So i found a peta article speaking of us reptile keepers in a bad light. for clarity i will respond to each point in colour and try and correct them 
1. It’s a dirty business.
Snake - Ball Python | Debs (ò‿ó)♪ | CC BY 2.0
Breeders sell animals en masse, and most reptiles are stolen from their native habitats for a lucrative industry that treats sensitive and fragile animals with little more care than car parts. During a PETA investigation of a California dealer called Global Captive Breeders, snakes and other reptiles were so neglected that, in many cases, even their deaths went unnoticed. Enclosures were filled with rotting carcasses teeming with maggots.
Most pet snakes are captive bred and those that are not are usually specialist species to my knowledge, and i find that people leave their livestock dead and rotting seems a little far fetched and untrue. Also shipping is stressful, but i believe that snakes are kept in containers inside insulated crates for transport to reduce mortality and stress.
2. Snakes have specialized needs.
Even though dealers looking to make a profit may minimize what reptiles need, snakes require spectrum lighting and precise diets. They shun contact with humans, and being held, touched, petted, or passed around is stressful and leaves them prone to illness and injury. And since snakes don’t whine, yelp, or flinch, injuries may go unnoticed and untreated.
Snakes do not require special lighting in most cases, and what spectrum of light? Snakes recieve calcium from their prey and don't need to synthesize it as herbivorous reptiles do. Precise diets? snakes (not egg eaters or specialist feeders) and snakes can get their nutrients through a diet of mammals as most do in the wild. snakes can become used to handling and often use this time to exercise and spend some time outside of their cage. Any good snakekeeper will know when a snake is stressed (perpetual hiding, refusing food etc) and feeding time is a good time to check for injury.
3. A killing cycle.
DSC09196 | Debs (ò‿ó)♪ | CC BY 2.0
Snakes eat rabbits, mice, and crickets, animals you’ll have to purchase at a pet store, further bolstering the industry.
you are making an industry sound like a monster. Yes we feed them other creatures, and yes some people feed live. Live insects is in general morally acceptable and live feeding mammals is generally frowned upon for most snakes and has the potential for injury for the snake. not a strong point to pick on peta.
4. Captivity is cruel.
Boa and Rock | Lisa Williams | CC BY 2.0
Rather than exploring lush jungles and swamps and experiencing all the sensory pleasures that they’re so keenly attuned to, captive snakes are relegated to aquariums in which they can’t even stretch out to full length, much less move around or climb.
That is very generalized, any keeper who wants to provide good care will provide a cage longer than their snake and let them out every now and again to let them stretch out a bit. snakes take no pleasure in lush jungles and other sensory marvels. Captivity is very safe and a few hiding spots and places to climb are a great start for a comfortable snake. also only a portion of snakes come from jungles and swamps and often do not move that much in their cage depending on specie.
5. Sky-high mortality.
Snake | chrstphre campbell | CC BY 2.0
A study published by the U.K.’s Royal Society of Biology found that at least 75 percent of pet snakes, lizards, tortoises, and turtles die within one year in a human home. It’s believed that most of these newly acquired animals die from stress related to captivity.
“Must-have pets” become inconvenient burdens very quickly. Most snakes end up being ignored and neglected in dark basements or garages. And many are simply tossed outside like trash, left to starve or die of exposure or predation—and those who survive may wreak havoc on local ecosystems.
Most young reptiles simply do not make it for reasons not completely understood but snakes are often survivors in captivity and any dedicated person who keeps a snake for reasons other than 'their cool or macho' or similar will provide well for a snake. They do have a point about neglect, as the initial cool factor wears off fairly quickly and many do neglect or release their snakes into the wild.
Please, never buy a snake or any animal from a pet store and ask friends and family not to support this deadly industry, either.
in all peta needs a LOT more research on this subject to make any valid points, if a 14 year old with a single snake can completely dismantle their article then i think something needs to be done if they want to be valid.
They have a point about this though, in south Africa we have licensing and requirements for keeping exotic pets, maybe if America did something similar things could change and be better. anyways have a good day and/or laugh at how stupid this article was.
1. It’s a dirty business.
Snake - Ball Python | Debs (ò‿ó)♪ | CC BY 2.0Breeders sell animals en masse, and most reptiles are stolen from their native habitats for a lucrative industry that treats sensitive and fragile animals with little more care than car parts. During a PETA investigation of a California dealer called Global Captive Breeders, snakes and other reptiles were so neglected that, in many cases, even their deaths went unnoticed. Enclosures were filled with rotting carcasses teeming with maggots.
Most pet snakes are captive bred and those that are not are usually specialist species to my knowledge, and i find that people leave their livestock dead and rotting seems a little far fetched and untrue. Also shipping is stressful, but i believe that snakes are kept in containers inside insulated crates for transport to reduce mortality and stress.
2. Snakes have specialized needs.
Even though dealers looking to make a profit may minimize what reptiles need, snakes require spectrum lighting and precise diets. They shun contact with humans, and being held, touched, petted, or passed around is stressful and leaves them prone to illness and injury. And since snakes don’t whine, yelp, or flinch, injuries may go unnoticed and untreated.
Snakes do not require special lighting in most cases, and what spectrum of light? Snakes recieve calcium from their prey and don't need to synthesize it as herbivorous reptiles do. Precise diets? snakes (not egg eaters or specialist feeders) and snakes can get their nutrients through a diet of mammals as most do in the wild. snakes can become used to handling and often use this time to exercise and spend some time outside of their cage. Any good snakekeeper will know when a snake is stressed (perpetual hiding, refusing food etc) and feeding time is a good time to check for injury.
3. A killing cycle.
DSC09196 | Debs (ò‿ó)♪ | CC BY 2.0Snakes eat rabbits, mice, and crickets, animals you’ll have to purchase at a pet store, further bolstering the industry.
you are making an industry sound like a monster. Yes we feed them other creatures, and yes some people feed live. Live insects is in general morally acceptable and live feeding mammals is generally frowned upon for most snakes and has the potential for injury for the snake. not a strong point to pick on peta.
4. Captivity is cruel.
Boa and Rock | Lisa Williams | CC BY 2.0Rather than exploring lush jungles and swamps and experiencing all the sensory pleasures that they’re so keenly attuned to, captive snakes are relegated to aquariums in which they can’t even stretch out to full length, much less move around or climb.
That is very generalized, any keeper who wants to provide good care will provide a cage longer than their snake and let them out every now and again to let them stretch out a bit. snakes take no pleasure in lush jungles and other sensory marvels. Captivity is very safe and a few hiding spots and places to climb are a great start for a comfortable snake. also only a portion of snakes come from jungles and swamps and often do not move that much in their cage depending on specie.
5. Sky-high mortality.
Snake | chrstphre campbell | CC BY 2.0A study published by the U.K.’s Royal Society of Biology found that at least 75 percent of pet snakes, lizards, tortoises, and turtles die within one year in a human home. It’s believed that most of these newly acquired animals die from stress related to captivity.
“Must-have pets” become inconvenient burdens very quickly. Most snakes end up being ignored and neglected in dark basements or garages. And many are simply tossed outside like trash, left to starve or die of exposure or predation—and those who survive may wreak havoc on local ecosystems.
Most young reptiles simply do not make it for reasons not completely understood but snakes are often survivors in captivity and any dedicated person who keeps a snake for reasons other than 'their cool or macho' or similar will provide well for a snake. They do have a point about neglect, as the initial cool factor wears off fairly quickly and many do neglect or release their snakes into the wild.
Please, never buy a snake or any animal from a pet store and ask friends and family not to support this deadly industry, either.
in all peta needs a LOT more research on this subject to make any valid points, if a 14 year old with a single snake can completely dismantle their article then i think something needs to be done if they want to be valid.
They have a point about this though, in south Africa we have licensing and requirements for keeping exotic pets, maybe if America did something similar things could change and be better. anyways have a good day and/or laugh at how stupid this article was.
