Wild Caught Specimens in Reputable Reptile Shops

[Lowenna]

Hi

I've noticed a lot of shops in the 'reputable reptile centres' thread sell wild caught animals. I was wondering how everyone feels about the sale of wild caught animals by good shops.

Vote please

[PendleHog]

I didnt vote as I didnt really agree with any of the options you provided. Providing shops are stating WC honestly (many places dont!) I have no problem with it, if the customer knows what they are buying then where's the issue?

Personally there are some species I would prefer to buy wild caught, as this means I can guarantee "fresh blood" for my breeders. So many species have been built up in captive collections from just a handful of wild animals and are now heavily linebred. In these cases wild caught animals are important.

[BELIAL]

well said by pendlehog there...

i have a problem when the WC animals are advertised and sold as CB or CF (this happens more than you know!!) or their capture from the wild causes a depletion in the natural reserve.

[KenMan]

TBH I dont really like the though of an animal being taken from its natural habitat and caged up, musnt be a very nice thing to happen...However I aggree with what PendleHog is saying, and I also think its OK when breeding of an endangered species is needed. But I wouldnt buy something thats easily CB, like royals etc

[Rainwater]

I voted no, simple because:

1. no animal should be taken from its habitat unless its endangered or something

2. they can pick up all sorts of diseases or parasites in the wild that could be harmful to both them and other pets

3. its unethical. why profit out of something born in the wild? surely its illegal anyway?

[HABU]

there's a shortage of snakes. look at the prices. where did all the corns and royals come from?. habitat loss is the biggey, not collection, except for some insular species. captive propigation should be promoted. the clock is ticking for many biomes.

[LeeH]

if they are in right hands yeah..i think some are too quick with the old assist feeding with the prime example being royals python and many lizards do adapt well
in the ideal world everything would be captive bred but it needs WC to get the CB animals so.....WC are the future of captive bred animals..even the cornsnakes and leopard geckos we all keep came from wild caught animals many years ago
i agree with Pendlehog on the WC bloodline..important for every animal..stops deformities

[Spikebrit]

WC are in my opinon a key part of the current reptile trade, simple as it hasnt had the time to develop like many other pet trades have.

WC specimiums where no capative breed alternative is the only way to keep certain reptiles since no one or very few individuals will keep them, let alone breed them. As such, it is my oinion that the selling of WC specimiums should go to individuals planning on breeding them. As this will eventually reduce the volume of WC animals. I disageree with selling single WC seciums to un experienced keepers.

WC speciums also allow for the expansion of blood lines, as currently blood lines are so small it wont be long before major problems start to develop, as reps become inbread.

Jay

[KenMan]

Spike, I think that WC should be introduced to bloodlines, like you said, but I dont think that if it "is the only way to keep certain reptiles" then we should keep them, unless breeding them. I wouldnt buy a single WC animal, just because there werent any CB alternatives...

[HABU]

i think spikebrit has a valid point