wednesday, September 10, 2003
news
the university daily kansan 5A
A juvenile green tree python rested on a stick held by an employee of Pet World, 711 W.23rd St. Luke Welton, Lawrence graduate and Pet World employee, says lizards and tarantulas sell well although they are not typical pets.
Exotic pets becoming more popular
By Kevin Kampwirth
kkampwirth@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Soft, furry and playful is quickly giving way to scales and stingers in the pet world.
singer Exotic animals, such as snakes, lizards and spiders, have long been kept by people as pets, but recently the trend has taken on a new-found popularity.
or a new welter. Luke Welton, a Lawrence graduate student in organismal biology and an employee at Pet World, 711 W.23rd St., specializes in selling these exotic animals.
these excitable animals like "Taking care of animals like these is a lot easier than care of traditional pets." Welton said. "There's very little clean-up involved which attracts many people."
Pet World sells all kinds of
exotic pets, Welton said,but lizards probably sell the best.
He said that one type of lizard, the Bearded Dragon, is a popular seller because of its price, $39.99, and docile nature. The dragon is just inches long when it is young, but can grow to 18 inches.
but can go on. "Most of the lizards we sell are very docile and are completely non-venomous," Welton said.
Snakes also sell well, Welton said, because they only have to be fed once or twice a month and create minimal mess in their tanks.
Ryan Hanley, Chicago senior has owned his snake, Lenny, for three years. He said he's been pleased with his decision.
pleased with his best friend. "I like it because it's something different," he said. "It's really easy to take care of and it spices up the room a little."
Welton said if taken care of and
well maintained, snakes like Hanley's can live from 25 to 30 years. Larger snakes can live to 50 years.
Another pet that has been gaining in popularity during the past few years is spiders.
"We seem to be selling a lot more tarantulas than we used to," Welton said. "There's been an explosion in the hobby."
explosion in the house. Tarantulas are one of the few poisonous pets, but for most people, it's nothing to worry about. Most species will do all they can to avoid people and will bite only as a last result, Welton said. Even if one is bitten, the result would most likely be comparable to a bee-sting.
Chris Linnens, Wichita resident, who was visiting Pet World with a friend, has owned a tarantula for about a year.
"It's a great pet," he said. "I take mine out of the cage and let it
Scorpions and centipedes are the only other poisonous animals that Pet World sells. Like the spiders, they are rarely dangerous.
The prices for most exotic pets vary. Spiders range anywhere from $20 to $80, lizards anywhere from $15 to $200, and snakes from $40 up to $1,000 for a rare Albino Honduran Milksnake.
Whatever exotic pet one chooses, Welton said, the most important part is making a responsible decision. This decision includes being committed to taking care of it.
"Owning one of these exotic animals is just like owning any other pet," he said. "If they are taken care of correctly, they can be in your life for a long time."
Edited by Nikki Overfelt
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