Study Says Leopard Geckos Prefer Bioactive Enclosures

[Bogertophis]

... Eublepharis macularius -- leos exploit the space behind tree bark, and crevices between and under rocks and building foundations, not rope ladders and hollowed coconuts..."


"likely to lead readers to misinterpret the article as showing that bioactive is preferred" -- yes. The specific problem is that the study shows that bioactive is preferred over housing that's substandard in ways that have nothing to do with specifically "bioactive" factors, so it is a conclusion that's reached fallaciously. I could design a study that shows that children prefer tofu burgers over other food -- just make the other food be chili peppers and asparagus -- and the tofu fanatics would say that I showed that children prefer tofu. More specific, better designed and better controlled research, along with a rich baseline understanding of the species under study, is what we need to get good data.

Coming in from another angle, we need to be skillful readers/interpreters, too. Studies might show that leopard geckos prefer waxworms, but that's of course not tantamount to a recommendation that leos be fed waxworms;....

Exactly- all of this ^. Critical thinking, folks...with a healthy dose of skepticism. And always "follow the money" (who's funding the research?).