In the Northeast, lobsters are a familiar sight. You can find restaurants serving them with just about any meal even fast-food joints feature lobster dishes during the spring and summer months.

But some people choose to keep their lobsters out of the pot, and for good reason. These fascinating crustaceans can make surprisingly quirky pets and aren’t much more difficult to care for than other marine invertebrates.

Before you rush to scoop one out of the ocean, take a moment to learn what’s involved. Here’s what to consider if you’re thinking about keeping lobsters as pets.

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Lobsters as Pets: Choosing the Right Species

Not all lobsters thrive in home aquariums. If you’re serious about keeping lobsters as pets, choosing the right species is the first step toward a healthy, sustainable tank.

Popular Lobster Species for Home Tanks

Only a few types of lobsters adapt well to life outside the ocean. Among the most commonly kept are::

• Debelius lobster: Known for its striking purple hue and shy behavior.
• Feather star squat lobster: A small, reef-safe option that often hides among coral.
• Red lobster: A hardy freshwater variety that’s easier for beginners.
• Spiny lobster: Larger and more active, ideal for experienced marine keepers.

Each species comes with its own care needs some prefer cooler water, while others require more space or specific pH levels.

Key Considerations Before Bringing One Home

• Cold-water lobsters need chillers to maintain stable temperatures.
• Some species produce heavy waste, which demands robust filtration.
• Territorial behavior can lead to aggression toward tank mates.

In short, research is everything before you commit to keeping these fascinating crustaceans. Understanding their needs early helps prevent stress and health issues later on.

On the bright side, lobsters are low-maintenance companions; you’ll never need to walk them like a dog or worry about potty training accidents

Setting Up the Right Tank for Lobsters as Pets

A proper tank setup is essential for keeping lobsters as pets healthy and stress-free. These marine crustaceans can be territorial, messy, and surprisingly strong so your aquarium needs to be both spacious and stable.

If you’re new to aquarium keeping, check out our beginner guide on setting up your first tank for foundational tips before diving in.

Almost all lobsters need plenty of elbow room. In Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies, marine biologist Gregory Skomal explains that “if you place a lobster in your aquarium in the evening, by morning you will no longer recognize your aquarium.”

• Drs. Foster & Smith Aquatics recommends at least a 50-gallon tank for a single lobster.
• Larger or multiple lobsters require even more space to reduce aggression.
• Provide caves, rock crevices, and coral shelters so each lobster can claim territory.

For beginners, our guide on raising betta fish offers simple lessons in water stability that apply to any aquatic setup.

According to the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library’s overview, lobsters rarely attack each other in the wild but in captivity, limited space and competition often bring out aggressive behavior.

Any smaller fish or shellfish in the same tank may quickly become part of your lobster’s dinner.

If you want multiple crustaceans, it’s safer to house them separately or use partitions to avoid injuries.

Do Lobsters Need Companionship?

Unlike social pets such as dogs or parrots, lobsters as pets are naturally solitary creatures. In the wild, they prefer to live alone, defending their chosen hiding spots with surprising intensity.

Lobsters Are Lone Occupants by Nature

Lobsters don’t crave company in fact, they usually avoid it. Even mating is a short-term interaction that lasts only a few days. Afterward, the fertilized female molts and retreats to a private shelter, while the male moves on to court others.

Marine researchers at the Lobster Institute note that these behaviors are deeply rooted in lobster biology and help minimize competition in their natural environment.

Still, experts such as marine biologist Gregory Skomal in Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies caution that even mild-mannered lobsters can turn aggressive under stress.

If you want a more social aquarium experience, consider other peaceful aquatic species from our beginner aquarium setup guide

A Different Kind of Bond

While lobsters won’t form emotional attachments, they do exhibit unique behaviors worth observing from their nocturnal scavenging to how they defend burrows.

Keeping lobsters as pets is less about affection and more about appreciation: the rhythm of their movements, the quiet order of their environment, and the satisfaction of maintaining a thriving marine ecosystem.

This lobster has had enough of his old shell: 

What Do Lobsters Eat?

Diet plays a huge role in keeping lobsters as pets healthy and active. Just like in the wild, these crustaceans are opportunistic feeders that enjoy a mix of proteins and vegetation.

What Lobsters Eat in the Wild

According to the University of Maine Lobster Institute, wild lobsters are omnivores they feed on small fish, clams, mussels, starfish, sea urchins, and even bits of plant matter they scavenge from the ocean floor.

This natural variety helps them build strong shells and maintain balanced nutrition. Mimicking this diversity in captivity is key to keeping your lobster thriving.

Feeding Lobsters in Captivity

When keeping lobsters as pets, try to replicate a balanced marine diet. Most hobbyists use a combination of:

• Sinking pellets or wafers designed for crustaceans.
• Fresh or frozen seafood such as shrimp, mussels, or small fish pieces.
• Vegetable-based supplements or algae wafers for added nutrients.

Feed sparingly, lobsters are messy eaters, and leftover food can quickly degrade water quality. Remove uneaten bits after a few hours to prevent ammonia spikes.

Feeding Schedule and Observation

Most lobsters are nocturnal and prefer to eat at night. Offer food once daily or every other day, depending on the species and tank size.

Keep an eye on their behavior:

• A healthy lobster will explore and forage after lights-out.
• Lethargy or refusal to eat can signal poor water conditions or stress.

Recording feeding habits over time can help you adjust portion sizes and identify early signs of illness.

How Long Do Lobsters Live as Pets?

One of the most fascinating things about lobsters as pets is their potential longevity. These creatures can live for decades and in the wild, some have even reached legendary ages.

Lifespan in the Wild

In their natural ocean habitats, lobsters can live well beyond 50 years, and researchers have found evidence of some surviving for over a century. Their secret lies in a slow metabolism and the ability to continually regenerate cells through molting.

One of the most famous examples is George, a 20-pound lobster believed to be about 140 years old, who was rescued from a restaurant tank and released back into the ocean. Stories like George’s highlight just how resilient and long-lived these creatures can be when left in their natural environment.

For further reading, reference educational resources like the University of Maine Lobster Institute, which provides accessible science-based information about lobster biology and care.

Bearded dragons are lizards that live in the deserts, savannas, scrublands, and subtropical forests of Australia. Due to their friendly demeanor, permanent smiles, and idle nature, they’re also commonly kept as pets worldwide. And, while many people are familiar with the bearded dragon, some quirky facts about these lizards can be surprising.

You may know that bearded dragons get their name from the spikelike projections on their necks; as such, reptile hobbyists affectionately refer to them as “beardies.” Some facts about these fascinating lizards are not common knowledge, however. For example, there are eight species of bearded dragon, plus a range of colors and “morphs” developed through captive breeding. The six species of bearded dragon assessed by the IUCN, so far, all have stable populations in their native mainland Australia and are classed as species of least concern.

Discover more about the gentle bearded dragon, including the lizard’s amazing ability to shift between sexes and its absolutely bizarre powder urine.

1. Bearded Dragons Can Climb Trees

Although wild bearded dragons are mostly terrestrial, they’re technically semi-arboreal and can become expert tree climbers when needed—say, when food is unavailable at ground level or when a predator is pursuing them. As avid baskers, they’ll also scale trees for a good patch of sun or to show dominance by basking at a higher level than another bearded dragon.

2. They Wear Their Emotions on Their Chins

These dragons’ signature beard behaves almost like a mood ring, going black when the animal feels threatened, stressed, or aroused. During these various emotional states, its beard can also expand and the dragon can puff up its entire body to look big. In a calm and happy state, the pouch under a beardie’s chin will be similarly colored to the rest of its body with spines that rest flat against its skin.

3. They Are Legally Bound to Their Homeland

Australia has prohibited the export of its wildlife, including bearded dragons, since the ’60s. Yet, even after that date—between 1974 and 1990, some have estimated—a stock of bearded dragons was smuggled out of the country for captive breeding.

Now, domestic versions of the Aussie lizard can be found all around the world (except Hawaii, where they’re illegal to own because of the threat they pose to the native ecosystem). Though not confirmed, there are believed to be about 900 bearded dragons living in zoos globally.

4. Bearded Dragons Can Regrow Their Teeth

The ability to regenerate teeth is a quality shared by many reptiles. Bearded dragons are unique, though, in that they have both polyphyodont and monophyodont teeth, even on the same jawline. The dragons use a similar biological process to what sharks and geckos use to regrow their polyphyodont front teeth over time; if the monophyodont chompers fall out, they’re gone for good.

5. They Collect Water on Their Heads

The desert where bearded dragons come from is a droughty place, and animals adapt to the arid environment with quirky ways of capturing and storing water. For the Pogona genus, of which the bearded dragon belongs, one of those ways is by capturing water on its own body during rare bouts of rain. These lizards have been observed standing on their hind legs with their heads sloping downward, lapping up the water as it streams down their faces for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.

6. Females Can Store Sperm for Later

Bearded dragons can lay two clutches of 11 to 30 eggs per season after having mated only once. Females have an unusual ability to store sperm in their reproductive tracts and then fertilize the eggs themselves so long as that sperm is put to use within the same breeding period. This allows the female to maximize offspring while minimizing mating, which the male often makes violent by biting his mate’s neck. Bearded dragons reach sexual maturity at one to two years of age.

7. Bearded Dragons Communicate With Nods and Waves

Bearded dragons are beloved for their anthropomorphic body language—namely head bobbing and arm waving. The reason for these motions isn’t entirely understood, but experts believe the waving to be a symbol of submission to a dominant individual. The head bobbing, conversely, is likely a sign of dominance; it’s also exhibited by both sexes to initiate mating.  

Especially humanlike are the examples bearded dragon keepers give of their beardies waving seemingly cordially to them. It’s a touchy subject, though, as some argue that the wave is an indicator of stress.

8. They Can Change Color Like Chameleons

Bearded dragons’ shade-shifting habits are a bit different from those of the chameleon. For starters, the chameleon’s evolving colors are more prominent than the bearded dragon’s, but also, the bearded dragon can isolate parts of the body it wants to change color. Research has linked color changes in the neck region to social interactions and changes to color in the back area to temperature regulation.

In sunny conditions, the bearded dragon will become lighter to reflect rays. In cooler weather, it will turn darker to help it absorb the heat and maintain its ideal internal body temperature of 95 degrees.

9. They Can Sleep Standing Up

Forums in the beardie-owning community are awash with anecdotes about pet dragons sleeping in highly awkward positions, like propped up against the glass walls and ornaments inside their tanks. It’s said that they sleep vertically in the wild too, often up against trees.

Although it’s unclear why they would deviate from their typical and presumably more comfortable belly-down sleeping position, upright snoozing doesn’t seem to be any cause for concern.

10. They Can Run at Human Speed

The bearded dragon’s top speed, believed to be 9 mph, compares to human running speeds. The lizard rarely runs this fast, instead leading a mostly sedentary lifestyle overall. When the time does call for quickness, though, the bearded dragon might raise up on its rear legs and run like a human. Because it carries more weight in the back of the body, being upright helps the dragon optimize its speed.

11. Male Beardies Become Females in Warm Temperatures

Studies have found that male bearded dragons subjected to temperatures 96.8 degrees and above during embryonic development transition to females 100% of the time. Not only are they capable of sex reversal, but female beardies that were originally males (trans beardies, they could be determined) can also produce twice as many eggs as non-trans females.

Even though bearded dragon populations are currently stable, this heat-driven phenomenon raises concern around the reptile’s ability to adapt to climate change, one study said.

12. They Like Their Alone Time

Bearded dragon keepers need not wonder whether their scaly friends are lonely in their tanks all by themselves. Rest assured they aren’t; the reptiles are solitary creatures that may live in colonies consisting of one male and multiple females in the wild but ultimately should not be put in a captive setting with another.

13. They Pee Powder

One of the oddest characteristics of the bearded dragon is the way it urinates. Instead of peeing liquid, it releases uric acid in the form of a white powder or chalky paste—called “urate”—which it has evolved to do as a means of retaining water in the hot, dry Australian wild. It excretes urates through a cloaca, the same cavity from which feces come out.

14. Bearded Dragons Brumate in the Winter

Brumation is a dormancy period similar to hibernation. Bearded dragons brumate for a few weeks to a few months—in the northern hemisphere the signs start around November, but in the wild, beardies start brumating in June, when winter hits Australia.

Brumation begins with sluggishness and a loss of appetite and leads into a long sleep where the dragon’s heart rate, body temperature, and metabolism will all decrease substantially to conserve energy.

15. They Can Carry Salmonella (and Pass It Onto People)

Reptiles, in general, are known to carry salmonella germs in their digestive tracts. Of course, when they defecate, the bacteria can transfer to their skin and then onto humans where reptiles are being regularly handled. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control keeps tabs on salmonella outbreaks across all pet species, and bearded dragons are a recurring source. In June 2022, for example, one outbreak caused 56 people to become ill and 19 hospitalized across 26 states.

The animal welfare group PETA points to this—and their solitary nature, and “rampant abuse and neglect” within the beardie trade—as major reasons why the animals should not be kept as pets.

Owning a wild animal like a genet can be intriguing, yet they often do not make suitable pets for most people. These cat-like animals are known for their striking patterns and appeal as exotic pets, but they lack affection and cuddly behavior. Genets are agile and solitary creatures, naturally uninterested in companionship, though some may form limited bonds with their owners. They require large, secure enclosures with trees or climbing structures. As nocturnal animals, genets in captivity are active at night and rest during the day, which may not appeal to those seeking a diurnal pet. Additionally, finding a vet with the expertise to care for a genet is challenging due to their rarity as pets.

Before considering bringing a pet genet into your home, you first must determine whether or not that’s legal—in the majority of states it is not—and then give serious thought as to how much time, money, and attention you have to spare for an exotic pet that is not easy to care for. Read on for guidelines to safely and healthily keeping a pet genet.

Can You Own a Pet Genet?

Legality

In the U.S., many exotic pets are banned, and most states classify genets as wildlife, making their ownership illegal or subject to special permits. Confirm their legal status with your state’s Department of Agriculture, county, neighborhood association, and other pertinent jurisdictions. As of 2019, only a few states specifically mention genets in their laws. If not explicitly stated, genets are generally regulated under the broader category of “wildlife.”

Ethics

As wild animals, genets are not suited for captive life, making it unethical to confine them to enclosures. They do not bond with humans, nor are they friendly or cuddly, lacking the qualities of domesticated pets. Keeping a genet for entertainment or to impress others is unfair to the animal. Many seeking exotic pets for the wrong reasons lack the ability or dedication required to provide an appropriate habitat for wild animals.

Things to Consider

A genet is not suitable if you seek a soft, cuddly companion. Often shy and aloof, these solitary creatures show little interest in human interaction, let alone snuggling or leash-walking.

Genet Behavior and Temperament

Genets are not hands-on pets; they are typically aloof and independent. Although they may resemble larger ferrets, which are often cuddly and playful, genets generally resist being restrained or handled.

Genets have retractable claws, very long tails, and are agile, squirrel-like climbers. If it feels comfortable with you, your genet may decide to climb on you, much like a tree. However, they do not have the restraint necessary for keeping their claws from digging into you. Some genet owners consider the controversial practice of declawing, but most agree declawing these creatures is unethical because it renders the animal unable to engage in its natural climbing behavior.

Without early and consistent socialization, genets may become extremely skittish and wary of people, including their owners. They might hide at loud noises because they are nocturnal creatures, preferring not to be awake during the day.

Genets generally do not thrive in groups, though they may tolerate dogs and cats if raised together. They see smaller pets, such as mice or hamsters, as prey, which can stress these smaller animals if kept in the same room.

Ideally, a home without other pets is preferable to ensure exclusive attention for bonding with the genet. Keeping young children away is wise, as a genet might inadvertently scratch or injure them, or become frightened by noise or proximity.

Genets are territorial and will mark their areas. When spaying or neutering, an experienced exotics vet can remove their scent glands, akin to skunk or ferret gland removal. Although genets regularly mark their cages, cleaning all marked areas simultaneously can cause stress.

Housing

A large, secure enclosure of at least 4 by 8 feet and 6 feet high is essential for your genet. A spacious ferret cage is ideal, as it includes climbing levels and tightly spaced bars to prevent escape. If a genet can fit its head through an opening, it can fit its whole body through.

Cage your genet only when unattended; otherwise, they require at least three hours of supervised playtime outside their cage daily.

As agile jumpers and climbers, genets often leap to high platforms for observation. They require space to run and jump safely.

Specific Substrate

Most genets are litter box trained. You can provide a small cat litter box with recycled newspaper litter or unscented cat litter in the cage. If properly trained, your genet should return to its cage to use its litter box when free in the house.

What Do Genets Eat and Drink?

Genets, as opportunistic feeders, eat a variety of foods they can access. Their dietary needs resemble those of felines, including high-protein and taurine levels, alongside low carbohydrate intake.

In the wild, genets prey on small rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. In captivity, offer a grain-free ferret food and high-quality commercial food cat food with human-grade ingredients. Feed amounts according to the packaging instructions and the weight of your pet. You can also give fruit, insects, and cooked chicken. A genet may enjoy chicken bones to crunch on, but bones should not be cooked to avoid splintering. Provide fresh water daily in a heavy cat bowl.

Genets can exhibit food aggression. Feed them in their cage to prevent unintentional bites due to perceived threats while eating.

Common Health Problems

Genets’ rarity as pets makes finding experienced exotic pet veterinarians challenging. While no vaccines are approved for genets, exotic vets advise annual check-ups. Some owners and vets choose rabies and distemper vaccinations, though their effectiveness and safety remain uncertain. Spaying and neutering, along with de-scenting, should be performed early (by 6 months) or as advised by your vet.

Genets are prone to behavioral issues when re-homed. Typically bonding with their original owner from a young age, if abandoned or surrendered, the separation may cause lasting distrust of humans.

Size Information

Genets are longer than house cats, primarily because of their long tails. As adults, they range from 32 to 43 inches from nose to tail tip, weighing up to 4 pounds, with males slightly larger than females. This weight is roughly half that of an average house cat.

Pros and Cons of Keeping a Genet as a Pet

Although genets may be intriguing and attractive pets, they are unsuitable for typical pet enthusiasts. Obtaining a young genet and ensuring regular socialization is essential for fostering a rewarding pet-owner relationship. Intelligent and active primarily at night, genets need ample space to explore, climb, and move. While not everyone can provide the necessary habitat and attention for humane care, some owners succeed in creating a content home for their wild pets.

Purchasing Your Genet

The cost of acquiring a genet can surpass $1,500, including purchase and shipment. Look to obtain a genet from a reputable breeder, though they can be scarce. Aim for a baby or young genet, as older ones are harder to handle and bond with. Exotic pet brokers may also be an option. Choose sellers who proactively provide detailed information about the animal and inquire about your suitability to care for a genet.

Similar Exotic Pets to the Genet

If you are interested in pet genets, check out:

Day geckos refer to a group of over 60 species of small lizards with varying sizes, appearances, and behaviors. They originate from islands in the southwestern Indian Ocean primarily inhabiting Madagascar and Mauritius.

Popular pet day geckos include the giant day gecko, which can live up to 15 years, though they typically live six to eight years in captivity. Day geckos are generally unsuitable for beginner reptile keepers due to their high-maintenance nature. Easier day geckos to care for include giant day geckos, gold dust day geckos, and lined day geckos.

Day Gecko Behavior and Temperament

Unlike many lizards, including other gecko types, day geckos are diurnal. They are quite fragile, and handling is discouraged due to their delicate skin. Stress may lead them to drop their tails as a defense mechanism; while tails regenerate, it should not be intentionally provoked.

When threatened, day geckos might bite, though this is a last resort. A bite from a giant day gecko, the largest species, can be painful and may break the skin.

House day geckos separately. Males are particularly territorial, and even mated pairs may require separation if they fight.

These lizards are expert climbers, using tiny toe pad filaments called setae to cling to nearly any surface, including glass.

Day geckos require specific care and daily attention, best suited for those with prior reptile-keeping experience.

Housing the Day Gecko

Each gecko species has slightly different requirements, so research thoroughly to ensure you have the appropriate cage, lighting, humidity, and food ready for its arrival. Being well-prepared can reduce your gecko’s stress during its transition to a new environment.

Day geckos are adept escape artists. A glass tank with a securely closing screen top allows for proper ventilation and containment.

The exact cage setup will vary slightly with each day gecko species. Generally, they need a taller enclosure with branches for climbing.

Include bamboo stalks, branches, or live plants such as snake plants and bromeliads for climbing options and aesthetic appeal. Provide ample cover and hiding spots to ensure your day gecko feels secure.

You will need to spot clean the cage every day to remove visible feces and do a full cleaning with a reptile-safe disinfectant once a month.

Heat

Exact temperature needs vary by species, but generally, daytime temperatures should range between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with nighttime temperatures between 72 and 77 degrees. As ectothermic animals, reptiles regulate body temperature through a thermal gradient, allowing movement to different areas for temperature control.

Light bulbs can be the primary heat source, maintaining a 90-95 degree Fahrenheit basking spot. Use thermometers to monitor temperatures day and night.

If more heat is needed, especially at night, you can use ceramic heat emitters or under tank heating pads. Sometimes a variety of heat sources must be used to achieve ideal day and night time temperatures. To avoid burns, do not place heat sources too close or in direct contact with the gecko.

Light

Day geckos require ultraviolet light exposure, so use fluorescent, full-spectrum UVB-emitting reptile bulbs. Provide 10 to 12 hours of UV light daily, and replace bulbs every six months, as UVB emission diminishes even if the bulb continues to emit visible light.

Humidity

Day geckos require high humidity levels ranging from 60 to 80 percent, varying by species. Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity accurately. Live plants and a suitable substrate help maintain moisture, along with regular tank misting. Consider an automatic mister or fogger for timed humidity control if you’re unavailable during the day.

Substrate

Most pet owners use a substrate or bedding to line the cage bottom. For day geckos, the proper substrate helps maintain humidity. Ideal substrates include peat moss, organic potting soil (without vermiculite), or orchid bark.

Food and Water

Insects, such as roaches, silkworms, waxworms, and butterworms, make up the bulk of a day gecko’s diet in captivity; some will also eat various tropical fruits such as papaya, mango, or even fruit baby food.

Most geckos consume three to five insects twice weekly, along with fruit baby food mixed with commercial nectar substitute once weekly. Juveniles and breeding females should be fed five to seven times weekly. Feed them in the morning when they are most active.

Feed insects slightly smaller than the space between the gecko’s eyes, and ensure they are gut-loaded with nutritious foods before offering them to your lizard. Dust insects and fruit with a multivitamin and vitamin D3/calcium powder at every other feeding.

Offer a small, shallow dish with fresh, filtered water daily, though they typically prefer drinking water droplets off leaves in their humid habitat.

Common Health Problems

Day geckos are susceptible to various health issues treatable by an exotics veterinarian.

• Skin disorders: Like most other reptiles, geckos need to shed their skin to grow and keep healthy; unsanitary conditions, improper humidity, or parasites can cause partial sheds.
• Parasitic infections: These can cause weight loss, bloody stools, vomiting, skin disorders and require an antiparasitic medication for treatment.
• Metabolic bone disease: This potentially fatal illness caused by a calcium and vitamin D deficiency leads to weakened bones; it can be treatable if caught early.

Choosing a Day Gecko

Obtain a day gecko from a reputable reptile breeder, as captive-bred geckos are less prone to disease. If possible, observe the gecko eating before purchase. They typically cost $50 to $250, with juveniles being less expensive due to a higher mortality rate. Adults and morphs (color variants) usually command higher prices.

A reputable breeder will provide a complete health history of the gecko. To find one, consult local exotics veterinarians and other reptile owners. Breeders can often be found at reptile expos and shows.

Healthy geckos sport clear eyes and hearty appetites. As long as they are not refusing food, they are likely in good health. Signs like dry, flaky skin or difficulty shedding can indicate parasites, infections, or improper husbandry.

Different Species of Geckos

If you’re interested in other gecko species, consider these: