Exotic Pets

Rosenfeld is unfailingly witty and informative on the pleasures of caring for ""lower'' vertebrates (snakes, lizards, turtles, amphibians, parrots and fish) as house pets. A seasoned hobbyist who developed unusual enthusiasms because of a fur allergy, he maintains that these less common pets are as capable as dogs and cats of cultivating affectionate relationships with their owners. One such example is an African savannah monitor lizard who, purportedly, greeted him at the door, shared his supper and curled up at his feet. But exotic pets require special care regarding housing, food and climate, and Rosenfeld provides specific, commonsensical instructions in his primer. The author offers guidelines for selecting healthy pets and recommends more than 100 species, which demonstrate a nice range in size, price and feeding habits. Photos not seen by PW. (April)