zip like flash if left loose in the house. They are however very sensitive to, too tight of grips and can bite if provoked. The good part of these best pets, is their thick layer of fur and hardly any sound. Proving to be some excellent low maintenance pets.
Hedgehog
- Low Maintenance: Yes
They make rather unusual pets in appearance, People often mistake these intelligent and small animals as a ‘Hole creator’ in their hands. Forgetting they only stiffen their spines when they feel threatened. Otherwise, they are a humble and strictly mind their own business pets, easily comparable to hamsters.
Despite their sensitivity to surroundings, Hedgehogs are usually shy creatures. They tend to develop good personality, through greater owner interaction, requiring a lot of time and commitment. Expect to bond with your pet like you would with an infant. Now isn’t that just so adorable.
Crocodile
- Low Maintenance: No
Crickey! They are popular animals, If you remember the crocodile hunter Steve Irvin from Australia, you know very well what these things can grow up to be. Unlike lizards, which are tamed and less harmful, crocodiles tend be the same up until they are the same size.
I could keep exotic animals as pets but a crocodile – no. They eventually grow out their enclosures and require more space and food as size and age increases exponentially.
You can never turn your back on a crocodile and keeping this reptile is a specialist job undoubtedly. You should ask the people, how everyday a crocodile is swimming in their backyard pools. Now that is frightening, yikes!
Fish Piranha
- Low Maintenance: No
If you have watched The Piranhas 3D, you would realize what they are capable of doing. Unlike the movies showing complete bizarreness, piranhas however are very feisty carnivorous fast moving fish.
If you’re into gentle fish love loving nature, then piranhas are not meant for you. Usually they are the wolves of the river, normally hunting in a pack. So, if you’re planning on getting some unique pets as piranhas, get three and above.
Oh yeah! Don’t go on feeding them with your hand, piranhas love hunting live fish, though they never say no to the occasional worms and insects. However, piranhas do require maintenance, proving to be very messy eaters and not really the best pets for kids .
Scorpion
- Low Maintenance: Yes
Let’s face it, they tend to make very unique pets and look like something out of the devils nightmare. Before I even begin, scorpions hold a lot of physiological power that comes associated with their sight. Astrologically – Often resembling strength, is a strong reason for owners to keep as their preferred best exotic pets.
Scorpions can sting from their stinger, and definitely hurt their owners. Unlike others, scorpions are a definite no show for children, requiring expert care and handling from experienced individuals. Despite their unappealing looks, scorpions can be found easily in various pet shops.
drak
i love the fox
wordsiseek
Do you have fox as your pet ?
Ivne
The blue macaw is an endangered species from South America. If you see it being sold, contact the authorities immediately.
wordsiseek
Sure, in next update we would consider to remove it from our list. Thanks for stopping by and giving information.
Clara
The Hyacinth Macaw is endangered in the wild, but these macaws kept as pets are sold by certified breeders. In some U.S. states you must have a permit to own a Hyacinth, but they are never wild-caught.
Hedgehog lover
Wait..sorry Hedgehog and sugar glider maybe legal elsewhere but not in California,.
wordsiseek
Yes, that is why we have added a note at the end of article.
Tyler
Nothing is legal in California. And literally, everything gives you cancer there too.
Poop
Regarding the chinchillas: they are not made for kids. Chinchillas are animals for teens and above. As stated in the text, they are fragile and not that easy to handle if you want them tame. Quiet animals? Not a chance. These cute rodents will make a fuss NIGHTLY (as they are night animals) unless you let them out daily, give them tons of DIY toys to keep them entertained at all times and require at least an hour or two a day to keep them “silent”. DAILY they are angels.
I have two wonderful chinchilla females and they are my world. I have spent hours upon hours on them and it’s not enough. I have them in my room and if I don’t keep them entertained I am risking not getting any sleep. But that’s the responsibility I took upon getting these pets.
So yeah they could be low maintenance pets as stated because you can spend 5mins on them a day if you would like but that means no petting the AMAZING fur, creating a loyal bond and getting a best friend.
I highly recommend them but not for anyone who’s not willing to spend the time on them or anyone too young.
wordsiseek
Thanks Poop
Chinchillaz
They are great pets, but as you say they are very active and fragile. They mostly do not like to be held and can be easily hurt if handled improperly (fur slip and broken bones). Unless they are trained or handled from birth they mostly have independent temperaments and prefer to run around than be held. They also require dust baths since they cannot get wet as their fur will grow fungus. They also need to be kept at 75 degrees or colder as they can overheat easily with all that fur. And they eat EVERYTHING. I have two, going on three soon. I would not really call them low maintenance. 20-25 years of that and giving them play time and toys to keep them busy, you need to be prepared for them as pets. But I love them to death and would highly recommend them as a pet if you are up for the work.
Salvador
We used to have pygmy goats.
CHINCHILLA=COOL
I sort of want the stick insect… weird isn’t it? 🙂
wordsiseek
No, you are not because i want it too 😛
Serena
I want either a hampster or a chinchilla. They are SOOO cute! I cant decide… what would you guys reccomend for an 11 year old who only gets 7 hours of sleep?
😉
Ole' Willer
Get a hamster these a lot easier to care for but only get one they will most likely fight.
Missy
My goodness, get a hamster. Chinchillas are extremely fragile and require more advanced care than hamsters. With hamsters, they can be relatively loud at night because they run on their wheels, and they need to run on their wheels, so if you want to keep an animal in your bedroom, I’d suggest something that isn’t nocturnal. I have two male guinea pigs and their cage is in my room, they rustle a little bit, but I can get a good nights sleep!
AmicaNiiya
The animal that’s shown as a chinchilla, isn’t that a pika? Chinchillas and pikas aren’t even in the same order, pikas are more related to rabbits…
wordsiseek
It is chinchilla.
Brit Anderson
There is no such thing as a “dwarf pig” or a “teacup pig”. They simply do not exist. If you have seen them at the county fair or something similar, these are STARVED potbelly pigs. They race around a track for tiny amounts of food because they have literally been starved. Look it up. Their organs continue to grow, but their bodies do not, which mean most die a long agonizing death if starved to keep them that small. Its terrible. Paris Hilton famously bought a “teacup pig” she kept in her purse. She now has a 300 pound potbelly pig because she refused to starve it.
wordsiseek
Interesting finding, thank you for your input.
Popcorn
Popcorn pc
Jessica
Axolotls should not be housed with other fish. They can be paired with another axolotl of the same/similar size in tanks over 40 gallons. They are relatively docile and other fish, even small ones, nip at their gills (the fuzzy appendages growing from they heads). While they can regenerate their gills when damaged, they will not survive a large amount of damage to their bodies. They require cold water at specific temperatures and tank chillers are expensive. They are also waste machines and require a lot of tank maintenance. You should always make sure you get any “unusual/exotic” pets from reputable (licensed) breeders. Research care needs, life expectancy, common illnesses to look out for, and regional legality. For example, many hedgehogs have issues with Wobbly Hedgehog syndrome and kidney cancer/failure due to poor breeding. Rabbit life expectancy has increased due to better care knowledge (from 6 to 12 years). Also, some species of birds and reptiles have become invasive species because people do not buy responsibly and end up releasing their animals into the wild. Try to avoid impulse buys.
Georginia
Never get a Mini Pig with the hope of being able to fit it into a a medium-sized bag, EVER. My cousin got a baby mini pig who was once just a foot long, however, she grew! Now the pig is about the same size as a large dog (I’d say she’s just a bit smaller than my Australian Shepherd). When she was once tiny and cute, they allowed her in the house and would even cuddle her. Now, however, the pig is just way too big, so they made her an outside habitat.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I do agree they are really cute animals. But even though they are called “Mini Pigs,” they can really turn out to be any size. So unless you’re willing to keep and love the pig even when they (may) become BIG, don’t get the Mini Pig.
Adie
Sugar Gliders should NOT be given nuts! The fat content is way too high and it can make them very sick. (As a once in a blue moon treat? Sure, but there are way healthier treats.) And yes, fresh fruits are wonderful (as long as they aren’t citrus), but my babies’ diet is about 70% Gerber baby food and they are super healthy. Also, never put them in a tree. Certain woods are very toxic to them and they shouldn’t be outside anyways. Let them climb up your curtain and glide off of that. (I’ve had sugar gliders for 17 years with no health problems or premature deaths.)
Emily
Please never keep a hyacinth macaw as a pet. Their numbers in the wild are declining very very quickly mainly due to the pet trade.
Jose Hernandez
i’m not talking about all the animals on this list, but most animals have evolved over millions of years isolated from humans, they’re not status symbols..A lot of exotic pets end up in sanctuaries because people can’t provide the specialised care they need…Many animals are bred in captivity, but some including the genet are taken from the wild when young, which involves killing the mother..If you want a pet, get a domestic dog or cat, there are plenty of those that need a home..Don’t support the ‘exotic pet’ industry…
goerge washington
dugbo3y
Matt
On the cockroach thing, I’m reminded of the married with children episode where Al explains about the mighty cockroach, they eat c**p. That’s why they have survived for 3000 years.
Morgan Watson
Do you have any tree kangaroos ?
Emmsichan
Any type of bird that is bigger than a finch which means parrots need at least an hour with their owners for example budgies will need around 30 minutes, cockatiels will need an hour and the bigger the bird, the more time you need to spend with it. A macaw will need at least 6 hours of bonding.
Basil Miller
I would not consider any animal anywhere to be low maintenance. If you are caring for an animal properly and thoroughly you should expect to spend a lot a time and effort on them. If someone wants a pet that is low maintenance, I would suggest the one that was most popular during the 70’s. The pet rock.
J
Ill call the WAHmbulance.
ErinKoStar
LOL, I used to have a pet rock and then I dropped it and it broke.
the Rock that ded
I am in a better place. Rip Rock <3
Freya
Guys, please don’t buy Axolotls because they are a critically endangered species.
Sara
Why can not you have finger monkey’s of Kentucky but you can have crocodiles?
Zachary Claus
Public Service Announcement: Turtles are not low maintenance. Being an aquatic species they require an environment similar to a fish tank. Those small turtles that you see in the picture posted here may be cute, but they will grow up to a foot. The rule of thumb is 10-gallons of water per inch of turtle. 120-gallon fish tanks are not cheap people! They require heated water and also an artificial UV light. If you ever owned fish, A turtle will generate filth 10 times as much as any fish. Unless you don’t want to clean the aquarium or habitat religiously every 2 weeks, I recommend getting a canister filter which is $100+ dollars. If you plan on having multiple turtles, you better have a giant tank. You won’t be able to put any decorations in it like a fish tank because they will try and will eat it. Turtles require a place to dock just like they would in their natural habitat. Did I forget that they live long lives? Turtles can live 25 years and up. If this sounds like a good pet to you, you better take care of them and not release it into the wild because they are an invasive species and will inter-breed and wipe out whole native ecosystems. Thank you for reading! I hope you choose wisely and be responsible pet owners.
ErinKoStar
Chinchilla is so cute.
Mati
I want a flower bear or a fennec.
felicia
The fox is beautiful. I think to some of these animals shouldn’t even be pets because of just how rare some of these animals just are. I have exotic birds like parrots, peacocks, guinea pig and a hamster. Though, I love birds the most.
Tati
Do not under any circumstances, try to own a hippo as a pet. This list is fine and all but some of these low maintenance pets are not low maintenance. Axolotls are really hard to keep happy as they require very specific setups. I can’t think of one place its legal to own a fox, hippo, or crocodile though but especially not hippos since they kill people all the time and grow to be huge and aggressive.
Manish Kumar
Hyacinth Macaw, I love this Pet who all are having the same thought as me 🙂 🙂
Hippos Suck
Hippos are considered one of the most dangerous animals in the world. Should probably be one of the last animals that any rational human being would consider owning. They’re extremely emotional and aggressive and can bite you in half. I’d want a pet Komodo Dragon before a pet hippopotamus.
Zhi
“This is a heart attack for me or any other woman. Get ready to lose your girlfriend, if you have one of these bad boys in your house.” What kind of person writes lines like these? I know more women who keep snakes as pets than I do as a man.
no
The Mexican spider is racist.
Puff
I love bearded dragons so much!
Technically, they do not “love” being fondled. They are cold-blooded and are very docile creatures. Which means they need warmth to survive, and will not be aggressive with you if you use your body heat to provide that warmth. Which may make it seem like they “love” it.
Shannon
I had a Chinchillas for a time and at one point I had three all at once. What I have to say is Chinchillas are pretty low maintenance but you do need to work a route into your life that involves them. Do not just leave them in a cage all the time. They are pets, not decorations. They do need a cold house to live in so if your house is over seventy they can overheat. Also, they take dust baths once every two to three days (Never wash a Chinchilla in water, their thick fur can mold and mildew). Other than that they need only what a normal rodent-like animal needs. Food, water, hay, wooden toys to chew on (They need to have wooden toys to wear down they constantly growing teeth), and any other toys you want to add. They do prefer to have a friend but it is not a necessity to have two. I think they are a pretty great pet and they love attention and oat snacks. ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ
LaFlame
Lol… I love Almost Every Animal On This List… I Just Love Animals In general.
Liz
Permit for flying squirrel is not true If you live in Texas. Plus flying squirrels and sugar gliders may look alike but are completely different.