Far too many reptile owners use the term “animal welfare” as if it’s a subjective descriptive word much like “quality of life,” rather than what it is: a field of science. So here is a document to help keepers truly understand what animal welfare is, and how we can use it to provide better reptile welfare. Continue Reading
Anthropomorphism in the reptile hobby is universally considered to be a Bad Thing. After all, why shouldn’t it be? Some of the most common mistakes in the hobby can be traced to anthropomorphism. But there’s more than one kind of anthropomorphism, and the right kind may hold the key to changing the reptile industry for the better. Continue Reading
There are 10 different styles of reptile enclosure that are commonly used in today’s reptile hobby, but which one is the best for humanely housing reptiles according to the 5 Provisions of Animal Welfare? Today we delve into the pros, cons, and ideal applications of each style before revealing the absolute BEST kind of enclosure for your pet reptile. Continue Reading
There is a LOT of debate between reptile owners and reptile breeders on how best to keep and care for pet reptiles, and the ensuing discussions/arguments often become messy. The problem is, however, that we’re ignoring one very important fact here: Breeders and pet owners are VERY different and have TOTALLY different goals and agendas. Continue Reading
The reptile industry is young, and although we’ve come a long way since the early days, we still have a long way to go. Casual keepers and collectors are housing their reptiles like breeders, and there’s a critical lack of proper husbandry education and demonstration. Here’s how we as reptile keepers can apply the 5 Provisions of Animal Welfare to provide better and more ethical husbandry for the animals in our care. Continue Reading