Can You Have a Sloth as a Pet? Do They Make Good Pets?

There is a special allure to owning an exotic animal. It is a thrill imagining a wild animal living at home.

Common exotic animals are skunks, snakes, amphibians, and birds. These animals are somewhat domesticated and know how to interact with humans, thanks to years of integration with society.

Sloths are still up for debate as to whether they make good pets or not. They move exceptionally slowly, so there is little risk of them getting away. And they seem cute and happy while in zoos. Their leaf-only diet seems simple enough to provide for them. So, why is there so much chatter about them being difficult pets?

What Sloths Can Be Owned as Pets?

There are two types of sloth in the world and six different sloth species. The only sloth someone can own as a pet are two-toed sloths.

Two-toed sloths live approximately 20 years in the wild but can live 30-40 years in captivity. A two-toed sloth named Paula is the oldest in captivity, living for 50 years in the Halle Zoo in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany in 1971.

Sloths have a strict diet of leaves, twigs, and assorted buds native to Central and South America trees. They are nocturnal animals, sleeping 20 hours a day to conserve energy to forage for food at night.

Why Do Sloths Move So Slow?

It is imperative for potential sloth owners to understand why these animals move so slowly because it will affect how to care for them properly.

Sloths move slowly because they have incredibly slow metabolisms. Their diet consists of mostly plant vegetation, which can be difficult to digest. In fact, sloths digest their food over weeks instead of over a few hours.

Sloths are physically incapable of moving quickly because their bodies are designed to conserve energy. They sleep for the majority of the day and feed on a diet of low calories and overall poor nutrition.

In the wild, sloths use camouflage to hide from predators because they cannot defend themselves or flee.

Their slow movement is the reason why sloths are allowed in so many states. There is little risk of them escaping and causing damage to wildlife.

What States Allow Sloths as Pets?

According to the World Population Review’s latest update in February 2023, 35 states allow homeowners to own sloths as pets. There are nine states prohibiting sloth ownership, with the rest being undetermined.

States Where Sloth Ownership is Legal

States Where Sloth Ownership is Illegal

Any state not on this list is undecided about owning sloths as pets. Potential buyers should check with their local government on what permits are required to own a sloth.

Requirements for Sloth Ownership

Sloth owners will have to research permits and state laws, as well as gain a general understanding of how two-toed sloths act and behave.

They may seem easy to care for on the outside, but these animals are very picky about their surroundings, which makes them incompatible with domesticated living.

Simulated Habitat

Sloths are native to Central and South America, places famous for tropical jungles. Two-toed sloths evolved to thrive in rainforests and tropical forest conditions. Homeowners need to simulate that environment in their homes if they want to keep their sloth happy and healthy.

Sloths require tall trees with sturdy branches to support their 14-pound bodies. They do not like being on the ground floor, preferring to stay in trees.

Additionally, sloths need a constant temperature and high humidity to keep them healthy. Sloths cannot handle air conditioning and dry heat. Similar to snakes, sloths will get sick if their environment does not simulate their natural habitat with appropriate heating and humidity.

Specific Diet

Two-toed sloths eat an unbalanced diet of leafy greens, with some occasional insects, bird eggs, and lizards, if they are around. Primarily, they eat leaves, figs, twigs, and buds specifically from trees in Central and South America.

Understandably, finding leaves from tropical jungles is difficult in North America. Sloths cannot eat just any leaves from outside because their bodies cannot process them well. Trees and leaves in North America are different from trees in Central and South America, so a sloth cannot survive in the wild if released.

Sloth owners will have to special order leaves from out of state or speak with a reputable sloth breeder or exotic animal veterinarian to create a balanced diet.

Tips on Caring for Pet Sloth

Thankfully, due to their slow metabolisms, sloths do not need extra attention or physical maintenance.

Follow these important tips to care for a pet sloth:

Not Domesticated Animals

It is crucial to remember that sloths are not domesticated animals. They have not been working with humans for thousands of years, building a mutual relationship of affection and trust. Sloths may still see humans as large predators that move faster than them.

Owners must be patient to establish trust with their sloths, which can take several years.

Seek Professional Guidance

Speak with local zoos, exotic animal veterinarians, or reputable sloth breeders regarding diet, habitat construction, and engagement. Finding a veterinarian will be difficult since there are separate certifications for doctors to work with exotic animals. Sloths are uncommon pets so regular veterinarians may not know how to care for them. Zoos and breeders will have more information and recommendations available.

Limited Physical Engagement

The main gimmick of sloths is that they are slow. Owners do not need to take them for walks, play games, take them out, or do anything with them since they are incapable of physical engagement.

Owners should limit hugging or cuddling with their sloths. Sloths are solitary animals and do not interact with other animals outside of mating season.

Minimal Clean-Up and Grooming

Sloths do not need traditional grooming like bathing and brushing. Being mostly wild animals, they do not understand those actions and may become frightened by them. Sloths move so slowly that they develop microorganisms on their body to help eat bacteria and fungi that grow on their skin. Removing those microorganisms may cause harm to their bodies and reduce their ability to handle the foreign environment.

Sloths have minimal clean-up because they digest food over weeks or months. On average, a sloth will urinate and defecate once or twice a week.

Also, their nails do not need trimming. Sloths use their long nails to hold onto tree branches and grab food. They will become disoriented and struggle to perform normal tasks if their nails are cut.

Health Problems with Pet Sloths

Owning sloths sounds exciting, but owners must be ready in case their sloth gets sick and needs medical attention. Due to their strict diets and environmental requirements, pet sloths are prone to several illnesses which may become fatal.

• Nutritional Deficiencies: A nutritional deficiency is when an animal is not getting the proper nutrients to sustain their bodies and becomes sick. Without a proper diet, sloths will appear weak with low energy, while their organs shut down from malnutrition.
• Digestive Issues: Aside from improper nutrients, giving the wrong foods may lead to other complications like gastrointestinal problems. Symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea indicate the sloth’s diet is not settling in their stomachs well.
• Respiratory Issues: Pet sloths may suffer from breathing complications because of environmental attributes in the air. Owners must provide their sloths with high temperatures with plenty of humidity to simulate their natural environment so they can breathe effectively.

Do Sloths Make Good Pets?

Let’s weigh the factors of owning a sloth:

The final verdict: sloths do not make the best pets. They have a high risk of becoming sick, few options for medical care, heightened expenses, and high sensitivity to the environment. These factors make them difficult animals to care for. It might be a better, more practical option to see a sloth at a zoo or register for an exotic animal encounter to meet a sloth up close. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Kristel Segeren/Shutterstock.com