Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you think it is torture to keep wild caught animals in captivity? I was thinking about the question myself and I wanted to ask your opinions.

I'm thinking that you're not going to see much support in this as many uros were wild caught. Mine all were and my first runs to my hand when entering his cage. He's definatley not bothered by being in captivity.

ok, I can easily go to a space that you may not have intended, so, time to
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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII (my care sheets)

well, you got to start with an animal somehow and since there are not tons of good uro breeders yet, some will have to be imported. the torture part comes in when you do not know how to take care of the animals, but that affects wild caught and captive bred. both of mine were wild caught, helga was abused and is a little skittish but seems happy and hugo, well, sometimes i think he thinks he is human, definitely no discontent in him except when i don't give him dry food (he has to eat his veggies first!)

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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

No I wasn't saying I thought it was torture I was asking if that was anyones opinion. What about those animals who never acclimate and are constantly hiding and under stress?

>>No I wasn't saying I thought it was torture I was asking if >>that was anyones opinion. What about those animals who never
>>acclimate and are constantly hiding and under stress?

What about those that never acclimate and die? What about those that die in the process of importation? There's probably more that fail that you never know about or even think about unless you're in the economic food-chain of reptile retail.
Torture is an "interesting" term and probably only a sadist can agree with it as anyone else that consciously can and DOES probably has a few wires crossed. You could say that I selected Uros as a "pet" over all my other qualifying options on the basis that they can benefit very much from captive breeding.
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2.4.0 uromastyx geyri (Saharan/Nigerian)
0.0.4 uromastyx hardwickii (Indian)
3.7.0 uromastyx macfadyeni (Somalian)
1.3.0 uromastyx ocellata (Sudanese)
"Yes, it's a problem. No, I don't want to talk about it."

i really think it depends on the uro. some just prefer to hide and is that really a sign of stress? they could have done that in the wild too. i think it would be more stressful if they wanted to hide and you never let them, like someone who did not know would take the hide out so they could see their animal more. in reality we have to help them adapt and adapt to them. but yes alot of crappy things do happen to uros along the way and yes some don't do well in captivity and die and it's very sad and unfortunate. but that brings up the issue if some people do bad things to the animals, does that mean those of us who treat them well should not be able to have them too? and there is the downside to all animals. just think of puppy farms.
basically we need to play some marvin gaye and barry white near the uro cages and get the reproduction going
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

How about the ones in the wild living under constant stress from predators, or lack of food, infested with parasites, or injured from other animals? How do you feel about those ones? How about the ones living under extreme weather conditions due to freakish storms or other acts of nature? Just curious.

Something to think about is 99% of the people on these forums are actually people who take great care of their captives, and give them the best conditions possible so they can thrive. Many people here also are very much into captive breeding which removes the nees for wild collecting but in the beginning that's how it all starts anyways.

were dogs, wc or cb they get the best homes we can give them, the best lighting, the best food, and care, and attention.

How about the "ones" in nature, that are killed and eaten, dragged off by some preditor, killed and cooked by people in strange countries and eaten, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh , just terrible.

Anyway I think ours all have it pretty good. The Majority of them!

I know mine were both wc at one time, you would never know it!

They certainly do not appear unhappy in anyway from captivity thats for sure!

Not do anybodies here, that we see daily !
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PHEve/ Eve

Contact PHEve

I have had this question posed to me by people that come to my house and happen to see the Uros. It gave me great pause for awhile, but eventually I came up with pretty much what everyone else has said. I tend to think that the "natural" way of life for animals is better, but when you think about encroaching habitats, pollution, etc. very few wild Uros even live what would be considered a normal life. At least when they are in my/our care all of their needs are (hopefully) met, and as many of their luxury desires as well. I do wish that I could provide them more space to roam and dig as they would normally, but admittedly some compromises have to be made.

All in all, as Eve said, none of the lizards we see going through here, with the occasional exception, seem to be bothered by captivity, as long as the owners place the lizard's needs above their own. (as in possibly covering the sides of the tank to minimize stress, even though we would REALLY like to see them).

I think this was a good question to pose to the group, it is one that each of us should be able to answer. Torture may have been a reactive word to use, but the general meaning is something we should all ponder and be comfortable with, imo.

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine (RIP)
0.1 Feline Winter
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