All About Animals discussion

I noticed someone mentioned a frog for a pet. This made me think about what other animals some of you may have had in the past or now that isn't the "normal" pet of choice like a cat, dog, or horse.

So, tell us about the other animals/pets you may have had.

I had a skunk for about 5 yrs about 10 yrs ago. In PA you are allowed to own a skunk if you buy from a pet place that raises them as domesticated and you have to carry legal papers with you that that's where you got it. They make wonderful pets and are so cute. Some states you aren't allowed to own them, so you would have to check your own state laws.

Many, many years ago, our family found a fawn in the woods and took it home to take care of it. We waited to see if a mama was ever coming back and didn't look like it and didn't want it to starve. We figured maybe a hunter had killed it's mother. We took care of it for awhile and then called the game commission to come and get it and they took it to a zoo or raised it till it could be released.

Some of the other things we've had were "hermit crabs", they are cool watching them get out of their shell and back into a new shell which is their home. As they grow out of them, they need a new one.

Also, had guinea pigs before. Love them. They love their carrots.

My sister had ferrets before and also turtles. My boys never had those.

The only other pets I have had, besides the usual ones, was an ant farm and an injured dragonfly that I took care of for a couple weeks. The ants all died within a few days but the dragonfly got better and was able to be released successfully. Throughout the summer I often saw that dragonfly sitting exactly where I had released it in the afternoons then after a few hours it would fly away. My favorite thing about the dragonfly is that it let me pick it up or pet it whenever I wanted while it was visiting the yard.

Jennifer wrote: "My favorite thing about the dragonfly is that it let me pick it up or pet it whenever I wanted while it was visiting the yard."

That is so sweet. They are fun to watch flying around.

When we lived on the boat while sailing in the South Pacific, we had a pet gecko arrive on board somehow, probably with a box of groceries. We called him Periwinkle. He was lots of fun and lived happily with us for a long time. He really enjoyed the cruising life. He had the run of the boat and often scurried about over our heads on the high cabin sides seeking out flying insects. He would make little peeping noises we loved.

We also had a group of huge tropical cockroaches move aboard in the same way. They took up residence in the toe of my sea-boot. I discovered them when I put the boot on. They were not nearly so much fun and those that survived the arrival of my foot in their home, were immediately sent off on a long-distance swim!

I didn't think about this one before because this "pet" didn't live in or around my house, but when I was in grade-school I had a leaf-bug (not sure of the exact species) that could be considered an honorary pet.
I first met the leaf-bug when it landed on me one day at recess. Since it wasn't bothering me I let it stay. I thought it would fly off shortly but it stayed with me no matter where I went. Strangely enough when the bell rang to end recess is when it chose to fly away.
The next day I was sitting under a tree when the leaf-bug flew by and landed on it. Before that first day I had never even seen a real leaf bug before so I assumed it was the same one as the day before, I still believe it was. For some reason I got the urge to try to pick it up. First I touched it gently and it didn't fly away which I had expected it to do. Since it stayed I then put my hand next to it as people often do for hamsters. Surprisingly it crawled on and once again the leaf bug stayed with me until the bell rang then for some reason it flew off.
The day after that I found the leaf-bug on the same tree as before, this time it was there ahead of me but as before it crawled onto my hand as soon as I put it next to the bug and stayed until the bell rang.
This process continued to repeat for about two weeks, then I never saw the bug again, but throughout the next weeks I kept hoping I would. As strange as it might sound I had become attached to the strange little bug. To me it was as much a pet or friend as a dog or a cat to most people.
I didn't think much about it back then but now when I think of the bug I can't help but wonder why this bug came to me in the first place, why it let me pet and hold it, why it always stayed with me from the beginning of recess until the end, and how it knew to fly away when the bell rang.

Jennifer, that is quite a story. It would make a lovely children's picture book. Quite haunting. What does a leaf but look like I wonder? Might google it and find an image.

I searched for leaf bug in Google Images and found dozens of different leaf bug images. Would love to know what your one looked like.

Tui wrote: "When we lived on the boat while sailing in the South Pacific, we had a pet gecko arrive on board somehow, ... We also had a group of huge tropical cockroaches move aboard in the same way. "

The Gecko would be cool to watch. I never seen one in real life.

The cockroaches not so much. Yuck.

Jennifer wrote: " I had a leaf-bug (not sure of the exact species) ... I can't help but wonder why this bug came to me in the first place, why it let me pet and hold it, why it always stayed with me from the beginning of recess until the end, and how it knew to fly away when the bell rang. "

Jennifer, I saw a leaf-bug along time ago. They are different for sure and interesting. I've also seen walking sticks. They look just like a stick with legs and can blend in so well on a tree. Last year we had a praying mantis hanging around the house.

Maybe leafy trusted you alot or something. Who knows why. Good story.

A skunk and a tiny alligator.

Tui wrote: "Jennifer, that is quite a story. It would make a lovely children's picture book. Quite haunting. What does a leaf but look like I wonder? Might google it and find an image.

I searched for leaf bug..."

I don't think I would ever make a picture book out of the story, you could if you wanted to. I will add the story into a section of the book I am writing about my pets.

As far as the way it looked goes all I can remember for sure is that it was green and would have had to be native of North America. That doesn't really narrow it down much though, so I don't think I will ever know it's exact species.