Pint sized pig or high-maintenance mouse anyone?
Flying marsupial anyone? No? Well maybe you'll be tempted by the 'pint size pig'? Just two of the latest crazes to sweep across Britain - of course influenced by our American relatives!
So what's all this about pint size pigs you may ponder, well they do what they say on the tin. Expect a baby micro-pig to weigh no more than 9oz, the size of a tea-cup - and for the tiny creature to reach a 'whopping' 14oz! Don't expect them to be similar in price though, the average micro-pig purchase will set you back a minimum of £700.00 and a 7 month wait if your lucky!
The advice of the un-bias experts are what many would expect, yet fail to see when being swept away by their novelty value - which - it is feared they will soon outgrow and several thousand of these highly bred tiny creatures will be left on the wayside - probably to make way for the next furry fashion accessory.
Another trend to be found hitting the headlines recently is that of the 'spider lizard', real name: Agama, whose striking red and blue colours bare an uncannily resemblance to that of the comic super-hero spider man. No surprise that it is these very comic book fans that have reportedly been flocking in their droves to purchase the latest lizard - but these are no super-heroes, these are reptiles which grow to one foot in length, require lots of special equipment, and feed exclusively on a diet of locusts, crickets, mealworms and wax-worms.
And it doesn't stop there ...Micro pig, not your cup of tea? Then why not indulge yourself in the 'sugar glider' originating in Australia and New-Zealand it's found itself upon British shores and is proving to be another 'quirky' accessory in many homes throughout the UK.
In effect the sugar glider is in a nutshell a flying marsupial aka 'mouse', yes, that's right it's a mouse - that can, well, fly. Certainly a talking point with visitors, this 'mouse' can launch itself with such power and strength that it can glide to a distance of 200 feet. Chocks away!
Before rushing out and purchasing this 'palm of your hand pet' careful thought and a little self-education must take place. Firstly they don't call them the 'sugar' glider for nothing. The Sugar Glider has a very sweet tooth, hence its name, and it feeds on fruit, vegetables and 'lead-beaters'; a mixture of baby cereal, honey, warm water, nutria bars, vitamin supplements and boiled eggs. It is essential that Gliders get a 75 per cent fruit and 25 per cent protein diet. Not adhering to this could be fatal, a very high maintenance mouse indeed!
Undoubtedly the 'sugar - Glider' has one quality which - unlike many other small animals - makes them so undeniably irresistible. They are loyal - to a fault - form very strong attachments to their carer, they crave and indeed need and require love. By the bucket load. Without such affections this creature can decline rapidly and sadly perish with a diagnosis of loneliness and depression. Granted, all very 'cute', however one fact that mustn't be forgotten is that these flying mice are nocturnal. Great...if the leading cause of death isn't loneliness and depression!
One other thing.... Gliders do 'bark' a lot - usually in the dead of night!
So...these cute flying, furry friends are all well and good, should you too wish to adapt to a nocturnal way of life, the alternative? Get a hamster!
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