What’s all the commotion about feeding exotic pets? You buy food, put it in their enclosure, and your job’s done; right? Not really.
If you’ve only ever owned a cat or a dog, you should educate yourself on the needs of exotic pets because if you don’t, you’ll most likely make feeding mistakes and you won’t even realize it. The wrong diet is a huge issue because it can cause many health problems.
For example, some reptiles need to get calcium supplements to prevent bone disease. Then there are certain birds that can’t digest seeds properly, which you wouldn’t know (if you’re not educated on that specific topic) because all birds eat seeds, right?
But the absolute biggest mistake you can make is assuming all exotic pets need the same diet. Just because they eat something in the wild doesn’t mean they should eat the same thing in captivity. A lot of people also forget about water, controlling portions, and how important variety is. And let’s not forget live feeding because it’s ideal for some pets if you do it right.
Let’s see which mistakes you need to avoid.
What to Avoid
If you want your exotic pet to stay happy and healthy, you have to know what NOT to do so you can avoid making mistakes that can cause them harm.
1. Not Understanding That Every Species Has Their Own Needs
Two reptiles can look almost the same, but their diets can be night and day in comparison. Some reptiles need almost only plants, others need live insects or even a mix of both. A parrot doesn’t eat the same as a canary, and a gecko won’t do well with what a turtle eats.
If you’re not sure, ask a vet who specializes in exotic animals because the wrong diet can cause malnutrition, obesity, vitamin deficiencies, etc.
2. Overfeeding
Too much food will make your pet overweight. And while some people think that chunky pets are cute, if they’re fat – they’re not healthy and you need to change something about it. A lot of owners don’t know what the right portion looks like, so they figure they’ll just guess. That can cause problems like obesity, damage to the organs, or stunted growth,
To avoid this, follow guidelines on feeding based on your pet’s species, age, and level of activity. If you notice that your pet’s body condition has changed, adjust the portion.
3. Lack of Variety in Diet
It’s easy not to think about what to feed your pet and feed it the same day every day. But that’s not healthy. Just like you, your pet needs different foods to get all the nutrients they need. Say you have a turtle and you only give them lettuce – they’ll be seriously deficient in vitamins and minerals.
A good diet has to have a mix of high-quality commercial food, fresh produce, and for some pets, live food.
4. Not Knowing How Important Gut-Loading Feeder Insects Are
If you have a pet that eats insects, there’s a chance you don’t know, so you need to think about the quality of insects. A lot of people feed their reptiles crickets, mealworms, and roaches and they don’t prepare them first.
That’s a huge mistake because insects don’t naturally have all the nutrients your pet needs, and that’s why gut-loading is so important. This means that you have to feed the insects nutritious food before your pet eats them. Insects that were previously fed are full of vitamins and minerals, so they’re much healthier.
Many owners like to buy dubia roaches (Blaptica dubia) as a feeder insect because they’re easy to digest and high in protein.
5. Using Toxic Foods
Not all food is safe for your pet. Something can be perfectly fine for you, or even other pets you have, but it can be deadly for your exotic pet. For example, birds can’t eat avocado because it’s toxic for them, chocolate is dangerous for reptiles, and dairy can cause digestion problems for small mammals.
Before you give your pet anything new, check that it’s safe.
6. Forgetting About Hydration
Food isn’t the only thing you need to pay attention to, water is just as important. Some pets won’t drink from a normal water bowl, so if that’s the only thing you’ve offered them, they won’t get enough fluids. Reptiles need misting and humidity to stay hydrated, and some amphibians absorb water through their skin.
Dehydration is extremely dangerous, so there should always be fresh water available and you should check that your pet is actually drinking (or absorbing) enough of it.
Conclusion
The point of this article was to familiarize you with how important it is to educate yourself on the specific needs of your pet before you even get them. This way, you can give them the best life possible. Ask your vet a million questions, do some research online, and always keep an eye on your pet to see how (and what) they’re doing. This way you can spot anything that might be wrong on time.
And that’s (probably) what you want – for your pet to live a good and fulfilling life.
