Reptile & Amphibian Forums

O.K. I have owned reptiles for only a short period of time, and have been working for a pet store a bit longer than that-and one thing has always bothered me about the supplies sold today compared to the supplies needed in the past. Growing up I did not have reptiles-mother hated "slithery" animals-so I never had ny experiences with them as a youth---but I want to share with you a story my father told me about having a reptile---

Back when my father was in college, he went to florida and picked up a couple of reptiles. both were wild and they were an anole and a chamelion respectively. He decided to bring both back to our homestate of Illinois and keep them as his own. He had the anole in a small "critter keeper" by today's standards, and had the chamelion in a ten gallon aquarium. He had them both outfitted with a few branches for climbing and had newpaper on the bottom for substrate. He would feed each various insects found around the farm, and he said the chamelion loved to each flies that he and dad would find and give to the reptile.

After telling this story, it got me to thinking. He had no heat, no U.V.B., no calcium, and was using wild caught insects. Today, if this info was posted here, we would bash him and tell him he has done almost everything wrong with his reptiles. Did he not care for his animals, NO, he gave the chamelion to a friend after a year and had the anole for about 3-4 years. In fact, as far as he and I know there were no U.V.B. bulbs, and dusting "store bought" crickets was unheard of at the time. The heat the animals got was the same as the heat that the rest of the "family" recieved.

So this long story was to bring me to my question- How important is U.V.B. and calcium, size requirements, and watching wich substrates we use, and which insects we feed; if these things did not exist less than 30 years ago when people still kept reptiles? Why do we make these things such "neccesities" as it seems it is?

I do not want responses in anger, I want reponses with content and a good explination.

2 notes personally-1st- I keep my 2 beardies in a 120 gallon with two M.V. bulb spots to bask and have adheard to almost everything recomended on this site-so I'm somewhat of a hypocryte on the issue.

2nd-on this question, I believe that as science has progressed and we have found what enviroments and conditions "best" support the animals, we have made those the standards for keeping the reptiles in the home. We have set the standard as it is either the "best" or it is "detrimental to the reptile and the reptile is sure to die."

Thanks for taking the time to read this post-I know it is long- I type fast and it still took me 7minutes to type this up!

but, i want to do everything i know to best possibly suite the animal.

though....my dad has asked me the same question. i tried to come up with the best answer i could and all i could come up with is that i don't want any risks....i want the very best set up for my animals to have them live as long as possible, and as happy as possible.

actually, i asked my mom and i used to keep anoles in a 15 gallon plexiglass home made cage and no UVB, no heat, just wild caught insects and they survived....i know this wasn't the best set up for them...but they "survived"

not quite sure exactly how other people stand on this issue but i feel that i am going to do what is the very best i can for my pets. because i want them to look their best, get as big as possible, fat as possible, and as happy as possible.

just my 2 cnts...well, more like 10.....anywaz, just my thoughts.

trevor
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Trevor Bennett
E-mail: yruemailinme15@yahoo.com
yahoo SN: yruemailinme15
location: Salem, Oregon

I read all three replies and agree with you all.

I believe the point I was attempting to make is that many times on this forum, and many others I view on reptiles, we barrate people that do not provide the "best" care for their animals.

Personally I believe they do deserve the "best," because as posted previously they have been taken from thier natural enviroment, and besides this I love my pets and will do what I can for them

But this is my personal opinion, and I can afford to support my "habit." Working in a pet store I see many people that cannot afford the "best" care. Like replacing a $20-40 bulb every 6months.

So keep in mind when we berrate these people and, basically accuse them of "killing" thier animal slowly, they may not know and they may not be able to afford the "best" care.

I see this alot when it comes to substrates. I have read here many times that sand,newspaper, or trimmed reptile carpet are the only ways to go with substrate. But what about reptile litter, calcium carbonate sand, and the walnut substrates?

Many have dismissed them, but have they ever used them? Has anyone ever had a beardie "hooked" on the calcium sand as some predict. Has any one had impaction problems with the other substrates--

Remember the old saying that there is more than one way to skin a cat---

Great story, but I think you pretty much answered your questions yourself. With the advances in knowlege of what they need to be healthy and thrive come new ways of doing things to try to meet those conditions. Sure some animals could survive with less, but some wouldn't. With meeting "proper conditions" a much higher percentage of our animals will thrive. This is also an everchanging process, because we learn something new about them everyday.

Sean
Heart Mountain Herps

Any animal that I take it's freedom away, make it eat only what I provide, make it stay in the temperatures I give, basically consider it's life as something that is mine, all for my enjoyment and entertainment deserves to have the best life I can possibly provide for it. Not just a life that keeps it alive but a life that goes beyond that and makes it feel as good physically and mentally as best I know how.

We owe that to them. Everything on this planet is not for our taking and using however we want. We destroy enough wildlife and it's habitat as it is. I'm all for eating a nice, fat, juicy steak but I'm certainly not for destroying a section of heavily depleted rainforest so my skin can look better.
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Rob Talkington