We are a 34 pet family (not counting my latest litter of rats).

~The family dog: Foxfire
~My brother's two fire-bellied toads: Cassidy & Kevin
~Dad's cat, my cat: Patches
~My sister's cat: Daisy
~My brother's cat: Bard
~My cat: April
~A cat we are watching for a friend: Tech
~My mom's two African Clawed Frogs: Congo, and Kenya
~My sister's betta: Peche
~My 23 rats: Amelie, Belldandy, Dash, Dotta, Eve, Fortune, Psyche, Saria, Sugar, Yuna, Butchy, Corbin, Cupid, Dante, Dojo, Egon, Einstein, Lir, Lumpy, Nino, Satchmo, Scratch, & Tidus.

And a litter of 11 was born last week, but I plan on keeping only one or two.

Usually the rats and betta live in the apartment with my sister and me, but at Christmas and over summer, we all go home with the rest of the family. I don't think 18 is too far-fetched a number... A lot of people keep a little colony of mice or hissing cockroaches (my mom had some once) or a tank of fish or other critters. And some people have farms where they can keep horses or a group of dogs. (I'm envious, I wish I had a farm... I'd have more pets. )

As long as you can take care of the animals and make that commitment for life, there really isn't a limit... Granted, it gets EXPENSIVE to feed and keep shots up to date and pay for emergency vet bills (surgeries, illnesses, etc.), but they are worth it if you can afford the time and money they need and deserve.