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WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE ADOPTING OR PURCHASING AN EXOTIC PET

If you are interested in adopting an exotic animal as a pet, there are a couple precautions that you need to take in order to ensure the happiness and health of your animal. 

Before adopting or buying an exotic animal, it is vital to ensure that you have done your research and know as much as possible about the animal you are interested in getting. 

You should know:

- The special requirements of the animal

- Proper diet

- Handling techniques. 

- Where they come from

- If they climb

- The animal's social ability 

- The size that they will reach

- Diseases they could get

- How long they live

It is also important to know the legalities of the animal you are interested in. You should research whether or not you need a permit or are even allowed to keep the animal as a pet. 

You should also find a suitable veterinarian who has the necessary knowledge on the animal that you are interested in. 

Another important factor you should consider before getting an exotic animal is how much they are going to cost you in the long-run. Whilst buying or adopting the animal may not be expensive, other factors, such as housing, food, and medical care may be more costly. Having an estimate on how much the animal is going to cost you before you purchase or adopt will ensure that you can provide what is necessary to keep them happy and healthy. 

Costs are species dependent. The different housing required for each animal can vary greatly in cost. For instance rabbit housing may not be very expensive, but a parrot will require a large cage and these tend to be more expensive. 

You should also remember that veterinary care for exotic animals is also far more expensive than it is for a dog or cat. Most exotic animals require anesthesia for any handling, which can work out very expensive. 

Preparing to bring home an exotic animal is also important. You should make sure that you have the correct housing before you bring home the animal, and the environment should also be prepared. Your animal housing or cage should be escape-proof, large enough and protected from cold, heat and rain , if the animal is housed outside. If the animal will be free-roaming, the room or house should be prepared for the animal, making sure that it is completely safe, such as covering electrical cords. The full size of the animal should also be prepared for, rather than the size that you get the pet. 

Lastly, before buying or adopting an exotic animal, you need to think about how it will affect your life in the long run. Knowing what will happen to your animal if your situation changes or life events occur, is very important. You must be aware that rehoming an exotic pet can be very difficult, so it is better to ensure that your pet can accompany you throughout its life rather than getting a pet that needs to be rehomed when changes take place in your life.