Sloth help

pandinus

pandinus

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Can anyone PUH-LEEZE give me a caresheet for sloths, and a link to a place that sells them, or at least an idea of how much they cost? I've searched all over and not found much.



John
 
Thoth

Thoth

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The only thing anyone has mentioned that comes close to a caresheet is an article in the Smithsonian magazine:

Hoke, J. 1987. Oh, it's so nice to have a sloth around the house. Smithsonian Magazine, April: 88-89.

I know they are an endangered species, so it might be next to impossible to get one unless you own a zoo or live in the amazon.
 
skinheaddave

skinheaddave

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I will tell you what I've learned about sloths -- when you follow them up a tree for a better picture they can actually take off with surprising speed! They can certainly outrun me in their arboreal habitat.

Cheers,
Dave
 
E

Elmolax

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Sloths seem like great pets, but....
Are you prepared to take care of one?
Sloths arent like your ordinary dog...
Anyway, I don't think ownership of sloths is permitted to the public.
 
Empi

Empi

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Did you know that sloths have algae that grows in they're fur. And the cool part about it is that algae does not grow anywhere else in the world. And then it gets even cooler. They're is a species of moth that feeds only on that alge. Good old animal planet. It would be pretty sweet to have a sloth hangin around. :D
 
FryLock

FryLock

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Baby's are sometimes sold at animal markets in SA i doubt many of them live tho.
 
pandinus

pandinus

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yes, i have researched sloths a great deal, and i know a lot about them, what i am asking is if anyone knows whether they are available to the public, if so, does anyone have a price, or a company that has them for sale.
 
Hedorah99

Hedorah99

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I am a zookeeper and I can basically say they make horrible pets and if you like them so much, please leave them in the wild. They have every specific dietary needs and can be extremely fast and aggressive when provoked.
 
Ravnos

Ravnos

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A local exotic shop has a two-toed on display. She's fairly calm, but can be fussy with her diet and get downright mad if not fed what she wants. Their teeth are huge, and I imagine could do some serious damage if they were properly motivated. She spends most of her time up as far out of reach and out of sight as she can be. Not exactly a great option for a pet. There are a few importers and wholesalers that I've seen with them on their lists, strangely enough they're not really that expensive. I can't imagine they're easy to aquire.

Rav
 
Malkavian

Malkavian

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Hedorah99 said:
I am a zookeeper and I can basically say they make horrible pets and if you like them so much, please leave them in the wild. They have every specific dietary needs and can be extremely fast and aggressive when provoked.
Click to expand...

Do they bite, or take swipes at you with those climbing claws when they're being tetchy?
 
Thoth

Thoth

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The problem is that two toed sloth actually make bad pets for the reasons state above, nasty disposition and extremely stringent dietary requirements. Three toed sloth according to many make good pets but they are CITES appendix II listed ownership may several restricted due to permitting requirements, check local ordinances. I believe many states require you to have a zoological garden permit (though this is second hand knowledge).
 
Fini

Fini

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Sloths + Amazon = Happy

I have a friend who was a sloth keeper for a San Diego (or some nearby local) zoo. She said they stress really easy, and are not very good for exhibits. I doubt they would make a good pet. But as long as you don't live in California or Hawaii, Americans for the most part can adopt a freakin' dinosaur as a pet, even though it's not suitable and hates belly rubs.

Try to avoid the temptation of an exotic like that. Settle for something thats proven to do well in captivity.
 
Hedorah99

Hedorah99

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NoS said:
Why not just get a damn monkey?
Click to expand...

Why not adopt a dog or cat and pretend its a sloth or monkey or whatever. No exotic mammals and a good amount of exotic reptiles make good pets. I have worked with exotic animals for ten years now. Very small amounts of teh time do they make a pet type animal. They are very far from being tamed and being locked in someones house who has no idea on how to care for them is cruel. Sloths can swipe very accurately with their fore claws and I have seen them take a pretty large chuck out of someones arm once. I have been chasedoff of rock ledges by them at my zoo so I can attest to how fast they can move when they feel like it.
 
prang11

prang11

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NoS said:
Why not just get a damn monkey?
Click to expand...
I agree. Sloths are ugly in my opinion, and they probably smell funny.

Then again monkeys toss poo :eek:
 
NoS

NoS

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Hedorah99 said:
Why not adopt a dog or cat and pretend its a sloth or monkey or whatever. No exotic mammals and a good amount of exotic reptiles make good pets. I have worked with exotic animals for ten years now. Very small amounts of teh time do they make a pet type animal. They are very far from being tamed and being locked in someones house who has no idea on how to care for them is cruel. Sloths can swipe very accurately with their fore claws and I have seen them take a pretty large chuck out of someones arm once. I have been chasedoff of rock ledges by them at my zoo so I can attest to how fast they can move when they feel like it.
Click to expand...
Well all animals were exotic at one point or another. I understand that Sugar Gliders make good pets as well as a few others. I am not saying that Sloths would be a good idea but as far as monkeys go... from what I have been reading you can get them young and train them to wear dypers and be more sanitary than what they use to be viewed as. I do not know first hand though.

Everyone wants to be different and have something different. Isnt that why some of us choose arachnids. Thats what it seems like anyways, and they are exotic as hell really.
The point is that if you can not give the animal what it needs to be a happy healthy living creature than you shouldnt even try. It is very sad to see an animal who has been neglected by some one who just wanted it because it was cool. I rescued a Chameleon from some people who had no business having it. Chameleons are exotic, stress easy and require a certain atmoshpere. Which I give it what it needs and more and it is healthy and must be happy although it never seems to be. :rolleyes: They dont smile.

Blea.. who wants a dog or cat anymore. lol j/k
 
Malkavian

Malkavian

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prang11 said:
I agree. Sloths are ugly in my opinion, and they probably smell funny.

Then again monkeys toss poo :eek:
Click to expand...

Monkey bite == high on my list of stuff I don't want to encounter
 
T

tkn0spdr

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One of our local petstores has sloths. They have a mother and baby. The baby is $4500. :eek:
 
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