Thursday 27 May 2004
MORI has recently conducted a survey for the RSPCA about exotic pets, to find out whether prospective buyers are given the right advice when considering the purchase of animals such as exotic birds, reptiles, crocodiles, terrapins, chipmunks, snakes, geckos, caimans, sugar gilders and parrots. Overall, the survey suggested that although basic information is given about healthcare, habitat and diet, buyers are often not sufficiently quizzed as to their own expertise or family circumstances.
The survey formed the basis of the RSPCA's report Handle with Care: A Look at the Exotic Animal Pet Trade. The study comprised 300 mystery shopping interviews with pet shops.
Topline Results
- Results are based on 300 telephone interviews with Pet Shops
- Fieldwork dates 29 September — 13 October 2003
- Data are unweighted
Q1 I'm calling on behalf of my son / partner who is interested in buying an unusual pet. Something like a… Do you sell these…?
| | Yes | No |
|---|
| | % | % |
|---|
| Snake | 100 | - |
| Lizard | 73 | 27 |
| Tortoise / Terrapin / Turtle | 97 | 3 |
| Bird | 100 | - |
| Unusual Mammal | 100 | - |
NB in some cases alternative species were read out if 'no' to the first
Q2 Do you know where I could get something like that from please?
Base: All who said 'No' to any species asked at Q1 (23)
| | % |
|---|
| This shop — to order | 100 |
| Other pet shop | - |
| Local breeder | - |
| National breeder | - |
| International breeder | - |
| Off the internet / web sites | - |
| |
| No — Don't know | - |
Q3 What exactly have you got…? I've got a list / an idea of the kind of things that they might be interested in…
REPTILES — SNAKES
Base: All asked about snakes (73)
| | % |
|---|
| CONSTRICTOR SNAKES |
| Reticulated python | 1 |
| Boa constrictor | 30 |
| Burmese python | 1 |
| Emerald tree boa | 3 |
| Royal python | 12 |
| SMALL SNAKES |
| Common milksnake | 3 |
| Kingsnakes | 10 |
| Rat snakes | 3 |
| Corn snakes | 34 |
| Common garter snake | 1 |
| Other | 1 |
REPTILES — LIZARDS / CROCS
Base: All asked about lizards (77)
| | % |
|---|
| SMALL CROCODILIANS |
| Caimans(spectacled) | 26 |
| LARGE-MEDIUM LIZARDS |
| Bosc monitor | 3 |
| Nile monitor | 1 |
| Chameleon species | 6 |
| Spiny- tailed lizards (Uromastyx) | 1 |
| Green iguana | 1 |
| Chinese water dragon | 5 |
| Bearded dragon | 12 |
| SMALL LIZARDS |
| Leopard gecko | 35 |
| Tokay gecko | 3 |
| Blue-tongued skink | 5 |
| Other | 1 |
REPTILES — CHELONIANS
Base: All asked about tortoises/terrapins/turtles (61)
| | % |
|---|
| LARGE CHELONIANS |
| Snapping turtle | 2 |
| African spurred tortoise | 26 |
| MEDIUM CHELONIANS |
| American box turtle | - |
| Hinge-back tortoises | - |
| African pancake tortoise | - |
| Red eared terrapin | 5 |
| Mediterranean tortoises (such as: spur-thighed tortoise, Hermann's, Horsfield's or marginated tortoises) | 51 |
| Leopard tortoise | 3 |
| Other | 13 |
BIRDS
Base: All asked about birds (54)
| | % |
|---|
| PARROTS |
| Grey-headed lovebird | 2 |
| Conures (Nanday) | 6 |
| Macaws (blue & gold, green winged) | 6 |
| Lorys (black-capped) | 2 |
| Ring-necked parakeet | 7 |
| Peach-faced lovebird | 6 |
| Aston/African grey parrot | 11 |
| Maroon/red bellied conures | 4 |
| NON-PARROTS |
| Touraco (Hartlaubs) | - |
| Hummingbirds | - |
| Toucan (red billed) | - |
| Kookaburra | - |
| Finches (green singing, zebra) | 20 |
| Cockatiel | 11 |
| Budgie | 7 |
| Canaries | 4 |
| Other | 15 |
MAMMALS
Base: All asked about mammals (35)
| | % |
|---|
| PRIMATES |
| Common marmoset | - |
| MARSUPIALS |
| Sugar glider | 17 |
| Possums | 3 |
| CARNIVORES |
| Meerkat | - |
| Fennec fox | - |
| Coati mundi | - |
| Racoon | 3 |
| RODENTS |
| Prairie dog | 3 |
| Multimammate rats/ mice / 'Marmite mice' | - |
| Chipmunk | 23 |
| Degu | 46 |
| Jird | 6 |
Q4 What do I need to know…?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| | First Mention | Total Mentions |
|---|
| | (300) | (300) |
|---|
| | % | % |
|---|
| Type of diet | 14 | 51 |
| Equipment required — cage / tank size | 16 | 51 |
| Equipment required — heating / environment | 8 | 42 |
| Equipment required — other (specify) | - | 3 |
| Conditions required — lighting | * | 18 |
| Conditions required — temperature | 1 | 25 |
| Conditions required — humidity | 1 | 4 |
| Size of cage / habitat | 5 | 23 |
| Animal size — on purchase | 7 | 23 |
| Animal size — growth potential | 9 | 40 |
| Life expectancy — average / potential | * | 21 |
| Life expectancy — how to maximise | 1 | 5 |
| Costs — purchase | 8 | 38 |
| Costs — maintenance | - | 5 |
| Care needed — personal attention / fuss | 3 | 19 |
| Care needed — vets | - | 13 |
| Pet insurance | - | * |
| Does it like company, or prefers being solitary | 1 | 8 |
| Ease of keeping | 7 | 22 |
| Ease of breeding | - | 3 |
| Typical illnesses | - | 11 |
| Potential danger to others — animals | - | * |
| Potential danger to others — humans | * | 7 |
| Potential danger to others — children | - | 3 |
| License / "paperwork" | 7 | 11 |
| "Good pet" | 2 | 12 |
| Other | 1 | 3 |
| Don't know | * | - |
Q5 And what about… What exactly do I need to know about it?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| Top 5 Answers | % |
|---|
| Tank/vivarium is required/size appropriate | 24 |
| Feeding recommendations | 24 |
| Heating/humidity requirements | 20 |
| Prices/packages/starter kits available | 19 |
| Animal size — growth potential | 11 |
Q6 Are they easy to keep?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| | % |
|---|
| Yes — unqualified | 31 |
| Yes — qualified | 53 |
| No -qualified | 8 |
| No — unqualified | 5 |
| Don't know | 3 |
Q7 How old are the ones you have in…?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| | % |
|---|
| Babies/hatchlings | 15 |
| Up to 2 months | 13 |
| Up to 3 months | 20 |
| 4-6 months | 11 |
| 7-12 months | 7 |
| Adults | 12 |
| Various | 3 |
| Born this year | 6 |
| None at present in stock | 14 |
| Not mentioned | 3 |
| Other | 1 |
| Don't know | 6 |
Q8 Do you know where I can get…
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| | Yes — shop sells | Yes — recommend elsewhere | Neither | Don't know |
|---|
| | % | % | % | % |
|---|
| tank/cage | 94 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| habitat equipment (e.g. nestbox / hide, bedding material) | 95 | - | 4 | 2 |
| heating and lighting equipment | 87 | * | 10 | 3 |
| water bottles/feeding dishes | 96 | - | 2 | 1 |
| toys | 59 | - | 38 | 2 |
| food | 86 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
Q9 Is there anything else I should know about keeping it. What illnesses might it get?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| Top 5 Mentions | % |
|---|
| Don't get many illnesses | 32 |
| Fine — if well taken care of/easy to look after | 25 |
| Like good diet / vegetarians / fruit | 22 |
| Can get colds / if conditions not correct | 21 |
| Look and read books/leaflets/internet | 9 |
| None | 18 |
| Don't know | 2 |
10a How would I be able to tell if it is ill?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| Top 5 Mentions | % |
|---|
| Stop Eating/Change of eating habits | 41 |
| Listless/Lethargic/Depressed | 17 |
| Don't get ill | 16 |
| Behaviour change | 12 |
| You would know straight away | 10 |
| Don't know | 3 |
10b Can these be passed to other animals or humans?
Base: All mentioning illness at Q10a (241)
| | % |
|---|
| Yes — other animals | 2 |
| Yes — humans | 5 |
| No — if take precautions (e.g. washing hands after handling) | 48 |
| No — not at all | 36 |
| Don't know | 11 |
11 There is a baby in the house. Is there anything we should be careful about…?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| Top 5 Mentions | % |
|---|
| No problems | 30 |
| Keep clean / Wash hands after handling | 19 |
| Do not recommend baby touching / holding left alone with animal | 14 |
| Don't put fingers on cage | 8 |
| Just common sense / Be sensible | 8 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q12 What would happen if it gets too big, we don't like it, or it doesn't settle in?
Q13 And what if it becomes ill?
| | Q12 Too big / Don't like it | Q13 Becomes ill |
|---|
| | % | % |
|---|
| Shop offers to take it back | 33 | 2 |
| Shop will help with re-homing | 18 | - |
| Local vet recommended | * | 24 |
| Support group recommended | - | - |
| RSPCA is recommended | 3 | * |
| Animal home or other charity is recommended | 3 | 1 |
| None | 24 | 28 |
| Don't know | 11 | 6 |
Observations
Q14. Were you asked about your family background — age, children, etc?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
Q15. Were you asked whether you have other pets?
Q16. Were you asked if the person you were buying it for had experience of this kind of pet?
Q17. Were you asked whether you had, or knew anyone who keeps / has kept this species?
| | % |
|---|
| Yes — whether you had kept before | 16 |
| Yes — whether knew anyone who had kept species | 4 |
| No | 81 |
Q20. Were you spontaneously advised of further information on care / husbandry etc?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| | % |
|---|
| Yes — contact details of support group/other owners | * |
| (IF YES, which?) |
| Yes — material on internet | 12 |
| Yes — printed material from shop | 1 |
| (IF YES From which shop or group?) |
| Yes — recommended books (which?) | 8 |
| Yes — recommended care sheets | * |
| (IF YES from where?) |
| Yes — come into the shop and look around | 7 |
| Yes — advised to read books | 11 |
| Yes — information books from this shop | 7 |
| Yes — needs to be thought about | 1 |
| Yes — other (specify) | 5 |
| No | 60 |
Q21. Were you encouraged / invited to visit the shop to discuss the species in more detail?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
Q22. Were alternatives to the snake / lizard / bird / mammal suggested?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| | % |
|---|
| Yes — Chinchilla | 2 |
| Yes — Corn snake | 2 |
| Yes — Gecko | 2 |
| Yes — Tortoise | 2 |
| Yes — Different breed of hamster | 1 |
| Yes — Different breed of snake | 1 |
| Yes — Different breed of lizard | 1 |
| Yes — Ferret | 1 |
| Other | 3 |
| No alternative suggested | 88 |
Q23. Were you discouraged from buying the pet or was another pet recommended and why?
Base: All Pet Shops (300)
| | % |
|---|
| No other animal was recommended | 78 |
| Advised to read up and research animal before deciding | 5 |
| Told they are difficult / not easy to keep | 4 |
| Told they could not be handled easily | 4 |
| Discouraged as this type of animal can grow too big | 4 |
| Told easy to keep and look after / Suitable / Good pet | 3 |
| Recommended to buy a corn snake | 2 |
| Encouraged to buy a chinchilla | 1 |
| Encouraged to buy a gecko | 1 |
| Discouraged when I asked if I could return it | 1 |
| Told a license is required | 1 |
| Others | 5 |
| Don't know | * |