Top 20 Weirdly Cute Pets You Should Own

Beginning today’s list, we have a weirdly adorable insect - the mantis. Their heads come in an iconic triangle shape, with two huge eyes. These are compound eyes which give them binocular vision and he;lp them to detect quick movements. They fascinatingly have five eyes in total, with three kind of hidden on their heads. A mantis is one of the simplest pets to look after. They’re not cuddly like a cat, but they can be engrossing to watch. They’re also masters of camouflage, so you can have hours of fun trying to locate your mantis.

Arachnophobia is one of the most common irrational fears. Where most spiders are concerned, it’s maybe easy to see why, but when it comes to a jumping spider? Give them a chance and these guys will make your heart melt! They’re some of nature’s smartest spiders, and also the largest spider family. Approximately 13% of all spider species on Earth are jumping spiders. They’ve got four pairs of eyes, with their largest pair looking straight out of a cartoon. They don’t need much space, and are relatively hands-off for a pet. This makes them a great first choice for a budding spider enthusiast!

Many people can find snakes spooky, but surprisingly many people find them to be quite relaxed pets. Ball pythons are one of the easiest snakes to look after. If you’ve ever met one, you’ll already know they’re pretty dumb. Their name comes from their defense mechanism; when scared, these guys will roll up into a tight ball. Despite their low intelligence, they have a pretty devious tendency to escape enclosures. Like most snakes, they’re remarkably low maintenance, only needing food every week or two. They usually live between 20 and 30 years, but some can reach 50.

Now for our first skink, a kind of lizard. This species hails from the rainforests of New Guinea. They’re approximately 8-10 inches long and have recently become popular exotic pets in the states. They almost look like tiny dragons, making them great fun to watch. These skinks are uncomfortable with being handled, so much that they’ll even scream and play dead. On average, they can live roughly 10 years, needing at least a 10-gallon enclosure, but the bigger the better. This makes them a perfect pet choice for hands-off owners, since they’re more of a pet to watch than to hold.

No prizes for guessing what area this lizard is native to. These are a popular choice for reptile lovers, due to their stunning skin patterns and friendly behavior. Their needs are quite specific, so only experienced reptile lovers should look after one. These guys are high-energy reptiles, constantly climbing and swimming all over their enclosure. Please, don’t ever get less than two; since they’re social animals, they’ll get lonely. Two isn’t that much harder to look after than one anyway. Make sure you check their genders, two of the same sex may get aggressive. Be warned, they may experience some trauma from being farmed that may stay with them. So even if they look fine, one day your beautiful lizard may suddenly drop dead.

Fish come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but few can change their shape and size as much as the pufferfish. Surprisingly, you can keep them as pets. They are poisonous in the wild, but it’s believed that is due to their diet - but check with your pet supplier first. Their faces are so sweet, it makes them instantly loveable. David Attenborough even called one species “the greatest artist of the animal kingdom.” This is because of their elaborate mating rituals, where they create marvelous shapes in the sand. While they’re excellent pets, be weary of their difficulty. They’re high-maintenance, so only buy one if you’re an advanced fish carer. If not, maybe stick to goldfish.

Some people call it the dog of the lizard world. This is because of their tremendous size, which means they may need an entire room just to themselves. Others argue they’re more like a cat, since they can’t be trained and tend to do whatever they want. They’re expensive, need a lot of space, and can get aggressive as adults - so beginners should proceed with caution if they desire one of their own. But many find them intelligent and rewarding pets. Please, do ample research, because tegus have become an invasive species in Florida, all because of owners who give up on them and then release them into the wild. This has an extremely negative ecological impact, so please don’t buy one on an impulse.

These little guys have some of the cutest noses in the snake kingdom, used for burrowing. They have stunning patterns, making them a popular pet snake option. They’re reluctant to bite, but if frightened, the bite usually is only mildly toxic. Thankfully, proper training when young can make them comfortable being handled. Their average life span is approximately 10 years, but they’re able to live twice that in captivity. They rarely get sick too, meaning they’re an attractive option for a first pet snake.

If you thought the other skinks were cute, just wait till you see these colorful characters. They’re native to African tropical forests, but can live a happy life in captivity, that may last for up to 20 years. They’re not the most beginner-friendly lizards, but they’re still quite easy to care for. Like the previously mentioned skinks, they’re not fond of being handled. Fire skinks have a reputation for shyness, spending most of their lives burrowing. So if you like the sound of a shy but beautiful lizard who prefers to be seen rather than held, maybe a fire skink can be your next pet.

Before you ask, no - they can’t breathe fire and they don’t have the qualities of a fantasy dragon. Their name comes from their magnificent ridged beards, which can flare out when threatened. This gives them a fearsome look, and motivated early Australian settlers to call them dragons. Generally, they’re low maintenance pets. In the wild, they prefer living solo, so getting two is a recipe for disaster. If raised well, they can be handled with ease, putting them on the cuddly end of the reptile spectrum. Just don’t sneak up on them, or they’ll freak out.

These magnificent boas originally come from Northern and Eastern Africa. They’re another smart choice for a beginner snake carer, especially if you want one happy with handling. Their eyes are adorably small, and their markings are magnificent. Females can grow up to 2 feet and males around 20 inches, so they’re not big creatures. They rarely bite, preferring to escape and flail when feeling threatened. While easy for beginners to care for, they can live impressively long, sometimes growing older than 20. So make sure you're completely dedicated, which should be the case for any pet.

It’s easy to see why these are some of the most popular tortoises for a pet. They have brilliant red markings, making them beautiful to watch. As adults, they can be between 10 and 16 inches, weighing close to 30 pounds. As babies, they can make even the most callous individual’s hearts melt. Like most tortoises, they can easily live for more than half a century, even a full century if properly cared for. Additionally, they need loads of space. This makes them the longest-living pet choice, with parrots coming in close second. So you’ll need more than one generation's worth of commitment to give these sweeties a long life.

If the red-footed tortoise is too small for you, why not upgrade to an African spurred tortoise? They can be 18 to 30 inches long, and weigh 80 to 150 pounds. This makes them the third largest tortoises on Earth. As you might expect, they need a humongous enclosure, usually outdoors. They’re strong burrowers, so a deep fence is essential. Once again, they can live nearly a century. Overall, they’re one of the more curious animals, which gets them into numerous sticky situations, like getting trapped in a small space. They’re not too into being handled, preferring to cruise through life in solitude.

This is surprisingly our first furry animal to make our list. These are tiny nocturnal possums, which as the name suggests, can glide through the skies. They come from a part of Australia and are closely related to koalas and kangaroos. If cared for well, they can live up to 15 years and become loyal companions. You must keep them in groups, since they’re super social creatures. Like all pets, do not buy them on an impulse, since they need tons of care. They’re nocturnal, so don’t expect to play with them during the day. The legality of owning one varies drastically too, making thorough research essential.

These hefty amphibians are some of the largest frogs ever and surprisingly are a great pet choice. They grow about 10 inches long, with their perpetually grumpy expressions giving them a quirky charm. They’re lower maintenance pets but can live up to 40 years old. It’s best to keep handling to a minimum, given how easily they can jump across the room. They’re some of the animal kingdom’s least fussy eaters, chowing down on almost anything that fits in their mouth. Not much space is needed for them and are fairly sedentary, making them ideal if you want a chilled-out pet.

Here we have our first and only crustacean to make the list. They’re best known for their habit of “house-hunting,” carrying their home shells on their backs, to protect their soft abdomens. These guys are social creatures, so get them in groups. Make sure to watch out for fighting however; it’s not uncommon for them to bully fellow crabs, and some will even steal shells. Their shells can also be customized, but don’t try this if you’re not completely confident. Not much space is needed for them, but they enjoy climbing and exploring, so a variety of toys is essential. Their beady eyes, wiggly antennae, and charming shells make them lovable exotic pets.

These sweethearts are one of the most recognizable frogs in the world. They have bright green bodies, orange toes, and vivid red eyes. In the wild, most of their lives are spent lounging on leaves, deep in American rainforests. Thus, they thrive in tall and warm aquariums. In captivity, they can easily live a decade or more. They’re completely nocturnal, causing many owners to claim they’re not worth the effort, since they’re a lot of work and are barely active. Still, their appearance makes them a delight to watch. One of their most fascinating behaviors is “startle coloration,” where they’ll flash their bright bodies and eyes to confuse predators.

This is easily the spikiest animal on our list. They can be found in the wild all over the globe, but only few species are domesticated. One of the most popular breeds for pets is the African pygmy hedgehog, which has clean white fur and adorable little snouts. They don’t require constant attention, but they’re certainly open to handling with patience. Hedgehogs have poor eyesight and often use their noses and sense of smell to get by. They’re so popular that hedgehog cafes have started popping up in Japan. Their most famous quirk is that when feeling threatened, they’ll curl up into a tight ball, and extend their protective quills. Keep in mind that a pet hedgehog will cover your home in quills, but it’s a small price to pay.

These guys are the ultimate weirdly cute amphibians. They have round, pudgy bodies with huge mouths and tiny limbs, giving them an almost cartoonish appearance. Like a lot of exotic animals, they’re not fond of handling, mainly due to their delicate skin. One rare feature is their teeth, giving them a mighty bite. Thankfully they’re relatively low effort, making them ideal pets for only observing. Pacman frogs are carnivores with an insatiable appetite. They feed on crickets, worms, and even mice. Only one gulp is needed to swallow most prey. Their vibrant colors and quirks make them hard to resist.

Taking the top spot, it’s the undeniable champion of weirdly cute pets - the axolotl, a kind of salamander. Their permanent smiles make them ultimate charmers. Axolotls are fully aquatic, originally coming from Mexican lakes. Unfortunately, those lakes were drained by colonial Spain, severely diminishing their natural habitat. Fascinatingly, they can regenerate limbs, gills, and even parts of their brains. Handling isn’t enjoyable for them, but they’re still friendly, often greeting their owners at feeding time. Impressively, they can live to the age of 15, averaging between 6 to 12 inches in length, but in rare cases can reach a huge 18 inches.

What animal makes your heart melt, yet others just don’t see it? Let us know in the comments!

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