Mixing species -PLEASE READ - Page 2

Mez · #11 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 04:38 PM

That's because you know there is no argument.
Like stated, if you can provide a "wild sized vivarium" and plan to source locality specific lizards from one particular area im sure it would work. But that's not what happens, is it.
"Can my beardie live with a CWS"?
Yes, but depending on the temperature/humidity one (or both) are not being kept at the level of responsiblity and care that should be expected.
It's not hard to say
"well actually it can be done".
Nobody is saying you can't physically put two different species with different care requirements in the same vivarium and they might survive.
That's all they are doing, surviving. I can promise you every one of my geckos is kept naturalistically and are all thriving in their captive environment.
It is my opinion that if you are going to keep reps (specifically lizards/geckos) you should research that one species, find out about their natural habitats. You will find that they not come into contact with many other (if any, apart from their own species to breed) reptiles.
Take geckos for example. in the wild, if a gecko saw a lizard, or other gecko, it would probably do one of three things:
a) Freeze/not move
b) Run away
c) Fight

In captivity they cannot do these things like they would in the wild.
In captivty there is no need/no point on mixing species, becase one would always be at a disadvantage, and the others still under stress.
In the wild, species dont "mix" like you put it. They intergrate. That is a complete bio-system, and they're not just lizards, theres bugs decomposing dead lizards, snakes catching live ones...
There is no benefit for any species of reptile to be mixed with another, and you have to admit that. If you won't admit that, then you've obviously very stubborn or uneducated in repile keeping.
Thinking about this still makes me say, if you really like a species, surely you would want to study it and learn more about why it would do certain things....with another reptile in you cannot do this, as one/both would proably not act true behaviour out.
I know it's a touchy subject, and i admit it can be done in zoo-style enclosures for amazon biotype, but you cant surely say it benefits reptiles in home vivariums?
The only person it would benefit is the person keeping them so they dont have to fork out some more money for a viv, i'll never understand it, because if you are mixing species that dont naturally occur together the neither of them are exhibiting natural behaviour...
James

Art_Gecko101 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 04:47 PM

I'm not going to get into this, the information is there for people to make their own decisions. and people will always do just that.

Basky and I have had argued our points long and hard before, and i'm not getting into another argument here.

basky · #13 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 06:07 PM

mez i certainly wouldn't mix things from different areas with different requirements. i also dont advice people to mix species if they arent experienced with reps but i have done for many years with them all successfully breeding and living very happily. i also wouldn't keep mixed species in a small viv, mine is plenty big enough for them to get away from each other with more an enough hiding areas.
like i said i dont want an arguement, but why do zoos do it if it's wrong?

Mez · #14 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 06:16 PM

Blazey,
Whilst you may fully understand the origins of your animals and their needs, some, ie beginners to the hobby may not.
I believe that this is the original idea of the topic and i think we should leave it at that and let people make their own minds up.
Ive only ever been to chester zoo, and they dont mix species of lizards (or snake).
James

basky · #15 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 06:31 PM

yeah ok leave it at that.
btw chester have sailfins with water dragons, uromastyx with tortoises, whites tree frogs with red eyes etc... but hey

michellexx · #16 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 09:41 PM

Ive only ever been to chester zoo, and they dont mix species of lizards (or snake).
James

[/quote]

Sorry but they do, I went there only last week and saw this for myself!

CWD · #17 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basky

yeah ok leave it at that.
btw chester have sailfins with water dragons, uromastyx with tortoises, whites tree frogs with red eyes etc... but hey

well they need to sort it out !!!!!!

robje29 · #18 (**permalink**) 03-06-2007, 11:26 PM

MMM

Some do, some dont.

The reality here is that some people do with success, others not!

Some zoo's mix exibits, its not hard to see the ones with experience!

For some to slate all mixed keepers because of belief or lack of knowledge is either petty or ignorant, the reality is it can be done but is it ethically correct to do so?

So to those reading this thread who are asking, there are 2 opinions here, I would suggest to do some more research and make your own mind up...