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  • “With so many varieties of reptiles available, there is one...

    “With so many varieties of reptiles available, there is one for just about every lifestyle and life stage,” says Laura Brewer, manager at The Reptile Zoo in Fountain Valley, an educational facility with more than 100 reptile species on display.

  • According to Venette Hill, founder and executive director of Fountain...

    According to Venette Hill, founder and executive director of Fountain Valley-based nonprofit parrot rescue The Lily Sanctuary, parrot personalities can vary widely by species and individual.

  • “Though you can't really hug or pet them like you...

    “Though you can't really hug or pet them like you would a dog or a cat, they do have personalities and a calming effect,” says Irvine resident and fish hobbyist Walter Guerra.

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Jessica Peralta, 2017
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African greys are popular parrots who love to talk.

African spurred thigh tortoises grow as large as 200 pounds.

Algae-eating plecos are often over a foot long and don’t eat as much algae as you might imagine.

The world is full of potential pet possibilities for animal lovers. And a less traditional pet – a parrot, reptile or fish, for example – may be a better option for your household’s particular lifestyle.

Before settling on any pet, make sure you and your family members understand the particular needs, care requirements and other relevant facts of the pet you wish to make part of the family.

Parrots

According to Venette Hill, founder and executive director of Fountain Valley-based nonprofit parrot rescue The Lily Sanctuary, parrot personalities can vary widely by species and individual.

“Amazon parrots are known as ‘perch potatoes,’ ” she says. “They are happy to hang out and don’t require a great deal of interaction.”

Overall, cockatoos tend to be affectionate, funny, entertaining, demanding, needy and neurotic, she says.

“They are the highest- maintenance parrot, consequently the most often to be given up,” she says. “It is easy to fall in love with ’toos – they just suck you in with their antics and can be so loving.”

Macaws can be sweet, despite their formidable beaks. Blue-and-gold macaws are typically more laid-back, while scarlets have a reputation for being nippy and bratty, Hill says.

Macaws “make wonderful, devoted pets, but their screaming and size requirements must be taken into account,” Hill says, adding that they can live up to 80 years.

Caring for parrots requires knowing not only where to keep them and what to feed them, but also how to keep them safe. Teflon and similar nonstick materials, smoking, room fresheners, some cleaning products and candles can kill these sensitive birds, Hill says.

If you have allergies, these birds may not work for you since some birds have a lot of dander that can exacerbate symptoms.

Reptiles and amphibians

“With so many varieties of reptiles available, there is one for just about every lifestyle and life stage,” says Laura Brewer, manager at The Reptile Zoo in Fountain Valley, an educational facility with more than 100 reptile species on display.

Snakes are the easiest reptiles to care for, she says, because they require only a meal once a week – which reduces their waste and cleanup needs.

Selecting the correct cage and setup for reptiles is the most important factor in their long-term health, Brewer says. Since each species varies based on its native habitat, research is key to setting up the appropriate environment.

“Frogs and other tropical animals like crested geckos and chameleons require daily misting, which mimics natural rainfall, where animals from more arid desert regions require additional heating for basking spots, over 100 degrees, to help in digestion of prey,” she says.

If cared for properly, animals like the African spurred thigh tortoise can live for 150 years or longer, she says, but on average most reptiles live from 10 to 25 years.

Fish

“Though you can’t really hug or pet them like you would a dog or a cat, they do have personalities and a calming effect,” says Irvine resident and fish hobbyist Walter Guerra.

Sam Garcia, a fish hobbyist who is also a member of Orange County fish club COAST (California’s Organization of Aquatic Show Tropicals), says freshwater aquariums are the better option for beginning fish owners because saltwater tanks require more knowledge of chemistry and have less room for error. Both types of aquariums need proper filtration and lighting, and tropical tanks require heating, he says.

Some good freshwater fish for beginners include live-bearing fish like mollies and guppies, tetras like bleeding hearts and black neons, rainbowfish, and gold and ruby barbs.

Garcia says to avoid species that grow to more than 8 inches if you have limited room.

Some freshwater fish can live around 10 to 20 years, while a few saltwater angelfish have been known to live more than 30 years in captivity – though most fish live two to eight years.

“Anyone can keep fish. However, don’t purchase fish at all if you don’t want to research their needs. Just like any pet, fish need attention and care to thrive,” Garcia says. “Aquariums keep us in touch with nature and allow us to experience a part of the natural world we normally would not see.”