Bats

[stephend]

Does anyone know anything about the posibility of keeping bats as pets?

 

[xreinx]

If your asking that, then you probably don't know all that much about keeping them as pets, for they are taken from the wild and stuck into a cage, people are just learning now about most bats, and almost nothing is learned about them once they are stuck in a cage.

On top of not having a idea of diet for them, they are considered a wild animal, in places some are indangered, therefor permits for possessing wild animals (IF you can get any) won't cover some species, then you have to think of the Diseases you or your animals may get if it bites you/them, that in itself is dangerous, no one has cures for anything like that, or at the vary least, an Idea of all that they can or do carry.

If you want an exotic anything that can possibly harm you and/or your pets, get a Bangal cat Or Turtle, at least they Have been captive bred for the last 20 years.

I am sorry about standing on my little soap box, but when an animal comes in our shelter that someone dosent know the FIRST thing about taking care of, and Just dumps it on us cause they just dont care anymore, it erks me. We get Bangal cats in all the time, people dont understand they arent like a tame tabby cat. They ACT diffrent, they may be pretty but they are WILD. There are A lot of CB Exotics out there that you can pick from without bringing more into the mix. Parrots are at the top of the list, sure some have been CB for the last 30-50 years, but There was just a thread on here about a set of WC African greys looking for a new home.

 

[stephend]

I have no intention of getting a wild caught pet.

I was hoping someone would say "Ya I'm a breeder". Once I knew that I could get a captive bred pet bat, then I would find out if I could afford to get one, and then find out what resources were required for caring for one. If all of that turned out well then I would possibly get one.

 

[andrea.faerie]

Pet bats aren't a good idea. They require much more time than you would think and the most common "pet" bat is a fruit bat. As far as I know, breeding bats for the pet trade is illegal in the US. I've taken care of an injured bat (obviously not a fruit bat) and they require a much more intensive diet than you would imagine. I agree with rein. If you want an exotic... get something that is more common (oxymoron, I know) A wild animal should not be kept as a pet, especially one from the american wilderness. Leave the wild animals to the zoologists

 

[merlinsmom13]

Some bat dropping have a fungus that adversely effects the lungs, definitely not safe pets.

 

[GoffinLily]

I think bats are adorable & would love to have one as well, BUT I have to agree with everyone else on this one, not good pets, can be hazardous to your & your birds health, really hard to care for... The list can go on..