What’s the Most Unusual Pet You’ve Ever Had? (Part One) 🐍🐢🦎
Ever had a pet that wasn’t your typical cat or dog? I asked my friends online about their most unusual pets, and here’s what they shared!
Neil Rubenstein (Florida) 🐍
Pet: Yellow Rat Snake
Origin: Caught in Odessa, Florida, at Camp Keystone
Story: Neil had a four-foot Yellow Rat Snake named Chief during college. He wanted to be a herpetologist and still finds snakes fascinating.
Jessica Theisen de Gonzalez (New York) 🐢
Pet: Tortoises
Origin: One saved from a highway, others brought home by dad
Story: Jessica’s family had two tortoises for years. Her dad, a Navy SEAL, often brought home various critters. The tortoises were the longest-lasting additions.
Scott Stauffer (California) 🦞
Pet: Crayfish
Origin: School science lab
Story: Scott had a crayfish named Big Red from a fourth-grade science project. Big Red lived for four years and even learned to enjoy being petted.
Jessica Stinson Hudson (Alabama) 🦎
Pet: Axolotl
Origin: Daughter’s pet
Story: Mushu the Axolotl lives with Jessica now. Her daughter also has a crested gecko named Chai. Both pets are loved despite their “no brain cells.”
Rebecca King (Ohio) 🐛
Pet: Millipedes
Origin: Various
Story: Rebecca had millipedes as pets. She didn’t share much detail, but these unique pets added a different vibe to her home.
Marcy Britt (Washington) 🦅
Pet: Sparrow Hawk
Origin: Rescued
Story: Marcy caught a weak Sparrow Hawk, named Red, who couldn’t hunt. After taming her and caring for her, Marcy eventually passed her to a licensed individual.
Grainne Levine (Maryland) 🦜
Pet: Quaker Parrot
Origin: From a blacksmith
Story: This parrot, who swore like a sailor, loved Grainne’s then-husband but warmed up to her over cookies. He lived to be 28 with no health issues.
Tiffany Copley (Ohio) 🪳
Pets: Hissing Cockroaches, Millipede, Skunks, Spiny Mice
Origin: Various
Story: Tiffany had a variety of unusual pets, each with its own unique characteristics and care needs.
Sheila Gomez (Washington) 🦎🐁
Pets: Chameleon and a Mouse
Origin: Various
Story: Sheila’s home hosted both a chameleon and a mouse, adding to the diversity of her pet experiences.
Peggy Modjeski (Kentucky) 🦝
Pet: Raccoon
Origin: Brought to vet
Story: Peggy had a raccoon for 14 years. He had a twisted leg, preventing release. He was sweet, busy, and entertaining, getting along well with other pets.
Layne Arlina (United Kingdom) 🐾
Pet: Chinchilla
Origin: From another family
Story: Chilli the chinchilla loved heavy metal music and would snuggle up close at night. Layne adored this energetic pet.
Laurel Ramseyer (Washington) 🕷️
Pets: Many Spiders
Origin: Various
Story: Over the years, Laurel had many spiders, each interesting in its own way. Some became favorites.
Teresa Tuttle (Texas) 🦨
Pet: Skunk
Origin: Rescued and de-scented
Story: Teresa’s family adopted a skunk named Priscilla. She was fun, adorable, and easy to keep, using a litter box and enjoying frequent baths.
Lynn Brezina (Illinois) 🐠🐍🐸
Pets: Catfish, Snakes, Toads
Origin: Caught from a creek
Story: Lynn’s childhood included a pet catfish kept in a galvanized tub and numerous snakes and toads.
Danny W. Braudrick (Idaho) 🕷️
Pet: Tarantula
Origin: Various
Story: Danny’s experience with a tarantula added an exotic touch to his pet collection.
Terry Hill Cunningham (West Virginia) 🐊
Pet: Baby Alligator
Origin: Exotic pet store
Story: At age four, Terry got a baby alligator as a pet. It wasn’t cuddly, bit often, and eventually “died” mysteriously.
Amy Suggars (Ohio) 🐞
Pet: Spider Beetles
Origin: Various
Story: Amy kept a colony of spider beetles for a couple of years, finding them really cute.
Reed Cundiff (New Mexico) 🦅
Pet: Young Sparrow Hawk
Origin: Given during a cross-country trip
Story: Reed’s family had a sparrow hawk during a 1954 trip. They released him after returning home.
Rebekah Piedad (California) 🐺🦜🐦
Pets: Wolf, Rainbow Lorikeet, Hummingbird
Origin: Various
Story: Rebekah hand-raised a hummingbird and had a wolf and a rainbow lorikeet, each with its unique challenges and rewards.
Eileen Anderson (Arkansas) 🐀
Pet: Kangaroo Rat
Origin: Caught near Mono Lake
Story: Eileen’s sister’s boyfriend caught a kangaroo rat named Roo. Keeping him as a pet was challenging and ultimately sad, leading to his release.
Colette Kase (Mexico) 🦎
Pets: Berber Skinks and Wild Animals
Origin: Invertebrate lab and wild
Story: Colette adopted Berber skinks from a lab and had many wild animals as a child. She now believes wildlife belongs in the wild and opposes keeping them as pets.
NEXT WEEK: More unusual pets from around the world! 🐾🌍
Stay tuned for part two!
