Phillip Arena

An understanding of spatial and thermal factors, two fundamentally intertwined elements, is essential to the health and welfare of captive reptiles; carers cannot address one without consideration of its influence on the other. This chapter highlights the need to recognise the many shortcomings of past practices, and urges individuals charged with keeping reptiles to become familiar and competent with new understandings revealed by research into the complex interplay of spatial and thermal factors. Essential to this issue is recognition that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is never a good option. However, despite advances in our understanding of the spatio-thermal requirements of both wild and captive reptiles, there remains opportunity for abuse, exemplified by the highly restrictive rack system for housing snakes. In terms of spatio-thermal requirements, the modern, progressive reptile carer must become familiar, not only with species-specific requirements, but also the needs of individuals, taking into account the impact of seasonal and behavioural factors.

Captive animal welfare has benefited from various new technologies and a new generation of welfare-minded and better-informed individuals adopting more welfare-oriented practices. However, for captive reptiles, there remain many aspects that are grounded in and reflect a long history of arbitrary or folklore husbandry and advice, and reptile-keeping continues to be compromised by practices that benefit the keeper rather than the animal that is kept. This second edition of Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles, like the first volume, contains a diversity of primary classical subjects, each hopefully constituting an advancement in our understanding of reptilian biology and meeting the associated needs of these animals in captivity. Some subjects, comprise miscellaneous considerations that, directly or indirectly, will have a significant bearing on reptile health and welfare. It is these factors that form the basis of this chapter. It is hoped that, at the very least, their inclusion may create or stimulate an awareness of other potential issues that may affect the well-being of captive reptiles.