Hi all,

After seeing the links to this on another thread, I am now thoroughly confused.
Can anyone point me to the specifics on the bill that affect us as reptile owners ?
For example, what housing restrictions/recommendations etc are made for various species (I'm mainly interested in corns and royals but other folks will probably want others).
Or is this bill not specific on the details just yet ?

Thanks

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Corn Snake 4.3.1
Royal Python 1.1 (100% Het Pied)
Boa Constrictor 0.1

As far as I'm aware, part of the actual problem is that there are no restrictions or recommendations - or even recommended societies/people to ask - about reptile keeping.

Which pretty much leaves it in the hands of the RSPCA and what they think is appropriate (never mind what's actually appropriate as per skilled keepers of the species) until there ARE guidelines for every species or every basic type/size/etc range of reptile that's kept.

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- Ssthisto

"My bum has been a bum for a very long time, but that doesn't mean I have to listen to what it says."
- Terry Pratchett, Fifth Elephant
Lizards: 2.1 E. macularius2.4 H. caudicinctus1.0 R. ciliatus0.0.2 T. gigas0.1 T. scincoides0.1 T. merianae0.1 Tupinambis hybrid1.0 V. niloticus0.0.3 V. acanthurus Colubrids: 14.12 P. guttattus1.0 P. o. rossalini1.0 P. o. lindheimeri1.1 P. slowinskii2.0 C. radiatus0.1 Lamprophis sp1.0 L. g. nigritus0.1 L. alterna1.0 H. n. nasicus1.0 P. m. melanoleucus2.1 T. s. infernalis Boids: 1.1 E. c. maurus 0.1 E. conicus8.14 P. regius1.0 A. dumerilli
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Your right !

Most of the time RSPCA dont know much about reptiles at all.

How they think they can pass judgement is beyond me.

Having said that, there are individules within rspca who have an interest, and thats the case down my way. Well, kinda ! the wildlife center and hastings has a couple of great officers who sometimes come across reptiles, and they are only to happy to contact us for advice.

And a little while back, steve (t barn) was called out to a 'rescue' by the local police, and he contacted the rspca and they workied with him and a large number of reptiles were seized. Unfortantly they didnt have the equipment or knowledge to house them, so we got that honour !

Its another reason these forums are so important, for the huge amount of information that is freely available from experts who keep these animals.


I do wish they would work more closely with local goups, but i cant 'tar them all with the same brush'

The bill is quite comprehensive but I don't recall any specific guidance for reptiles, that said its been a year since I looked at it. You can consider anything that refers to animals as referring to all vertebrates. Remember that prosecutions take place at court and as such require evidence and/or expert witnesses. If you were to dispute the allegations and win then it would set a precedent and result in compensation from the RSPCA. Therefore until they better educate themselves concerning reptile needs it is unlikely that anyone will be taken to court unless the reptile is in obvious need of attention.

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1.0.1 Bearded Dragons
1.0.0 Mississippi Map turtle
0.0.1 Razorback Musk turtle
1.0.1 Freckled Monitor
2.4.0 Bearded Pygmy Chameleons (Rieppeleon brevicaudatus)
1.1.0 Pitted Pygmy Chameleons (Rhampholeon temporalis)

Yes, totally agree with the above

I have just seen my first post, and it dont come across just as I had wanted, it was late !

My point was that yes, the rspca on the whole know squat about reptiles, but some officers do, and there are plenty of us 'experts' who can help them, and as long as the end result is a huge reduction in the number of neglected or 'dumped' reptiles, then thats the way to go.

If we dont help police it, then someone else will, and they wont understand as we do.