Though owners should be cautious about buying exotic animals as pets, the fennec fox is a fairly safe bet. This adorable canine is smaller than most dogs, though its care is fairly similar – lots of exercise, socialization, and all that good stuff. They are known for being a bit more independent than most dogs, though most fennec foxes will never turn down a good play session. Also, those ears. I can’t.
The world’s friendliest dragons comes in bearded form, and they are seriously cool animals. Bearded dragons will puff up their cheeks to make their spines appear dangerous if they feel threatened, but they actually remain quite soft and touchable regardless. Chuck them some crickets to munch on and you’ve got yourself a new best friend.
Sugar gliders aren’t the easiest pets to keep – they’ll need specialized cages, as well as unique foods (though sometimes baby food works just fine) – but these guys are both tiny and absolutely adorable. Sugar gliders prefer company, so it’s best to invest in a pair or more, but given that they’re no bigger than the palm of your hand, you can probably squeeze them in somewhere.
Goldfish are so passé, so kick it up a notch and invest in a hermit crab. They’re so much cooler, and don’t require much care, making them the ideal pet for the world’s laziest pet owners. Plus, if you have more than one, you can try to get them to race each other sometimes. If you’re really that bored.
Just wait until you see that tiny face peeking out from a bundle of spines and you’ll fall in love. Plus, listen to how cool this is: sometimes, hedgehogs will throw up something they’ve eaten that they enjoyed just so they can eat it again. Yes, it’s gross, but how awesome is that?!
It’s like a pony that will never grow up! Miniature horses are beautiful and adorable creatures, and, while they still might not be classed as “tiny,” they are pretty dang small when you sit them next to their full-sized counterparts. Plus, you get the bonus of getting to pretend to ride them and yell, “Giddyup!” while not actually having to, you know, own a barn or anything like that.
Continuing the theme of miniature farm animals that behave like dogs, miniature pigs are a thing and they are wonderful. Pigs are notoriously friendly, and actually much easier to train than one might think. Assuming that you’re willing to give your new friend regular baths, especially if he/she has a tendency to seek out neighborhood mud puddles, a miniature pig should be a welcome addition to your home.
Don’t recoil in fear just yet – it’s a fairly simple procedure to have a skunk de-scented, and they can actually make quite delightful pets once you eliminate the fear of having to bathe in tomato juice for three days (does that even work, or is it all an urban legend created by the tomato industry to sell more product?). A simple omnivorous diet similar to a dog’s will suit skunk pets just fine, and they love a good toy. Check to make sure that it’s legal in your country or state to own a skunk, as some places have outlawed them as pets due to rabies concerns.
Chinchillas have become threatened due to hunting and breeding for their incredibly soft fur, but its that same fur that makes them the world’s softest cuddle partners. These guys have an astounding 60 hairs in every follicle, making their cloud-like fur irresistible to touch. Plus, watching them play around in a dust bath is one of the cutest things you’ll ever see.
Low maintenance and ultra cool, leopard geckos don’t need much more than a small-to-medium-sized, warm tank and crickets to keep them well-fed. Try holding one up and peeking through its ear – which just looks like a hole in the side of its head. There is only a thin membrane separating one ear canal from the other, so you can almost see right through their heads! Crazy stuff.
