By whom? Cite your source. Turtles are about as non-exotic as they come. Is a pet bullfrog exotic? If I go catch a butterfly and stick it in a cage is that an exotic pet? Exotic by name implies that it is not something one would catch in one's backyard.
I have a Bengal mix. I guess it's just a cat but it weighs almost 20lbs and is a fuckin killer and at one point the breed was considered exotic because it was bred from a savanah cat from Africa but these days there pretty easy to get if you have the $. I rescued mine I feel lucky
I've been breeding Celestial Pearl Danios, which were discovered in 2006. They come from Myanmar. It is pretty cool to be working with a species that is relatively new and unknown.
i really want a pet flying squirrel. they are as affectionate / trainable as dogs, and they live for 10-12 years. and they glide, which is pretty fucking awesome.
but i currently have a betta fish and hes a total thug.
Cmon, it would not. Do you have a huge aquarium for it to swim in? Do you have a constant supply of fish to feed it and people to tend to it when you cannot? Do you even have a stable job? Or the resources to obtain a sea otter? I doubt it