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Pastimes : The New Qualcomm - write what you like thread. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: qdog who wrote (1900)	7/23/2000 1:09:39 AM
From: Jon Koplik	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12231

Weird pets article from Forbes Magazine. Wildlife August 7, 2000 Forget Fido By Kiri Blakeley Yes, we know, dogs are man's best friend and cats curl up comfortably in your lap. But have you considered the advantages of walking your hedgehog Sylvester down the street? The fact that hedgehogs also eat cockroaches is just gravy (which hedgehogs like, too). In this age of the pet fashion statement, ownership of exotic critters is soaring. Here's a guide to some of the more popular beasts on the furry fringe. LLAMA The good stuff: Sociable, clean, quiet, eat cheap (alfalfa or hay preferred), happy to stay outside year-round. The bad stuff: Need lots of room to roam; won't let you touch them unless you train them carefully; need other llamas to play with or they pout. Keep in mind: Annual spring shearing. Estimated number kept in small herds as pets: 17,000. Cost: $100- $10,000. CHINCHILLA The good stuff: Incredibly soft; most people who are allergic to cats or dogs are not allergic to them; less smelly than ferrets. The bad stuff: Like moles, chinchillas hate loud noises and bright lights, are susceptible to heat stroke, need regular dust baths. Keep in mind: Overdoses of raisins can kill. Estimated number: 80,000 households. Cost: $50- $150. HEDGEHOG The good stuff: Really cool-looking (like small porcupines), eat roaches. The bad stuff: Often vicious, hard to pet. Keep in mind: Sharp quills. Estimated number: 40,000 households. Cost: $50- $200. SUGAR GLIDER (marsupial flying squirrel) The good stuff: Friendly, intelligent, portable. The bad stuff: Tendency to drown in toilets; require two hours of play with owner every evening or they die of loneliness; confuse people with trees and sink claws into flesh to attach themselves. Keep in mind: When threatened make a loud noise like an electric pencil sharpener. Estimated number: 5,000-8,000 households. Cost: $100- $300. IGUANA The good stuff: Friendly if socialized, quiet, solitary, weird tongue. The bad stuff: Males can grow up to 6 feet and weigh up to 20 pounds; commonly carry salmonella. Keep in mind: Will "sneeze" out excess salts in the body; males in a glass cage tend to attack their own reflection. Estimated number: 705,000 households. Cost: $15-$30 plus about $150- $200 in startup equipment. © 2000 Forbes.com