Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I took 2 green treefrogs from the wild last season and I'm letting them back this year. They are healtheir than they were when I found them. They ate a lot!

I'm also releasing some Dekay's snakes too. All are going home tonight.
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My Critters

6 Leopard Gecko 2.4.0
1 Tokay Gecko 1.0.0
2 Ball Pythons 2.0.0
1 Black Kingsnake 1.0.0
1 Mex Black/cali king hybrid 1.0.0
3 Baird's Rat Snake (Thanks Vadoni!) 2.1.0
***1.0 Loma Alta***1.2Hawkeye 04 stock***
2 Gray Ratsnakes 0.1.1
1 04 Amel Cornsnake 0.1
1 04 Anery Cornsnake 1.0
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum

Critters under my care

3 Red Milk Snakes 02
2 Mexican Milk Snakes
2 Black King snakes 03
2 Mexican Black/California King Hybrids
11 California Kingsnakes
1 Eastern Kingsnake
11 Graybanded Kingsnakes
2 Baird's Rat Snake
1 Yellow Rat Snake
1 Everglades Rat Snake
25 Corn Snakes
2 African house snakes
1 Green Tree Python
2 Boa c. constrictor
1 Mottled Rock Rattlesnake

Typically the recommendations are to not release any animals regardless of origin unless they have been kept totally away from all animals that are not collected from the same locality.
The reason for this is due to the risk of novel diseases to that area (for one example this is how it is believed that the mycoplasma that is wiping out the native tortoises (Gopherus spp) was introduced to the wild populations. Iridioviruses have been linked to released tiger salamanders for a second example.

If you want to release native species then they need to be kept completely seperate from all animals not from that same locality along with excellant quarantine protocols to prevent cross contamination.

Ed

I agree that releasing captives back into the wild is a poor choice. WIth looking at your list of animals, it would be hard for even the most experienced to avoid passive mixing of pathogens.

It's best to not take animals from the wild in the beginning,
but it's crucial to not release them once in captivity. (wildlife rehabbers do in general have special training in this area and are an exception.)

oh great another one!!!!