Capybaras
Before considering a pet capybara, it is essential to check that they are legal in your area. From there, bringing this animal into your home is all about dedication. These intelligent, caring and large rodents can be rewarding pets, but come with heavy costs due to the food, swimming pool and shelter needed to keep them happy and healthy. Capybaras have only become domestic animals recently, which means many of their survival instincts are still strong, causing them to occasionally bite when they feel threatened. Overall, these rodents are extremely affectionate, with some of them even adopting abandoned animals of different species.
Skunks
Currently, pet skunks are allowed in only 17 states. The domestic version of this animal is raised in captivity and is de-scented, so there is no risk of getting sprayed. Skunks may seem like little stinkers, but these pets are extremely affectionate, active and curious. If these animals are left alone too long without stimulation, they can become destructive, thanks to their long claws. It is necessary for skunk owners to keep their pets inside the house. Domestic skunks do not know how to forage for food and do not have the same capabilities as cats and dogs when it comes to finding their way home. While many fear pet skunks for the possibility of rabies contraction, it is actually easier for a cat or dog to contract rabies than a skunk. (PBS)
Axolotls
The strange but also sweet face of the axolotl is swimming into more homes. This critter is a type of salamander native to Mexico. Similar to fish, axolotls are pets meant for observation, not play. These salamanders have delicate skin that does not do well with handling. Instead axolotls prefer to have a large, cool tank with a gravel bottom all to themselves. If owners are attentive to their pet's water quality and diet, these animals can live 10–15 years. It helps that they have amazing regenerative abilities. Axolotls are able to heal rapidly and even regrow limbs. (About.com)
Genets
These cat-like critters have lived as pets since the Middle Ages, used in Africa and Europe to control rodent populations. The animal recently had a resurgence in popularity, especially with owners in Asia and the U.S. Many choose the genet as a pet because captive-breeding transformed the wild animals into a social, sweet and relatively easy-to-care-for creature. Genets do need extra room in which to run around and release energy, and they should never be kept with birds or small rodents, because while the domestic genet is now socialized, it cannot always ignore its predatory instincts. (Right Pet)
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Fennec Foxes
Big-eared and bright-eyed, it's hard not to fall for a fennec fox. These animals are allowed in many areas as exotic pets with the right vaccines and permits. Unlike some of the other animals on this list, the fennec fox still has quite a wild side. Fennec foxes are escape artists with a love for digging, which means these pets need to be kept in locked cages when they are not under direct supervision. Additionally, these animals are nocturnal and can cause quite a few sleepless nights for owners. (eHow)
Sugar Gliders
The sugar glider is a small type of possum that can make an affectionate and fun pet, if cared for correctly. Sugar glider owners need a permit to own this exotic pet, as well as some extra space. These animals usually live in tree hollows, so they require tall, vertical spaces, as well as sleeping boxes and room to fly in order to be truly happy in a home. Prospective owners may want to get two sugar gliders, since these animals enjoy socializing and can become lonely or violent without enough attention. These pets are also vocal and nocturnal, which can be a bad combination if you keep their habitat by your bedroom. Owners who put in enough research and dedication find that sugar gliders make sweet, silly and loyal companions.
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