Britain's Strangest Pets

Series 1 - Episode 3

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Just outside Nottingham there stands a house not unlike any other in the street – but something strange lurks beneath the floorboards! Jack Heathcoat has converted his basement into a tropical underwater world, thought to be the largest home aquarium in Britain.

In Colchester, reptile enthusiasts Glenn and Maureen Cousins regularly sit down to breakfast with a bearded dragon. Glen and Maureen also have 17 snakes and six lizards as well as tarantulas and scorpions, but it is Burmese Python Mia who is the queen of the flock. At four and a half metres long and weighing six stone, she is thought to be one of the biggest snakes in England.

In Hertfordshire, Mark Amey runs an exotic pet shop catering to the growing market for reptilian pets. But he also has some very special animals that he keeps at home. Mark's pride and joy is his venom room, where he keeps his personal collection of some of the world's deadliest reptiles.

On the Isle of Wight, Kevin Fallon and his wife Pauline live with their labrador Sherrie. She loves having a cup of tea in the morning but she also has an unusual hobby – she is a surfing sensation.

Next

Previous

  •   Janey Full Episode  
    • 20:00 1 Aug 2012
    • Channel 5

    Series 1 - Episode 2

    Meet Kate's hen Floella, who goes to the hairdresser. And Janey's 17-stone 'micro-pig' who lives a life of luxury.

    Available until 20:00 1 Aug 2013

  •   Chris and Rocky Full Episode  
    • 20:00 25 Jul 2012
    • Channel 5

    Series 1 - Episode 1

    Pet-owner Nathan has travelled to Bulgaria to buy four camels and are part of the family. Even at mealtimes.

    Available until 20:00 25 Jul 2013

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Comments (11)

  • carly

    5 months ago

    carly

    I think you forget that our so called domestic cats and dogs used to be wild animals once too and we only have them because of the so wrong cross breeding with wolves ect to get the species we have today. Animals born in captivity do not know of the outside world and therefore there's not a big problem providing they have the right size set up. Or in my reps case bigger than what they need and is made up to look as natural as possible. Just because people don't keep your everyday cats and dogs doesn't make them a bad person. Suppose you think the same for horses? There Kept in stables and only normally have a small field to graze?

  • mitchell

    6 months ago

    mitchell

    if people get their reptiles and pets out to play each day then yes they are pets, chris you probs dont have any exotic pets so dont tell others they shouldnt have them.

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  • Caz

    9 months ago

    Caz

    Any animal lover always strives for the best for its animals. I think that sceptics might forget that all those animals seized at customs or found in people attics are not exported back to their native homeland and released. It is those people with a passion for animals that take these animals in and care for them at great cost. If they opt to share these animals in a bid to educate others in responsible pet ownership then I have no problem with that. Just because people don't keep cats and dogs in cages doesn't mean they are subject to poor quality of lives or mistreatment.

  • Wolfshead

    9 months ago

    Wolfshead

    That's right Chris - in my opinion they're not pets since they have to be confined in cages. Birds in cages are particularly sad. Obviously others have different ideas, otherwise we wouldn't have a show like this!

  • Chris Hankey

    9 months ago

    Chris Hankey

    @Wolfshead 'A good rule of thumb is, if it has to kept in a cage, it's not a pet!' So a hamster/guiny pig or budgie is not a pet then?

  • Robert Thompson

    9 months ago

    Robert Thompson

    At the end of the day, these animals are going to be in the pet trade regardless of whether or not someone keeps them, I keep reptiles and I fully appreciate that a vivarium is not the same as it's real environment, but what I will do is strive to mimic it as best as I can for the good of the animal in question

  • chaz

    9 months ago

    chaz

    clean his nile monitor think they would actully get it name right it an asin water monitor fools

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  • Wolfshead

    9 months ago

    Wolfshead

    Animal lovers? I think not! If you love animals, you dont keep wild animals captive in order to feed your ego. These animals are kept in a totally unnatural environment and their needs cannot be completely met. A good rule of thumb is, if it has to kept in a cage, it's not a pet! The only person I had any respect for was Mr Heathcoat - I only hope he never has to move!

  • Maxine Chivers

    10 months ago

    Maxine Chivers

    I loved seeing the exotic fish and think they have an amazing home. Jack Heathcoat is very lucky to have a tropical water world in his home. It was funny to see the snakes especially the very big one called Mia. The venom room scared me. Wow!

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