Hello all,
A) I have a lot of respect for this forum as many members on here have a wealth of knowledge and B) I am curious to know what yall think about this topic.
Many people on this forum promote that snakes operate purely off of instincts and that things like enrichment are not necessary. I had stumbled across an interesting website last night and thought I would share and get feedback from the forum. I do not keep my snake in a tub (nothing inherently wrong with them) nor do I keep my snake in a plain barren environment and I feel that enrichment is beneficial to animals. What are your guys' opinions on the matter?
http://rainbowsnakes.tumblr.com/post...tiles-what-why
Here is a quote at the end that sums it up pretty well
Small, sterile enclosures are only appropriate for temporary quarantine housing, not for the long term.
While reptiles are not the same as mammals, and should not be held to the same standards, they are not as robotic and behaviorally rigid as some people seem to think. They can not thrive kept in barren enclosures without enrichment and stimulation…. Science has caught up with that, the pet trade (where reptiles are concerned) has not… We owe these animals a good quality of life so they can thrive and not merely survive…
It goes on to provide examples and studies of the benefits of enrichment with reptiles.. I know there is a popular belief that racks are the optimum way to house snakes (Im not disagreeing with that) but I don't know if a bare tub with nothing other than paper towels and a water bowl is ideal.
I'm hoping I don't get flamed on this post.. I think providing the best possible lives for these animals is priority number 1 and I just question if a bare rack with no enrichment at all is the best we can do.
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