redXb/w

Rick · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject:

Humans, cats, dogs, birds, etc.. can all become ill from stress or failure to meet one of our few primary needs. It is not strictly related to reptiles.

Now even though I do not say reptiles are "domesticated", I do say they are "pets", in the simplist literal description of the word. As far as domestication is concerned, there is no proof that it took hundreds or thousands of years to domesticate the dog or cat. As a matter of fact, if you google for "domestic silver fox" you will see that this species was domesticated in less than 40 generations!

We do care about their needs and in promoting proper care. Hence this website to share knowledge, but they are no different from any other pet. They have 'basic needs' that must be met for them to remain healthy or fit, again.. like any other pet. A snake has much less in the way of basic needs than that of a dog, yet more dogs, cats, birds, fish, other pets are neglected and die each year than reptiles. So, it's not a reptile issue.. It's a lazy selfish human issue that affects those poor animals.

I am all for making your tegus enclosure as enviromentally stimulating as possible, and it's diet well rounded.. But they way you come off is that we shouldn't even have pet reptiles. You can not keep a reptile in a 100% natural way, it's not even possible for zoos to do. Natural is not always better, do you have any idea how many animals in the 'wild' die every day from predators, disease, stress, starvation, etc? If given proper care, most any animal in the pet trade can live 20% longer in captivity that the same animal in the wild.

As far as hybrids are concerned.. It still comes down to a matter of opinion. There is a term.. "species intergrade", which basically means "naturally occurring hybrids/crosses". So it is natural and does happen. Now that doesn't mean I believe we should start making designer hybrids and releasing them into the wild. I am also for proper tagging or record keeping of hybrids to avoid future complications as the animals change hand.. but that is also just my opinion.

Rick
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Sisco Reptiles - Proud Breeder of the Tamest & Most Social Tegus. See www.SiscoReptiles.com

txrepgirl · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:43 am Post subject:

snakehandler I like your last post.That was very nice of you to say.Thank you.

txrepgirl · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:49 am Post subject:

Rick I really like that tagging or record keeping part

.Now that's smart.