When you hear the word “pet,” what’s the first animal that comes to mind? Chances are it’s a dog or cat, since those are the most popular in the USA. And while those answers are pretty common around the globe, someone in Japan or Peru might give a very different answer Some animals we associate as nuisances are more beloved elsewhere.

When I think of an ideal pet, I tend to think of something cute and cuddly, so my mind usually doesn’t think of bugs as a solid choice. Yet in Japan, beetles are a household favorite, as they are easy to take care of and easy to find. It’s common practice for children to find and catch them in the wild and take them home, or to just buy them in pet stores. Rhinoceros beetles are especially popular.

Japan isn’t the only one who values bugs as pets. In China, crickets are apparently cherished. Crickets have been valued for thousands of years thanks to their sounds, but also due to their fighting abilities. Cricket fighting has been a popular pastime for a while. On top of all that, some people just find them pretty cute.

Pet alpacas aren’t unheard of in the US, but I wouldn’t call them a popular choice. However, in Peru they’ve been domesticated for a long time. Alpacas are beloved for their fuzzy fleeces, and many beauty products are made with their fur. Similarly to crickets, some people just think they look cute.
When thinking about pet animals, I don’t tend to think about what animals are popular elsewhere. I would never think of a cricket as a pet animal, but it’s not a strange choice in foreign countries. It makes sense, across the planet people have different cultures, and that would lead to certain animals being beloved. There’s history to these animals that we don’t have, and it highlights how diversity in culture and area around the world can lead to some surprising differences.