With the rapid development of the pet economy, the pet market in Fuzhou has become increasingly segmented, with a number of exotic pet themed stores emerging, which have gained the love of a group of young consumers who pursue individuality. What are the exotic pet shops selling in Fuzhou? Is it easy to care for the "durable exotic pets" in the mouths of businessmen? What other risks need to be prevented? Recently, reporters conducted interviews.

Never dare to see 'beloved pets in your hands'

At 4 pm on the weekend, a climbing pet store located on Wenbo Road in Jin'an District welcomed the popular time of the day. In the small store, there are five or six young girls sitting around who are "petting" their pets. Surrounding them are various reptile exotic pets: big eyed eyelash guards, peculiar looking pig nosed snakes... These reptile animals that many people dare not look at have now become the "beloved pets" of some young people.

A milk snake with red, white, and black colors is coiling around the fingers of the doting girl Xiao Li. However, Xiao Li calmly told reporters, "It's not scary at all. It's cold and comfortable to touch, and it's also very healing." The shop owner next to it explained that this pet snake has been artificially bred and domesticated for decades and is no longer wild, poisonous, or biting.

Nowadays, there are more and more pet lovers like Xiao Li. According to the "2025 White Paper on China's Pet Industry (Consumption Report)", by 2024, about 17.07 million people in China will be raising exotic pets, with the majority being "post-95s" and a market size of nearly 10 billion yuan. Among them, turtles, snakes, and palace guards are the main types of climbing pets.

In addition to climbing pets, some mammalian exotic pets are also popular. At a exotic pet store in the Fuzhou National Art Flower and Bird Crafts Comprehensive Market in Cangshan District, a black eyed mongoose is always on guard, paying attention to the customers coming and going in the store. The mongoose originally came from Africa and after years of domestication, became a pet with a lifespan similar to that of a kitten, "the shop owner told reporters.

The prototype of the anime "My Neighbor Totoro" is the Totoro, which looks like a plush toy with drooping ears. It also features a flying and shoulder hugging sugar glider, as well as various types of hamsters such as golden bears, "dwarves", and "in laws" with different colors. The gentle temperament of the Keda duck and hedgehog... These exotic pets are scattered in various pet stores and have their own audiences, some of which are expensive. For example, the market price of a regular pet grade mongoose ranges from 4000 yuan to 6000 yuan.

Many young people who like exotic pets are those who pursue individuality. Buying directly often leads to criticism from family members, so spending money on "grooming pets" has become a personalized social way exclusive to some young people. During the visit, the reporter found that many exotic pet shops often offer "pet grooming" services in addition to sales. Some merchants also extend "exotic pet" cafes and specific "exotic pet" themed experience stores, which can meet various needs such as socializing, clocking in, pet grooming, afternoon tea, etc.

Raising exotic pets is not simple

Alien pets, unique and some are also cute, but are they easy to care for? Ms. Chen, who works in Fuzhou, usually lives alone and needs companionship, but she doesn't want to invest too much. On the recommendation of the pet store, she chose to keep two maned lion lizards. Compared to cats and dogs, she thinks this is more cost-effective. Just need a climbing tank, no need to feed every day, and occasionally leave home for a few days without considering foster care

'Good care' is a 'customer acquisition term' for some pet businesses. In several climbing pet shops in Fuzhou, reporters saw many lizards, palace guards, and snakes packed in boxes set with specific temperatures, and some species also set corresponding lighting and brightness. However, the shops unanimously told reporters that it is not difficult to raise exotic crawling pets, and they can be fed once a week without much care. In winter, just add a heating pad underneath, "said a pet shop owner.

In fact, raising exotic pets is not as simple as imagined. The reporter learned that some exotic pets have a short domestication and artificial breeding time, and breeders need to make efforts to simulate the wild habitat environment in terms of food, landscaping, temperature and humidity to ensure the healthy growth of pets. In addition, different types and breeds of exotic pets have significant differences in feeding methods, food, and interaction methods, and their difficulty levels are also not the same.

On social media, there are many posts about abandoning various exotic pets such as hamsters, parrots, lizards, etc. Fuzhou reptile enthusiast Fang Da has many years of breeding experience. He told reporters that the difficulty of raising pets varies from person to person, and for beginners, it is especially important to be cautious. Before raising a pet, it is necessary to do sufficient homework, understand the pet's lifestyle habits in advance, and not easily "fall into the trap" because once the owner regrets not raising it, it is often difficult for the exotic pet to find a "next home" and it is easy to be abandoned.

In addition, there are still weak links in the field of pet care. When the reporter searched for "exotic pet hospitals" online, only a few sporadic search results popped up. Most pet hospitals mainly target common pets such as cats and dogs.

Dr. Zhang from a pet hospital on Lianjiang North Road in Jin'an District shared that a citizen once came to ask if it was possible to perform a test on a raccoon, but she told them that the hospital did not offer this service. Pet hospitals that treat cats and dogs are not yet fully covered in many places, and there are few hospitals that provide medical services specifically for exotic pets, especially exotic veterinarians

Raising exotic pets is never an individual's business

Recently, at a press conference held by the National Health Commission, Zhou Xiaonong, the chief expert in parasitic disease prevention and control at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reminded that rare pets such as lizards and dolphins have health and legal risks and need to be purchased legally, quarantined, and managed for hygiene in response to the recent trend of raising exotic pets.

Attention should also be paid to the potential risks that exotic pets may pose to human health. In February this year, the movie "The Devil Child of Nezha Makes a Trouble in the Sea" topped the box office of Chinese films, and the groundhog also became popular. Many netizens showed pictures and videos of their intimate contact with the groundhog, which triggered an urgent reminder from the National Health Commission and the Disease Control Bureau that the groundhog can spread the pestis, and never touch it again.

The raising of exotic pets may seem like a personal choice, but it may involve a series of issues such as illegal trade, wildlife conservation, species invasion, public safety and health, and should not be taken lightly. During the visit, the reporter found that many exotic pets were initially introduced from abroad. Crocodiles, sparrows, eels, red eared turtles, corn cobras, and other animals that enter China under the guise of exotic pets have caused significant damage to the domestic ecological environment.

In the face of this market and risk coexisting field, as early as 2023, the No. 1 central document clearly pointed out that: crack down on the illegal introduction of alien species, implement the prevention and control of major invasive species, and strengthen the standardized management of alien pet trade and release.

Industry insiders remind pet owners to pay special attention to relevant laws and regulations, such as the "National List of Key Protected Wildlife" and the "Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora". More than 30000 species of animals and plants listed in the appendix of the convention are prohibited or banned from sale.

Fuzhou Customs staff explained that the illegal introduction of exotic pets can easily lead to the invasion of alien species. Exotic pets are abandoned, released, or escaped, causing great harm to China's local biodiversity. The Biosafety Law of the People's Republic of China explicitly prohibits the unauthorized introduction of alien species, and any such illegal behavior can result in a maximum fine of 250000 yuan. (Reporter Mu Fangting, Producer He Peng)