The world of pets can tend to be very dog and cat-centric. However, this month, we’re giving our other pet friends their time to shine! Just in time for Halloween, these sometimes considered “spooky” friends are guaranteed to show you how misunderstood they are! Check out each of our 6 submissions and make sure to follow them on social media. Some have great Instagram accounts and are a must-follow. If you would like your unique pet to be featured next time, please DM your submission to @felicitythechiweenie.

Gaston Le Pig – @gastonlepig

Gaston Le Pig is a cute little piggy from Jersey City Heights and is owned by his humans, Paul and Bridget.

Best Thing About Your Pet

He cleans up my floor after feeding the kids and he has a greeting sound when we get home.

Hardest Thing About Your Pet

We have to hang everything to avoid him going through them. He will rip through anything to find food. Lip balm and deodorant will even get him to go through bags and jackets. We have baby locks on our cabinets for Gaston.

Describe Your Pet’s Personality

He loves to cuddle with us and go for walks (sometimes he takes them on his own). He only does things if he wants to (kind of like a cat). He enjoys sunbathing and on hot days he will go in the pool. He likes to push the buttons on the kids’ toys.

What are Common Misconceptions About Your Pet? 

People think he is dirty but he isn’t. He has a potty area where he goes to the bathroom. It’s separate and he will only go to that spot. If it isn’t cleaned out he will make a new spot but will go back to the potty area once cleaned. People also think he likes mud. He likes to go in the water in the summer so we have a kiddie pool that he uses. If there was water on the dirt he would go there too but it’s mostly just to cool down because pigs don’t have sweat pores. He only gets dirty from rooting the dirt.

Anything Else You’d Like Our Readers to Know?

He is a very social animal and doesn’t like to be left alone. He is very smart. He knows a few tricks (sit, spin, give his hand and push a ball). He likes to play but it could be a little dangerous because of his tusks. He can run pretty fast when he wants to for a short time.  He doesn’t like winter and start misbehaving because he wants to go out but it’s too cold for him.

Cupcake, Daisy, and Noodle

These three Jersey City beauties are all ball pythons but are different morphs (like a breed of dog). So even though they’re all the same species, they look different. Cupcake is normal, Daisy is a Spider morph, and Noodle is a Pastel morph.

Best Thing About Your Pet

They are easy to take care of and I think really pretty to own. They are more exciting than fish since you can actually handle them if you want but about the same level of care.

Hardest Thing About Your Pet

They require a specific temperature and humidity to be maintained in their cages, which can sometimes be difficult to keep stable depending on the time of year. Also misconceptions and fears about snakes from people visiting can be frustrating.

Describe Your Pet’s Personality

All three of my snakes each have a pretty distinct personality, and they can also get in different moods (this tends to correlate with their shedding cycle).  They are extremely docile and curious. When you take them out to hold them they’ll wrap themselves around your arm and generally just stay there and chill with you. Or if they are feeling energetic they will try to crawl around.

What are Common Misconceptions About Your Pet? 

People think they are aggressive. It’s true that some species of snake are more aggressive than others (for example blood pythons and emerald tree boas are known to get snappy).  But ball pythons, along with corn snakes and king snakes, are some of the easiest and most docile beginner snakes to own. They don’t bite unless you mistreat them, which the same can be said for almost any animal, and even then ball pythons, in particular, will tend to curl up in a ball defensively (hence their name) before resorting to defensive biting. As for more aggressive species, it’s just all about responsible handling and understanding how to work with them. Snakes don’t have to be scary.  Another misconception about them is that they don’t live very long. Ball pythons can live up to 30+ years. Cupcake, Daisy, and Noodle are all 10 years old.

Anything Else You’d Like Our Readers to Know? 

Make sure to always buy reptiles from responsible, captive breeders and not pet stores. Pet stores frequently don’t keep reptiles in proper conditions and also sometimes buy from wild caught sources, which can have diseases and pests and these methods are also not good for the environment or the snakes quality of life.

Presto – @prestothebunny

Presto is a Holland Lop dwarf rabbit with loads of personality and an insatiable appetite. You must follow his instagram and check out his witty, rabbit banter with his parents.

Best Thing About Your Pet

He’s like the best bits of a dog and a cat combined! Self sufficient but loves snuggles, bouncy but quiet, litter trained (no 6am blizzard relief calls!).

Hardest Thing About Your Pet

He is so food-driven that it’s impossible to go to the fridge without him magically appearing under your feet, between your legs, or in the actual fridge (despite him being nowhere to be seen 0.7 seconds earlier). He knows his fresh kale and carrots live in the fridge! That, and he likes eating the Christmas tree (seriously… the little guy is weird).

Describe Your Pet’s Personality

He’s the world’s most loveable a**hole. He rules the house.

What are Common Misconceptions About Your Pet?

That rabbits are stupid, have no personality, and can’t be trained. Presto is litter trained, knows he has to take his food out of the kitchen to his mat to eat, and he is full of personality! He even gives us ‘bunnytude’ when he’s not happy with us (if we have left him alone too long). Everyone who meets Presto loves him!

Anything Else You’d Like Our Readers to Know?

Presto is deaf from birth. Rather than this being a problem, it makes him more adventurous and less likely to get frightened! He has no fear. Also, Presto was adopted in Australia, and came all the way across the world to love in Jersey City. He is the #internationalbunnyofmystery.

Stella

Stella is a Leopard Gecko living in our area. Her parents are Taylor and Austin. While she doesn’t have her own instagram, you can find pictures of her on parent’s page: @taylorbunnyy.

Best Thing About Your Pet

Her unique markings & sweet personality.

Hardest Thing About Your Pet

Feeding her live dubia roaches on the daily and not being able to snuggle with our little cutie due to her size.

Describe Your Pet’s Personality

Stella is very reserved, yet has her physically active and adventurous moments, wanting to crawl up your arm and lay into your neck or as far up on your body as you’d let her.

What are Common Misconceptions About Your Pet?

I would say the misconceptions people get wrong about this pet is the type of texture that they are. Most amphibians are known to be slimy and gross, but Stella has slightly bumpy, chilly skin, with a silky smooth tail.

Anything Else You’d Like Our Readers to Know?

Leopard geckos make wonderful pets! They don’t smell, they’re easily cared for (as long as you have all the necessities in their tank) they’re quiet, they don’t require a ton of attention, and they don’t take up a lot of space in your home.

Bandit, Buffy, and Bubbles -@adventures_of_bandit_and_buffy

Bandit, Buffy, and Bubbles are local ferrets and owned by their human, Amber. Check out their instagram to stay up to date on their adventures!

Best Thing About Your Pet

They are just the most fun I have ever had!

Hardest Thing About Your Pet

Keeping their cage clean and changing it up to keep them stimulated.

Describe Your Pet’s Personality

Bandit is super laid back. Bubbles is a bully and Buffy is the only girl and the smallest but the most fearless.

What are Common Misconceptions About Your Pet?

That they stink. It’s all in how well you care for them and keep the cage/living space clean.

Anything Else You’d Like Our Readers to Know?

If you are looking for a pet that is as fun and as playful as a dog, but can be indoors in a smaller space like a cat, then a ferret is for you. Also, they love attention so if you see me out walking them don’t be scared to say hi or ask to pet them. They love the attention.

Suki the Spider -@suki_thespider

Suki is a local pink toed tarantula. He’s a “penthouse living, cricket sippin’, pink toed T”.

Best Thing About Your Pet

His webbing and how he surprises us everyday with his interior decorating.

Hardest Thing About Your Pet

Making sure we get a good batch of crickets to keep him healthy and keeping him warm (70-80°F).

Describe Your Pet’s Personality

He’s a sweetheart but can sometimes be very grumpy. He does his “happy dance” after he eats though and webs in circles as he’s feasting.

What are Common Misconceptions About Your Pet?

That his bites are lethal (they most def. are not) and it’s dangerous having him as a pet “because what if he gets out?” But truth is, tarantula exoskeleton is so brittle that even just a fall from his wood bark onto his substrate could kill him. For this reason, we never let him out. Other than that, people just think EVILLLLLL!

Anything Else You’d Like Our Readers to Know?

That Suki has captured the hearts of the people in my home so very quickly! (One was an arachnophobe) and he can capture yours too! ️ He’s a very intriguing little guy with tricks up his 8 sleeves that we would’ve never imagined.