James Feldkamp has made it his duty to guarantee that exotic animals are treated humanely and safely. To that aim, he sat down with us to discuss some facts about one of the unique pets known to man: the Australian wallaby. A very unusual pet, wallabies need different care than most other pets, exotic or otherwise. There are many distinct subtypes of wallabies that have lately gained popularity as pets, and each has its own unique set of demands, but these guidelines should apply to all wallabies in general. Numerous factors contribute to their rarity as pets: they cannot be housetrained due to their lack of domestication, they are nocturnal by nature, which may result in some highly long evenings, and their care can become prohibitively costly.

Additionally, wallabies exhibit certain peculiar behaviors, James Feldkamp cautions. For instance, do not be frightened if they vomit their meal before laying down—they are just conserving it for later. Additionally, they have a propensity of drooling on their arms to cool down in the heat.

You'll need an outside enclosure for your wallaby: at least six by 6 feet should suffice. Due to their little height, it is feasible to bring them inside—make sure the space has been wallaby-proofed first. They may look to be little, docile kangaroos, yet their legs are surprisingly powerful. Additionally, if you live in a cold climate, you should bring your wallaby indoors if the temperature falls below freezing. In this scenario, James Feldkamp recommends dedicating a section of your house to housing your wallaby.

Consider the wallaby's diet to be grass. Wallabies should never be without a continual supply of grass as their primary source of food, but James Feldkamp reminds out that vegetables and wallaby pellets should be supplemented. Wallaby pellets will provide your pet with much-needed critical vitamins that they will not get from their regular diet, allowing them to live a long, healthy life. Additionally, James Feldkamp advises us to check that their grass and vegetables have not been treated with pesticides or other dangerous substances in any manner.

In general, wallabies need a significant commitment. Before you leap (pun intended) into wallaby ownership, do all necessary research to guarantee your wallaby has the best possible life. As with any exotic pet, James Feldkamp recommends doing your research and ensuring that keeping a wallaby is legal in your area.