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Definitions

In the UK

There are over three million exotic animals imported to the UK from 2014-2018 which are all exported from different parts of the world such as Singapore, Ghana, Indonesia, El Salvador, Cameroon, Nicaragua and Madagascar. This can be considered a health risk because wild animals are known to carry diseases such as Covid-19, SARS, Ebola, and MERS. Because these non native animals are traded legally into the UK, the system operates outside of regulations put in place by CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). There are several disciplines in place, but they are mostly concerned with regulated UK pet trades. Some of these policies are Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 which states that people who own exotic pets must have a license and owners must take care of pets in a way that lessens the threat to the public. There is also Pets Animal Act 1951 which states that pet shops must have a license to operate and give proper care to animals they are selling. There are no comprehensive regulations on keeping exotic animals as pets.

In Australia

Australia's Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment issues permits and manages quarantine requirements due to Covid. There are two laws which relate to bringing in exotic animals. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is concerned with protecting and regulating domestic and non-domestic flora, fauna, ecological, and heritage places . There is also the Biosecurity Act 2015 which manages biosecurity threats to Australia's native species. This law applies to both protecting Australia's plants, animals, and wild habitats as well as trading internationally. According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment only certain vertebrate such as dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, and selected breeds of birds are allowed to be imported as pets. However there are more strict conditions for importing reptiles unless it is for zoological research. Live fish can be brought in for ornamental purposes or research, but amphibians are allowed to be imported for laboratory reasons. People are not allowed to bring in non domestic invertebrates such as insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and sea animals such as live coral or starfish. Similar to live fish and amphibians, invertebrates can only be imported for zoological or scientific purposes. If an owner is caught with illegal possession of an exotic animal then consequences are five year imprisonment or to pay a fine of up to $210,000.

In China

China is a major distributor of exotic animals in the global pet trade. Some breeds of different species are considered to be illegal in China. There are only three parrots that are allowed to be traded legally and kept as pets: cockatiels, budgies and rosy-faced lovebirds. For other animals such as otters, owners must have a certificate in order to have one as a pet. Species that are legal to own are Asian small-clawed otter and the Eurasian otter, are all under state protection in China. The reason behind certification is because otters are under state protection in China. Under snakes, pythons are under first class protection which means owning a python is illegal.

Common reptilian exotic pets

Snakes

Corn snakes are one of the common reptilian pets

Snakes are considered to be an exotic pet because they aren't known to be domesticated animals. Common species which are kept as pets are king snakes, rat snakes, garter snakes, corn snakes, various pythons (particularly ball pythons), and various boa constrictors (especially boa constrictors). Unlike other animals adult snakes eat every 10 to 14 days while growing to adolescent snakes eat every 5 to 6 days. Snakes are known to be carnivorous, they do not have jaws or enough teeth to chew on their prey. Their jaw is structured in a way that it consumes its prey whole and take three to five days to digest their meals. Unlike wild snakes which hunt live animals for sustenance, it is advised against to feed pet snakes live prey. This is because of the chance that the prey such as a mice can bite and severely injure the snake, which can result in life threatening infections when left untreated. Therefore owners should feed their snakes dead prey in order to avoid complications. Depending on their habitat climate, snakes can be found in forests, swamps, grasslands, deserts and in both fresh and salt water. Because they are known to be solitary creatures, snakes should be kept in separate tanks because of growth, in order to avoid stress, and decrease the risk of cannibalism. A snake's gestation period lasts between 28 to 45 days.

Turtles

Turtles are common exotic pets because people believe they are low maintenance, and stay the same size throughout their lifespan. However, these are known to be common misconceptions. In its infantile stage, owners should feed their turtle everyday. Once it reaches its adult stage at seven years, then turtles should be fed about five to six times per week. Common species of turtles are Red-Eared Slider, African Sideneck Turtle, Eastern Box Turtle, Western Painted Turtle, and Mississippi Map Turtle. Depending on the species, turtles can grow up to 12 inches, but they all have long lifespans up to 40 to 50 years with good care. Because owners are unaware of their lifespan, turtles are found abandoned in ponds and parks because owners were unable to care for them. Also turtles can be risky for human health because their shells carry salmonella, which can lead to adverse health problems, especially for children. A turtle's gestation period is between 45 to 75 days.

Lizards

Bearded dragon

Some species of lizards, specifically bearded dragons, are known to be popular as a reptilian pet. Bearded dragons can grow up to around 17 inches around and they need 47 in long x 23 in wide x 23 in high vivarium to habitat. Bearded dragon or "beardies" can live up to 10 to 15 years, which means they do not live as long as turtles, but owners should be aware of their lifespan. Lizards are omnivores so it is encouraged to feed lizards a diet of live mealworms, waxworms, crickets, and also give them a diet of leafy vegetables or starches such as sweet potato Young lizards are to be fed twice a day whereas older lizards are encouraged to be fed every two days. Albeit they are solitary creatures, bearded dragons are known to enjoy interacting with their owner. This means they like to be held, or having their head, cheeks, or chin scratched. Lizards are known to go through shedding and brumation. Adolescent lizards shed more than older lizards and this helps lizards to improve their environment. A lizard's gestation period is between 90 to 100 days.

Common Amphibian Exotic Pets

Frogs

Because there are different species of frogs, their size and weight can vary. There are several types of frogs that are popular as pets, such as Horned Frogs, Gray Tree Frogs, Dart Frogs, Red Tree Eye Frogs, and Whites Tree Frogs. As mentioned before sizes of frogs can vary due to life cycle stage, species, diet, gender, and environment. A Dart Frog can grow up to .59 inches whereas 4.5 inches. This is because of the environments they were raised in which also influences these animal's genes. Frogs' diet should consist of live animals such as insects, mollusks, birds, rodents, fish, algae, spiders, reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic plants. Contrary to popular belief, frogs are not insectivores because they eat other forms of meat. Therefore they are considered to be omnivores. Unlike snakes, it is encouraged to feed pet frogs live insects as opposed to dead prey. Along with live prey, pet frogs need calcium and supplements to be healthy. There are risks to having frogs as pets such as salmonella. Some frogs like Dart Frogs are also known to be poison. Therefore owners should handle their pets with caution because Dart Frog poison can be highly toxic. There poison can include Allopumiliotoxin 267A, Epibatidine, Histrionicotoxins, and Pumiliotoxin 251D. These poisons effect the heart, nervous system, and can cause convulsions as well as hyperactivity. Frogs do not like to be held because the situation can become stressful. Squeezing the frog will cause pain or even death. Because they are jumpers, there is a high risk of hurting the frog if they jump from their keeper's hands at a tall height. The gestation period for a frog is from three to 25 days. However they hatch as tadpoles which then turn into a frog.

Axolotl- amphibian exotic pet

Axolotl

Axolotl or "Mexican Walking Fish" are not as common as owning a frog, but they are considered to be an exotic pet. There are several types of axolotl: golden albino axolotl, Black Melanoid Axolotl, Speckled Leucitic Axolotl, Leucitic Axolotl, Golden Axolotl, and Albino Axolotl. Their life span is up to 15 years with good care and their diet consists of worms, insects, small fish, and anything they can put in their mouth. Because they don't have teeth they tend to swallow their meal whole similar to other salamanders Currently axolotls are considered to be endangered because their original habitat is in Mexico City and currently there are 700 to 1,200 species. The reason for axolotls' endangerment is pollution from Mexico City corrupts water quality, and UV-B radiation, caused by the degradation of the ozone layer, weakens young axolotls, making them more susceptible to predators and to disease. in Australia people are able to buy axolotls as pets but it is illegal to bring these animals from other countries . Axolotls are not considered to be social animals and according to members of Axolotitlán, a sanctuary dedicated to preserving axolotls in Mexico, these amphibians are cannibalistic meaning they will nip at another axolotl's arms or legs. However axolotls have regenerative properties, which means their limbs grow back similar to a lizard or salamander. Although they aren't social creatures, pet owners can have two axolotls in one tank, as long as they are the same size. It is also acceptable to have two of different sexes, but if they were to have an offspring, then the baby must be removed in order to prevent the parents from consuming it. The gestation period for an axolotl is 15 days.