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Anonymous
So I have a few options for a new pet sometime next month. I either want to get a Fennec Fox (pic related), Chinchilla, or a Ferret. I'm prepared to take proof my house, get the proper stuff for them, etc, I just need some opinions and possible experience with them to see which one I should get.
>> Anonymous
Foxes are anything but domesticated animals. Ferrets have various temperments, from domesticated to hyper-and-pissing-on-all-your-stuff. Get a chinchilla.
>> Anonymous
Chinchillas are great pets, assuming you understand a couple things first:

They are NOT super-social party animals. You can handle them and play with them and such, but they need to live in a quiet, stress-free enviornment. If you like to play loud music, throw parties, or you have lots of people over (especially people who want to play with the chin) then a Chinchilla is not for you.

Ferrets are much better suited to an "active" home. However, ferrets stink.
>> Anonymous
Fuck you.
>> Anonymous
OR, alternatively, you could get a normal pet like a dog or cat instead of getting a fennec that is not EVER meant to be a pet, a chinchilla that is extremely delicate, or a ferret that will fuck your world up.

Stop trying to be special by getting an obscure animal.
>> Anonymous
>>101780
I agree. Domesticated animals will be happier as pets than less domesticated ones. Even if you do the best you can, and the animal isn't suffering or anything, it would be happier in wild.

I'm not sure though how domesticated ferrets are, so I won't say anything about them.

I will never really understand peoples craving for exotic pets. Cats and dogs can make you happy (if they're not driving you nuts like my puppy here...)
>> Anonymous
Look at that deformed creature of hell.

Get a dog, at least it will not try to eat you in your sleep... or piss you, whatever
>> Anonymous
>>101798

Ferrets have been domesticated for a LONG time. Like terrier dogs, they were "working animals" that people kept to control rats and mice. They do make good pets--but like any pet you need to study their habits and needs and then decide how that matches your lifestyle.

Ferrets sleep a lot. But when they're awake, they are extremely active. They are master escape artists and they LOVE getting into out-of-the way places like behind appliances, into small cracks and crevices, into pipes or walls, and so on. (Not suprising given they were bred to hunt rodents in areas where dogs couldn't go). They will play with anything and everything, and that includes swiping small objects and hiding them.
>> Anonymous
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fuck that, get a pig
>> Anonymous
>>101867
Yeah, that way you can strap dynamite to it and make it rain bacon!
>> Anonymous
CAN YOU GET A FENNEC FOX?!?!?! If so, I want one!
>> Anonymous
>>101867
Look at that little face. Look at that NOSE. I want a pig.
>> Anonymous
I definitely recommend a ferret or chinchilla.

However, keep in mind that Chins will live 15-20 years, and ferrets 6-10.

Cats are definitely easier to take care of than either of those animals, so make sure that you're definitely prepared to take the responsibility of owning that pet for its whole life.

Check your local rescues before you go to a pet store, too.
>> Anonymous
>>102199
Don't get a pet just because you think it's cute. People like you are the most likely to abandon your pet when you realize how much work is involved.

For people like you I recommend a Beta fish or a stuffed animal.
>> Anonymous
>>102228
What IS a reason to get a pet, if not because you like them?
>> Anonymous
>>102230
To think that something is cute is far from liking an animal with all its qualities.

And even if the owner of this "cute and exotic" pet doesn't abandon it, will a wild animal be TRULY happy in captivity? And I don't just mean that it won't suffer.

If ferrets are domesticated, then one like that or a cat or a dog.
>> Anonymous
>>102237
'Cute' is a very broad word. It includes actions as well as appearance. Fennec foxes are energetic and curious- they BEHAVE cutely.

It's arrogant to assume that everyone interested in a strange animal is incapable of caring for it.
>> Anonymous
>>102244

Agreed. If the owner understands the pet's needs and behaviors and is OK with that, then what's the problem?

The issue comes about when an irresponsible pet owner wants a certain animal but expects it to be something its not.
>> Anonymous
Pigs are awesome pets, I never tire of the sound of a pig grunting.
>> Anonymous
>>102244
If you would've read my post you would have seen that I didn't presume that people wouldn't take good care of their pets. what I meant was can wild animals be happy in captivity? Even in good care.
>> Anonymous
Fennec foxes are not pets. if something, they are rised to make coats but nothing else. they are wild beautiful animals that deserve to live free, not in a cage or a human house. Leave them alone, you jerk! :'(
>> Anonymous
>>102304
All animals started out wild. Was it unjust to domesticate the dog, or the cat?

I think they're better off . . .
>> Anonymous
>>102305
They probably are, but the more an animal is domesticated the more it has freedoms in living with people, and dogs most likely hooked up with people to their own advantage too.

When it comes to keeping dogs in a big city or keeping cats stricktly inside etc... Well, then it's just as bad as keeping a wild animal in captivity. You can do your best, but its still not enough, you know.
>> Anonymous
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>>102302
The first reply I made was to the guy dismissing cuteness fans as irresponsible people. I assumed you were him. I didn't bother responding to the thing about happiness in captivity because it's a lame argument. See>>102305.
>> Anonymous
>>102319
You're saying that doubting that a tiger for example wouldn't ever be as happy in captivity as it would be in wild is a lame argument? Wow, you really know animals don't you...

We can't do much about the fact that there are animals that are domesticated now. But I think there is no need to create more of them just because people want cool pets. We take care of what we have created and leave the nature as it is, as long as we can.
>> Anonymous
>>102319
The way I see is is that the "lame happiness argument" is the most important thing when talking about keeping wild animals as pets.

The happiness of the animal IS the most important thing, right?

Also, when people started to domesticate animals they also lived nearer to nature wich most likely made the process quite smooth. People also domesticated animals because they needed them. The only thing we need plain pets for is that we want something to love, to take care of and to be our companion. The current domesticated animals can suffice this need. Why to be selfish?
>> Anonymous
I don't buy into that PETA arguement that making an animal a pet is somehow bad for the animal. Is a tiger more happy in the wild or as a pet? Hmm, as a pet he can be spoiled, doensn't have to hunt for survival or risk its life to get food . . .

Animals are not deep creatures, they have no philosophical yearning to fulfill an archetypical role. Give them good food, room to exercise, companionship and comfort and they will be happy.
>> Anonymous
>>102323
So you believe domesticating animals in the first place was wrong. Okay. I think that's stupid.
>> Anonymous
>>102334
Not really. As someone said, dogs most likely started to hang around where people lived to get food. I'm just saying that there is no need for creating new domesticated animals for pets.
>> Anonymous
>>102338
If we only did things because we NEED to, nobody would ever be happy. Similarly, if nature abhorred domestication, it wouldn't be possible in the first place.
>> Anonymous
>>102333
Hunting is a basic need for a predator. Even dogs have to do something that resembles hunting to be compleately happy. At least dogs that aren't overbred. While people may like being spoiled and lazy, animals have their instincts. The more natural their environment is, the more happy they are. I don't even know what PETA (i'm not an american) is, but with my plain common sense I figured out that nature probably knows better than a human.
>> Anonymous
>>102339
So you wanting something is a better reason to do something than making sure that an animal has the best possible life? Do you like animals?
>> Anonymous
>>102341
You are deluding yourself if you think nature can provide an animal with a better life than a man-made environment. Hint: there's a reason captive animals live longer than wild ones. It ain't because they're too depressed to die.
>> Anonymous
>>102342
Are you serious? Man-made environment better than anything nature can provide? You truly are a modern person.

Living longer doesn't mean a happy life. Animals kept in captivity often don't reproduce naturally and many species get aggressive. Not all, and some species most likely can live a relatively happy life, but most probably can't.
>> Anonymous
>>102343
>most probably can't

You don't know until you've tried.
>> Anonymous
>>102345
Why to try? They are not unhappy in the nature unless.

Unless of course it has been ruined by a human, but then we should try to do something about that, not just give up and make it into a pet.
>> Anonymous
>>102348
How often did your daddy molest you to make you hate humans so much?
>> Anonymous
>>102349
C'moon, don't be childish. I don't hate humans at all. They are an animal like any others, and I like animals. I just don't understand why people think that they know better than nature. If there is no need to get involved, why should we?
>> Anonymous
>>102351
Because we can. Because we LIKE it. And ultimately, because it's not hurting the animal to domesticate it.
>> Anonymous
>>102348
This sounds like a furry...
>> Anonymous
>>102358
You may like it, but I don't. There are many people like you in this world.
>> Anonymous
No, this is pretty gay. Those animals all look "KEWT" in photos but don't make good pets. "Domesticate" doesn't mean "keep as a pet", and these wild animals are best left in nature.
>> Anonymous
>>102367
exactly
>> Anonymous
The reason why animals in captivity tend to live longer is two basic things:

1) elimination of threat of predators or being killed by their own kind

2) major reduction in diseases, due to decreased exposure and also vaccinations and access to medical care.

....but that doesn't mean that domestic animals aren't beaten or chained up or otherwise abused...
>> Anonymous
oops, tired and angry and didn't read whole post. Ferrets actually make great pets, chinchillas look cute but are crappy at interacting with people, leave the fennecs alone. Feret FTW, they're friendly, sociable and smart. Seriously though, leave the fennecs to go about their business.
>> Anonymous
>>102367
There are lineaged breeds of dog with a more aggressive and unpredictable temperament than fennec foxes. You don't have any clue what animals belong where.
>> Anonymous
>>102373
Oh, you mean breeds that human has created fos his own amusement?

Also, animals that normally aren't aggressive against each other can get aggressive in captivity, that's what I meant. Not that they would naturally be more aggressive.
>> Anonymous
>>102376
Not for amusement. For ratting, fishing, hunting and retrieving. Amusement came later, alongside the relatively recent innovation called 'leisure time'.
>> Anonymous
The most aggressive dog breeds were bred for fighting; in battle, against bulls, or other dogs. Working dogs were often tough, but not aggressive, since they needed to co-operate with people.

These days rarely are dogs aggressive by nature, but they are raised to be like that.
>> Anonymous
>>102373
Hmm, could it be that wild animals belong in the wild, and domesticated animals belong with people..? Whaddya say people?
>> Anonymous
>>102379

wins.
>> Anonymous
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>>102385
I say that the only difference between a wild animal and a domestic animal is a few hundred years of selective breeding.
>> Anonymous
>>102342You are deluding yourself if you think nature can provide an animal with a better life than a man-made environment.

Are you for real? WTF...

Did you know, that actually people ARE part of nature, fag.
>> Anonymous
>>102390
I DO know that. Hell, that's my point. The instinct to corral and train animals is natural to us. We enrich our living spaces to accomodate other species. How can that be bad?
>> Anonymous
Get a Bearded Dragon
>> Anonymous
>>102393
We can learn from and about animals without "owning" or "keeping" them. Our habit to train and corral animals was needed for our survival and evolvement and I accept that. But it isn't anymore.

When you look at the dogs of today it can be seen what those years od domestication gave us a faithful partner, but our selfishness and want for cute and exotic looking dogs gave us overbredn and sick dogs. We didn't know better than the nature.

Same goes with living enviroments. They evolved to live in a certain enviroment, and that's where they belong. A long life isn't needed for an animal to have a good life. They don't fear death as we do. They live the fullest life in freedom, even if it means an early death. And death of one animal gives life for another. The Great Circle and all that shit. It's just the way it goes.

It's quite clear that people have some interesting need of interfering in things, but when you think about what it has caused.. Do you think it can all be justified? Well, whether it's natural to us or not, we could be a little more carefull about what we do.
>> Anonymous
Also I am now a delf-declared retard for having an argument in the internet, and posting a post that long, and actually spending my time on this... Oh well.
>> Anonymous
>>102413
Nature creates more terrifying mutants than breeding does.
>> Anonymous
>>102429
Like what? Nature may create beings that are sugly as hell to our eyes, but we creat things that are not healthy. The weirdest mutations often die in nature.
>> Anonymous
Watever u do, do not, i repeat do not get a chinchilla those things are the worst pet ever they are hella high maintinence and they shut sooooooo godamn much get a ferret they r the bes choice
>> Anonymous
I've always wanted a Fennec fox too, and read a lot about them. They're supposed to be really smart and can get attached to their owner easily, but like to run away and a lot of places won't let people own such exotic animals.

Ferrets do stink, and I've never really been interested in them, but if you want one, then go for it.

We had a chinchilla for over a year. They're amazingly soft and pretty friendly, but ours needed a lot of attention and crapped EVERYWHERE. They poop A LOT. Not so fun for me. We also had to spend a lot of money buying a cage, food, a running wheel, stands, and other things to amuse them. And chinchillas have really brittle bones, so you can't step on them or let them run around much in case they get hurt.
>> Anonymous
WHATEVER YOU GET, DO YOUR FUCKING RESEARCH
>> Anonymous
getting an exotic animal pet for the sake of having an exotic animal pet is kinda annoying
>> Anonymous
I said earlier that you shouldn't get a pet just because you think it's cute (that's the only post by me so far)

When I say that I'm not assuming that you won't take care of it. What I'm saying is that many, many, MANY people get pets like guinea pigs, rabbits, and chinchillas and neglect to care for them properly.

I work at an animal shelter, and I can't even begin to tell you how many more pathetic *neglect* cases I see that are the small cute fuzzy animals and not cats and dogs.
>> Anonymous
Get a fox just to piss everyone off
>> Anonymous !4X8vLLNDE2
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>>101600
get a sugar glider and call it a day
>> Anonymous
>dogs most likely hooked up with people to their own advantage too.

That is the most retarded thing I have ever read. Dog's didn't "hook up" with us, we created them. There were no "dogs" before we captured wild wolves and bread them to be loyal and obey us. Do you guys think there is some wild poodle pack running free somewhere?

Weather or not they would be more happy in the wild is a moot point. Because the OP is not going to go out and capture one himself. These things are bread for pets(the lucky ones are anyway, the others are bread for fur). If the OP dosen't get a fox guess what? It's not going to be released back into the wild, someone else will take it home, or it will be kept and used to breed more.

To be clear, if your not going to devote alot of time, space, money, and a large part of your life to one of these pets, don't get it. Stuff like a Fennec Fox require their own room in your house and tons of time and care. If your going to have X as a pet, be damn sure your life is going to be about having X as a pet. Nothing sickens me more then people who get a pet, any pet, like it's a toy or some fashion accessory. This is a living thing and it is under your care, treat it like it was part of yourself.
>> Anonymous
>>102709
>>There were no "dogs" before we captured wild wolves and bread them to be loyal and obey us. Do you guys think there is some wild poodle pack running free somewhere?

Actually, the new theories about wolf to dog domestication and breeding says that wolves domesticated themselves through several decades, and then humans took care of the rest (ex: they became tame enough to not run away from us, and we then took them into our homes and bred for certain traits). The wolves' bodies changed as they became more scavengers of human leavings than hunters, and thus, not truly wolves.

I find this theory to be much more realistic - why would humans even bother trying to find wolf pups and hand raise them?
>> Anonymous
>>102722
>why would humans even bother trying to find wolf pups and hand raise them?

Have you met humans? Trying to raise a wolf pup is not very high up on the list of "Crazy things humans do" Go play in /b/ for a little bit, you'll come back thinking raising a wolf is the sanest thing in the world.
>> Anonymous
Just get a pomeranian and shave it.
>> Anonymous
Get a Blastoise. Things would be different around here if Blastoise was your dad.
>> Anonymous
Did the OP totally miss that youtube video of the fennec foxes that was posted, what, yesterday? Those didn't strike me as cute at all, just a couple of very loud, skittish, nippy animals trapped in a room that people probably think was filled with enough cat trees and carpeted ramps to be considered a good environment.
>> Anonymous
>>102802

Truth, I'd go insane after a day if I had to listen to all that screeching and shit. Plus, yeah, they look like hyperactive, bitey, little turds.