Article basically slamming all reptile keepers...

[DVirginiana]

I was clicking around today and came across this article.

https://www.thedodo.com/reptile-pet-...216935829.html

While I agree with the sentiment as a whole, which is promoting welfare of herps in the pet trade and protecting wild populations, the author outright states at the end that no one with sincere compassion for reptiles would ever own them. I normally don't comment on sites like that, but I just couldn't resist. I kept it civil and gave the author his due for promoting reptile welfare when so few do, but I wanted to get the message out there that most devoted reptile keepers despise the conditions in the exotic pet trade and pet store industry just as much as he does.

I wouldn't bother commenting on an article that tries to throw around misinformation and demonize reptiles (because there's just no reasoning with those people), but this guy seems well educated and the format of the site seems to be one where authors actually receive the feedback on their articles, and this guy states his intent to continue discussing the exotics industry (specifically herps) in future pieces.

I thought that maybe if more people were to comment respectfully and point out the responsible side of the reptile-keeping community it might actually have a chance to change the way this author presents us.

[bcr229]

Saw your response, nicely done.

[midgard]

I agree. Nicely dealt with.

Sent from my VS880 using Tapatalk

[The Golem]

In The Botany of Desire, author Michael Pollan explores the reciprocal relationship between humans and 4 different plant species and how from the plants' point of view, they have used us to propagate and spread all over the world, ensuring their survival and sometimes thriving more than in their native habitats.

I think there is an argument to be made that ball pythons (and many other reptiles) have a similar type of relationship with us; there are more of them outside Africa than in their homelands, and responsible owners/collectors put a lot of effort (and money) into keeping them healthy and living long lives away from natural predators.

It's a great read. There's also a PBS documentary based on the book (viewable on Youtube) it doesn't go into as much detail but is worth checking out.

[DVirginiana]

I've actually seen that before and really liked it! (Plant biologist lol).

I think that most captive herps can be classified into two groups. Those that are well suited to captivity and making captive populations like BPs, and those that have such a high continued mortality or slow growth rate that it's cheaper to just keep siphoning off wild populations. Like rosehair tarantulas. I'm actually glad Chile recently put an export ban on those (and not just because I've now got a female that will probably be a pretty valuable breeder in a few years! lol).

I wish the conversation around banning certain exotics weren't so polarizing because people that keep harmless species well-suited to captivity are afraid we're next in line. That would make it a lot easier to determine what species really don't thrive or need to be conserved in their wild habitats... Like, a few years ago I remember there was this really big gecko species they were trying to establish in the pet trade, but it had such a limited wild range I immediately thought there's no way that population will survive the initial losses that happen when any species gets brought into the pet trade.