English
Have a dog, and maybe a cat, but are thinking about something a little more off-beat? Depending on the space you have (and the licenses – this is pretty important when considering an exotic pet), you can keep anything from tarantulas to pot-bellied pigs.
Tarantulas
These large, hairy spiders have a bad reputation as being dangerous, and scary. They don´t deserve this at all, as they are actually gentle and docile creatures. Yes, they can be poisonous, but not enough to kill, and they are easily handled. They´re also very low-maintenance, although they can´t really be trained to play fetch, unless they´re ´fetching´ food.
The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
From arachnids to insects, the Hissing Cockroach is hard to miss. They can grow up to eight cm long and two to three cm wide. Like all members of the cockroach family, these guys are tough, and unlike your average hamster they won´t keel over and die at every loud noise or cold night. They´re good pets for kids, as they don´t bite, although they might scare your visitors, so make sure you have a suitable enclosure.
The Pac Man Frog
These guys DO bite. In fact, they munch everything in their path, which is how they got their name. They need to be kept in a cage alone, and kept out of the way of kids, as they compulsively bite and although frogs don´t have teeth, they supposedly don´t let go for hours.
Ferrets
These aren´t exactly weird, but you don´t see them every day. Ferrets are an under-rated pet: Yes they can be a bit smelly, so you need a dedicated cage, but they keep the mouse population well under control (just don´t let them near the bunnies). They´re also fun-loving: Put ´em in a plastic shopping bag and swing it around your head (really). They´ll come out dizzy, falling over, and giggling for more. Ferrets do giggle – a kind of snuffly wheeze that only comes out when they´re having fun, which is most of the time.
Potbellied Pigs
These lovely animals need plenty of space, as a full-grown Potbelly can weigh more than a hundred kilos. Contrary to popular belief, pigs are NOT dirty (they just like mud on a hot day as it cools their skin) and a Potbelly is fine as an indoor pet, as long as they are walked twice a day. These guys are intelligent, and can be trained much more easily than even the smartest Labrador or Golden Retriever. They´re also extremely loving and loyal, making them surprisingly effective guard-pigs (any intruder is going to think twice with a hundred kilos of pork-on-the-hoof running at him at up to 30 km/h).
Potbellied pigs will integrate happily with your dogs and cats as well, and are happy to be played with and picked on despite their size, even if their new ´boss´ is a chihuahua. Although potbellied pigs are a pretty unlikely holiday companion on your next Mediterranean holiday, the Italians do love dogs. If you do have one of the more traditional, four-legged pets and are looking for a doggy-friendly holiday, there are owners and agents renting apartments in Rome that will happily accept your pet as one of the guests, as long as you make sure Fido doesn´t leave any smelly parting gifts!
