Can reptiles be kept responsibly?

Summary

Can reptiles be kept responsibly to good welfare standards?

We asked accomplished keepers, researchers and breeders this exact question.

Reptile welfare can be difficult to measure, and some people argue that because it’s difficult to prove, we cannot claim reptiles are being kept well.

But good keeping isn’t based on guesswork. It is built on knowledge, observation, experience, appropriate husbandry, and a genuine commitment to the animals in our care.

Some organisations pushing for bans claim that reptiles cannot be kept well, despite often having little or no practical experience of keeping reptiles themselves.

So who knows best?

Keepers with knowledge, years of hands-on experience and proven results

Or people making sweeping claims about animals they do not understand?

Watch the video and decide for yourself.

Thanks to Beth, Ellie, Angus, Wayne, Lincoln, Gav, IHS

Transcript

What would you say to someone who thinks that reptiles can't be kept well?

Wrong. Just wrong.

I don't think that's true at all.

They've obviously not met a good reptile keeper.

Well that's ridiculous. Any animal can be given good welfare. No matter what it is.

Come look at my animals. Have a look at someone that's passionate about it and feels that they are striving and constantly improving.

We can prove that animals can have good welfare in captivity. In fact, many animals in captivity seem to have better welfare. They look healthier. They have more healthy weight on them. You know, they live longer. That's the end result.

We can keep these animals very healthy, very responsibly, and proof's in the pudding.

You can definitely meet their needs. There's a lot of research now and documented data, and we can absolutely keep these animals in the highest welfare possible.

They're companions, they're part of your family, give them what they need to survive, give them what they need to thrive, and give them a life worth living.