Does otters make good pets
Otters are amazing creatures. Despite being a wild animal with highly specific habitat and nutritional requirements, this semi-aquatic species of the weasel family has grown in popularity as a pet. Even though it is permissible to keep this type of marine creature as a pet, there are numerous reasons to refrain. From the otter's perspective, replicating the animal's natural habitat and keeping them happy is extremely difficult, if not impossible. They require a lot of water that must be kept bacteria-free, they may be aggressive, and they do stink, according to the owner.
The following are eight considerations for keeping otters as pets.
Pet Small-Clawed Otters Are Increasingly Popular
Otters are adorable creatures that have grown quite popular as pets in Japan, where they can cost thousands of dollars. The charming critters have grown more popular as domestic pets throughout the world thanks to videos of them swimming in their owners' bathtubs and squealing with delight over their fish dinner.
Chattering Could Indicate Distress
Many pet otter videos feature footage of the mammal babbling. Although the noise may appear to be loving and charming, it is most likely a distress signal uttered by an otter caught in unfamiliar territory. Otters can make this noise if they are kept in isolation, become bored, or lack sufficient space or the appropriate environment.
Otters might not be allowed as pets.
Many Asian countries, as well as many states in the United States, have established laws prohibiting the collection and keeping of otters as pets. Otters are classified as unusual animals, and keeping them requires a specific licence. Despite this, the sale of these creatures continues to be common on social media channels.
Keep in mind that owning unauthorized exotic animals can land you in jail for up to 5 years and result in hefty fines.
They require a large amount of space.
Otters do best in pairs, and a single pair of otters needs at least 60 square meters to dwell in. Each additional otter necessitates an additional 5 square meters. Otters also prefer to be near water, thus an indoor cage is insufficient.
They are semi-aquatic creatures.
Otters are classified as semi-aquatic creatures. They have water-resistant fur, so they will not become soaked. They have webbed feet that enable them push through the water and travel longer distances at higher speeds. They spend about a third of their lives in the water, hunting much of their food in the rivers or oceans where they live.
To ensure that the otters can survive, let alone prosper, the water must be kept at a specific temperature and free of microorganisms.
Keeping an Otter can be rather costly.
An otter can cost thousands of dollars in the beginning, especially if purchased on the illicit market. You will be responsible for both transportation and the cost of the otter. After that, you'll need to pay for an enclosure as well as an otter pool. Otters are extremely adept at climbing and escaping, so you'll probably have to pay to beef up the enclosure's security.
They are prone to being aggressive.
Otters have keen claws that they can use to climb and dig, which is one of the reasons they are so good at escaping. They will use their claws to defend themselves if they feel threatened. Because otters do not live in the same environment as cats and dogs, and they do not live beside humans, they can become hostile when kept in a house or apartment, especially if they are housed in an inadequate enclosure or in unsuitable surroundings.
