Buy a terrarium animal does not mean any problem at the present time, unfortunately. Why unfortunately? The answer is obvious. The fact that today you can easily purchase amphibian, reptiles, bird or small mammal via the Internet, on the animals exchanges, in brick-and-mortar stores or elsewhere, leading to the fact that it can take almost anyone. Thus, even a person with no previous experience and any information or at least the basic biological and zoological awareness. Remember that, for example, keeping reptiles is very challenging, and this applies to small turtles, chameleons … through to large snakes or lizards. For example, as many popular small tortoises, whether land or water (and not only those) are for their cuteness very often recommended as a “gift for children,” even though they and even their own parents do not have a clue about the complexity of such a breed.
The basic thing which should every breeder realize and understand is the fact that possession and stay in captivity the animals have not chosen voluntarily. Therefore, it is necessary to act accordingly and to provide a possible optimal and most natural conditions for their life.
In our field, we meet often tragic destinies of captive bred reptiles, and not only because of the above-mentioned demands of breeding, but mainly from the lack of obtained information about the breed of the animal before buying it. We can see animals often in such condition when for their salvation is already too late. If we manage to save the animal’s life, then it is often affected by such effects, it would not survive in the wild. It is a cruel tax for breeder´s irresponsibility, do not you think?
Basal ignorance and the consequent unwillingness to inform buyers of the animal, we meet already in the first line – so even by some retailers. Some of them actually prefer business to the interests of the animal. It is, however, up to the future breeder to get all relevant and necessary information for animal breeding himself. So should keep each responsible person who plans to take his new home ‘pet’. It cannot already make excuses use the lack of literature in printed or electronic form nowadays. Our department is not indifferent to such breeders and we are able alternatively to advise, recommend the best source of information.
If you are considering the selection and purchase of a new family member, take the following words of wisdom to heart:
“You become forever responsible for what you have bound to yourself.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry).
Autor: MVDr. Ing. Eva Čermáková
