Because many best exotic pets a quite compact and really don’t require outside space, they can be a great choice for apartment living.
Nevertheless, you can always check your house owner so tenant agreement to find out what kind of pets are allowed before you go shopping for exotic pets for apartment living.
If pets are generally not allowed, You might be lucky enough to get an exception. But if that is the case always seek permission in writing (never make any attempt to sneak a pet in).
Once you have been given permission to get a pet you need to figure out what exactly you need in an exotic pet and what kind of space is available to you.
In this article, we have featured the cutest and most compact animals that can become your friends and share your small living space with you comfortably.
1. Rabbits
Rabbits are very social animals and one of the best exotic pets but they do not enjoy being held often. However, they are always happy to be close to their human friends although it may be a little difficult it is possible to litter train your rabbit so that you can have them play around your house outside their cage once in a while.
Rabbits are also animals that enjoy digging and chewing so if you want your rabbits to be free-range in your home ensure that you put enough effort into rabbits proofing and also training the animal to prevent any future damages.
If you’re only allowing your rabbit outside the cage for a limited period of time then ensure that the cage you providing is large enough so that they have enough breathing and playing space inside the cage.
Before you attempt bringing your new adopted rabbit into your home and sure that it is sprayed and neutered for health reasons and also to reduce territorial marking behaviors.
2. Ferrets
Ferrets are socially active and they love to play with humans and with each other, especially during the day. For you to accommodate a ferret’s playful behavior they will require quite a large cage and also some time outside the cage to allow them to release their energy.
Nevertheless, ferrets can get into mischief and they also enjoy growing into small spaces so make sure that you supervise them when they are playing and your home is ferret proof also see to it that you later train your ferrets before you let them out of the cage.
Make sure that before you adopt your ferret it has been neutered and sprayed because it is critical for the health especially of female parents the good part about adopting ferrets is that most of them are already spayed and neutered before they are sold as pets but just to sure make sure you double-check with your vet.
3. Rats
Rats are one of the most friendly and responsive exotic pets you can have they can easily be tamed and often enjoy hanging out with humans they can climb on your shoulders or simply relax on your laps.
If you decide to have more than one rat make sure they are of the same sex and they will also need a fairly large cage.
Rats tend to be more active at night but they can also condition themselves to readily wake up during the day and have a nice time with their owner. However, bear in mind that it is almost impossible to litter train a rat.
4. Mice
If you want your mind to be at its happiest and very social then you must put it in the same cage with other mice you would be happy to watch them play.
The good thing about having mice is that they can be tamed and they are also quite active at night. However, mice are very quick and they’re very small so it may be more difficult for you to handle them compared to larger rodents.
It is best to have a group of female mice if you be living in a small apartment because male mice tend to have a stronger odor which may not be nice for small living spaces.
A small group of mice can be perfectly OK without a huge cage which is one thing that makes them perfect for apartment living as one of the best exotic pets.
Mice do not require any extra time outside the cage because they are escape artists and can find their way out of your apartment.
A well-equipped cage is all that they require and when you keep them in groups or pairs they would require less of your attention.
5. Hamsters
Well, you can keep the dwarf hamsters in same-sex pairs Syrian hamsters are solitary animals. Hamsters are usually most active at night but they can be easily tamed and handled when they are given regular attention.
Syrian hamsters are usually easier to handle than dwarf hamsters they are smaller and quicker.
Hamsters do not require a large cage or much space so they can work fine in your small apartment. However, if you provide them with a medium-sized cage and good accessories, they do not need much time outside the cage and they can be very entertaining to watch.
6. Gerbils
These are very social animals that can be easy to handle and time they do best when they are kept in same-sex pairs or in groups because of their social nature.
Gerbils can also be active on and off during the daytime so you don’t have to bother much about them disturbing you when it’s nighttime. If you cannot provide a large cage your Gerbils should be able to get by.
If you have a good-sized cage for your animal it might not need any playtime outside its cage.
7. Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are also quite social and they are very easy to handle if you want a pet cat is a little bit noisy then guinea pigs are just perfect because they make a loud “wheeking noise” especially when they are searching for food.
They’re usually not so vocal but they are not as quiet as the other pets on this list. Unlike some other rodents, guinea pigs need large cages and it is best to keep them in same-sex groups.
However, even when you have provided a large cage for your guinea pig, it will still need some time outside to explore socialize and play.
8. Reptile
There are a large variety of reptiles that you can adopt depending on your budget and the space available to you.
Reptiles are not animals that are very socially responsive compared to mammals but they can be a great choice of pets for first-time owners and people living in small spaces.
- Lizards: Crested geckos leopard, geckos house, geckos, anoles, and bearded dragons, are all good choices of lizards for beginners and people living in small spaces.
- Snakes: Milk snakes, corn snakes, ball pythons, and king snakes are also nice choices for both first-time pet owners and people living in small spaces nevertheless you must be extra careful because snakes can escape. and if your snake gets out it won’t be funny because your neighbors might call the authorities and you will get into trouble.
9. Chinchillas
Chinchillas are very easy to time and they are quite social though they may not enjoy being cuddled or held regularly they can stand being close to you. Your chinchilla would need a very large cage and also some time outside the cage.
Chinchillas also love to have some quiet time during the day as they are usually more active in the early mornings and in the evenings.
10. Degus
These are one of the most social rodents and they can be handled and easily tamed as well as very active during the daytime. If you want your Degus to do well then you will get an extra one of same-sex.
Your group of degus would also need a large cage as well as plenty of exercises so you should provide them with toys that will help them exercise in the cage.
11. Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are very cute and can be very active at night but easily handled. You can also take them out of the cage for some exercise.
This rodent needs a decent size of the cage but they won’t need too much space because they are normally solitary.
Although it is legal to own a hedgehog in some states there are other states where you’ll be required to get a permit to keep one as a pet for this reason you must check your state law for owning exotic pets for apartment living before you go ahead to adopt one.
12. Sugar Gliders
Sugar gliders bond well with their owners and they are very social if you start handling them from a young age. Because of how social they can be it is best to keep your sugar gliders in same-sex pairs however they must be raised together from a young age.
Sugar gliders can be very territorial towards new gliders. Keeping up with their nutritional needs can also be difficult so you must get enough education about feeding them ahead of when you finally adopt one.
Because sugar gliders are playful and very active you would need to keep them in a large cage but also do not forget that height is more important when it comes to sugar gliders than floor space.
In some states, it is illegal to own a sugar glider as a pet so once again you have to check your state law for keeping exotic pets for apartment living before you get a sugar glider.
13. Frogs
Frogs are very cute and most of them do not require much space which makes them an ideal choice for apartment living.
There are several species of frogs that you can adopt; aquatic frogs like the African clawed frog and the dwarf clawed frog, semi-aquatic frogs like the oriental fire bull toads and large butts Eden, land frogs like Pacman, and also tree frogs like the whites tree frog and the American green tree frog.
Also, remember that some male frogs missing so they’re not exactly a completely quiet choice of pets you cannot also handle them as much as you handle other pets because they are skins are delicate and too sensitive.
14. Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs can also make very interesting pets but they are not great for handling these animals are very social so when you place them with other hermit crabs they are sure to have lots of fun together.
Keeping a hermit crab would require a large tank and you can easily get those from pet stores but if you have a 10 to 20-gallon tank it should be enough for a few smaller crabs.
15. Fire Bellied Newts
If you want to keep a fire Bellied newt then you would need a tank that is half water and half land because they are mostly aquatic. These creatures are very easy to care for and they are beautiful because they have striking colors.
They can be fun to watch but do not make the mistake of handling them because they are not suitable for such.
16. Tarantulas
If you are an adventurous person then you can handle a tarantula. They make a great choice because they are quiet they are easy to care for their clean and they need very little space.
However, you must be very careful about escapes because both the tarantula and the crickets you’ll be feeding it are capable of escaping.
If your tarantula goes missing, you will get into a lot of trouble with your neighbors because they are not suitable for handling and a lot of people are scared of them. Another reason why tarantulas are not suitable for handling is that they can easily get injured.
Do you have any exotic pets for apartment living that you want to tell us about? let’s hear about it in the comment section.
