>>hello, i'm writing a paper about keeping exotic pets and are explaining both sides for an ethics paper.i know that many rettiles with the proper care make really great pets. i would l;ike to use an example for the other side that is against keeping them.
>>which reptile has the poorest track record in captivity both for the general pubic and zoos.
Just about all of the inexpensive commonly sold in local pet
stores reptiles will die within a year or less of being
purchased.
This is mainly due to the lack of information that the general
public has on the requirements and needs of reptiles that
are kept in captivity.
Proably the poorest track record of all of the reptiles in
captivity are those reptiles that can be purchased for the
least amount of money. That would include the domestic Green
Anole as well as Long Tail Grass Lizards, both of which can
be purchased at your local pet store here in the US for less
than $5.00 (US) each.
While these animals can themselves be purchased for less than
five dollars each, the cost to set up a proper and necessary
tank environment for them to live healthy, normal lives in
captivity can and oftentimes does cost about $150.00 to
$200.00 (US).
They require adequate special lighting (UVA and UVB -
UltraViolet light), a heat source if the home where they are
kept is too cold, adequate humidity level (which may mean a
special misting type device to maintain a proper level of
humidity for them in their tank) and so forth. Most people
don't know this and assume that if the lizards in question
cost less than $5.00 each it stands to reason that it is as
equally inexpensive to pay for their upkeep.
That is far from the truth and as a result, most of these
reptiles will die within a year or less of being bought.
>>which one has the leaste known about it, as in feeding reqs, tempretures, breeding, etc.
Certain species of Chameleons are still not widely kept in
captivity because to date there are so few of them available
in the pet trade and previous attempts by hobbyists to keep
them in captivity have not been very successful.
All lizards are prone to be easily stressed when placed in
captivity and chameleons are somewhat more prone to become
stressed when placed in captivity than other types of
lizards.
The truth is that many chameleons purchased by novice
hobbyists die within weeks or months of being purchased.
There are three types of Chameleons that have been and are
being successfully kept in captivity by a significant
number of herp keepers around the world such as the Veiled
Chameleon, the Jackson's Chameleon and the Panther chameleon.
But when one considers that there are some 120 known species
of chameleons it's clear that most chameleons do not survive
very well in captivity especially when purchased by novice
hobbyists. Chameleons as I said are very prone to being
stressed and once they start to go downhill as far as their
health they will very likely die in captivity. A sad, but true
fact. They require someone with experience and knowledge and
a serious commitment to their health and well-being in order
to have a good chance of surviving and doing well in captivity.
As far as reptiles that are a good reason why people should
not be allowed to keep reptiles as pets in captivity the
most abandoned reptiles that too often end up in reptiles
rescue centers are snakes which have outgrown their previous
owner's ability to care for them any longer as well as other
reptiles that when purchased were small easily managed and
cared for animals that were a novelty sort of "pet". When they
become full grown adult lizards/snakes and the novelty of
owning them wears off the owner will all too often simply
give them up to an animal shelter which must then provide
housing and food for these animals for the rest of their lives
in captivity. Were it not for the unpaid volunteers who work
and run these reptile rescue shelters these animals would no
doubt have to be destroyed. A very sad, but true fact.
Hope that helps. Good luck. Peace.
Lizard~King
