A wallaby is a small to medium-sized macropod found in Australia and New Guinea. There are also some wallabies in New Zealand, Hawaii, and the UK. They are part of the same family as kangaroos and can even share the same genus, but kangaroos are classified into the four largest species of this family.
However, wallabies are fairly cute and unique; however, it is unlawful to own one in most states, and they do not make good pets anyways. These are relatives of kangaroos and appear a little smaller; it is an act of clicking to know that these are difficult to domesticate and hence cannot be house-trained to go to the bathroom.
Wallabies, like wallaroos, should be kept away from cats. This is important to avoid the spread of toxoplasmosis, a dangerous parasite that healthy cats can have. Wallabies need fresh grass daily, a spacious area, and more care than common pets. If you want to know more about wallabies, continue reading this article.
Can You Own a Pet Wallaby?
Legality:
Check the laws in your state and locality to ensure that owning a pet wallaby is allowed. Colorado is among the few states that might permit this marsupial with the necessary permits, but cities may impose additional restrictions.
Ethics:
It is wrong to own a pet illegally. Apart from the legal issues, very few people have enough space, time, or resources to care for a wallaby. This animal needs a lot of room to jump and stay safe from predators. Without a proper enclosure, a wallaby would require constant attention to prevent it from causing damage or injury. If you can’t provide this care, keeping a wallaby is not right.
Wallaby Behavior and Temperament:
Some wallabies are calm and friendly, while others can be nervous and jumpy. Many do not have a gentle nature. They thrive best in groups of their kind since they are social animals in the wild. Wallabies belong to the macropod family, which includes kangaroos, and they show behaviors that might be new to pet owners in the U.S. For example, wallabies lick and salivate on their paws and arms to help cool off in hot weather.
Housing:
For a proper outdoor wallaby enclosure, ensure the height and width are at least four times the length of your wallaby, and the length should be eight times its length. If you have multiple wallabies, the enclosure size must be much larger. These animals can adapt to warm and cool climates, but they need additional heat or indoor space when it gets below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Does a Wallaby Eat and Drink?
Wallabies have many food choices, but untreated natural grass should be their main food. As herbivores, they naturally eat grass in the wild. Without grass, their digestion can suffer. Offer them sweetgrass, orchard grass, or timothy hay every day. This grass diet should include wallaby pellets, some fresh green veggies, and apples as treats
Common Health Problems:
It is typical for wallabies to experience intestinal parasites like roundworms. They may also suffer from a lack of vitamin E and selenium if their diet is poor. Additionally, wallabies can get ringworm, a fungal infection of the skin, and salmonellosis, a bacterial condition called “lumpy jaw.” To ensure their well-being, wallabies should have annual visits to an exotic animal veterinarian and routine fecal exams for parasites.
Exercise:
You cannot walk a wallaby on a leash like you would with a pet dog. They do not like it and might try to escape aggressively. Wallabies are used to roaming freely in the open spaces of Australia. They need plenty of exercise in captivity to match their natural behaviors like crawling, jumping, and grazing. To ensure your wallaby gets enough exercise, provide a spacious enclosure for them to move around freely.
Size Information:
Many people think wallabies are just tiny kangaroos. While they share the same family, they are different creatures. There are eight species of wallabies, with weights ranging from 4 to 53 pounds. The smallest wallaby measures about 18 inches, and the biggest can be nearly 40 inches long.
Purchasing Your Wallaby:
Buying a wallaby can be difficult because many states do not allow their sale or ownership. Most people selling wallabies might be doing so illegally and could be involved with poachers, which is wrong and can harm the animals. Instead of trying to buy a wallaby, think about donating to help protect their natural habitat and visit a zoo to see them in a safe environment.
Conclusion:
Keeping a wallaby is not easy. It involves creating a large outdoor area filled with grass for their food. Marsupials such as kangaroos and wallabies must not be kept inside Because they can not be house-trained and are likely to hurt themselves or things while leaping. Some species can live for 20 years in captivity and that means that they need to be long-term pets. The babies of the wallabies are called joeys and they are of both genders and they both like to play. They are generally friendly and can be trained to hop on a leash. Wallabies show affection, and you’ll know you’re part of their family when they groom and lick you.