Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As some of you probably know, I work at a pet shop. I (as well as the guy I work with) are in charge of the reptiles, and we're constantly wondering whether or not to make the cages natural or sterile. So, since the point of a pet shop is to sell the animals, my question is what setup would you prefer to see when you buy a reptile from a store? One that is more natural, with rock, wood, live plants, etc...or a more sterile cage with a very clean bedding (paper towels, carefresh, etc.), hidebox, and water bowl. Obviously, some species we will always keep more natural (leaftail geckos, cresties, etc.), but as for others, especially snakes, what would be the way to go? Right now the cages are done naturally. Some are very elaborate, like one for an amazon tree boa with some bromeliads, a ficus, and a creeping fig with mosses and suitable branches in a 29 gallon. There are also a few setups (including a 40 and 55 gallon with very large bodies of water with tropical fish and plants, where several species of frogs, as well as the occassional exotic anole or day gecko, reside. But is that what people would rather see? Or are smaller, individual species cages with a simple, but 'clean' environment preferable (not to say that the natural ones aren't 'clean', but you get the idea). Many of the cages are due for a complete substrate change/decor washing, so I'd like to know what your opinions are as to how they should be set up next. I can try to get some pictures if you'd like. Thanks!
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1.1 Albino Nelson's Milks
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
0.0.1 Albino Corn
0.1 Mex Mex
0.1 Northern Blue Tongue
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
0.0.1 Cuban Tree Frog

well, I don't work in a petshop, but here's what I've noticed...

At one of the local pet places, the reptiles are in beautiful setups with plants and elaborate basking branches and everything, and they do take good care of it all. The problems come if you can take care of it.

Generally lizards tend to be more active when their environment contains natural stimulus. I haven't looked into it a lot with snakes, but I would assume having a naturalistic setup would be beneficial to their mental well-being.

I've been through the sterile setups with my bearded dragon, and he basically got bored. He wouldn't do anything but bask all day, and he also didn't go into brumation until I got a nice setup with sand for him to nestle into under his hide spot. I'm going to try making 2/3's of his enclosure some sort of soil or soil/sand/vermiculite combination that everyone is trying with uros (I'll probably try it with my adopted uro too once we get him/her healthy). I figure then I can grow some nice desert plants directly from the ground, or fail trying (probably the latter).

I am trying to keep a good combination of safe:natural

-ryan

You could go kinda like half way.I dont like the look of sterile.I guess breeders have no choise but for pet owners why not make the terrarium nicer and the animals do enjoy it.
In my ruthvens snakes tank I use plants in clay pots it makes it easier to clean the substrate by just removing the pots and I water the plants outside the tank.
I also use branches and he loves to climb.Lots dont use branches in their snakes tanks but all snakes will use them.
Some that make their own cages put in climbing shelves the snakes love them.Either way use plants in pots if you rather not use them in the substrate and though I never kept a dragon I imagine it would climb on branches,etc if it could.
An animal with things to do just overall seems happier.It only becomes a headache and unsanitary when you complicate it but you can have a happy medium.
Bianca