a realm that can easily avoid being traveled for the duration of one’s life, but it’s a narrative that I think will still suffice in its ability to illustrate the point at hand. While reptile keeping might not be the first thing that springs to mind when someone says “tradition,” it is an area of practice that is very much rooted in the dirt of the word. Perhaps it is because reptiles are so different from us — not like the warm-blooded pets, such as cats and dogs, that very few people would doubt their ability to keep alive and well — that when the first reptile keepers finally landed on a method that managed to keep the delicate little creatures alive for a few years, they kept it. To this day, the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality heavily dominates. Unfortunately, this is at the expense of those small lives entrusted to our care. I will not say that it affects their happiness, as this tends to be a poisonous concept that does more harm than good. Placing human attributes onto animals rarely ends well for the animals in question, especially reptiles. “My lizard seems lonely, so I’m thinking of getting him a friend,” is a painfully common sentiment that, while it may have come from only the best of intentions, often leads to the death or serious injury of both the initial pet, and its new-found “friend.” In this case, the tradition of keeping solitary animals on their own is a good one. However, though their ability to feel happiness (in a way that humans understand it) may be incredibly debatable, I do not find that to be a good enough reason for keeping reptiles with only the bare minimum requirements for survival. Certainly, a turtle can be tossed into a box with some food and, because she is a hardy individual, she may survive for quite a few years. But these are lives that have, through no choice of their own, been placed into the care of humans who, being the species of empathy and intelligence, would be doing the least of their duty in providing these animals with an existence as fulfilling as possible, since we insist on commanding ownership of them. I will not argue against that practice, as the crested gecko was brought back from presumed extinction through the pet trade and many others have benefited in similar ways, and, as long as the proper care is being provided, the animals certainly don’t mind living out their days predator-free with food always just a few steps away. To return to the point at hand, it is simply a matter of willingness to improve. There is an evolution that takes place, gradually, in the care of most pets. Dogs, for example, have been blessed with a trend in gentle training methods that no longer undermine their immense intelligence or desire to please their owners. Of course, there will always be those who refuse to change their ways, as the tradition they cling to has never failed to show results. This is a common argument in the reptile world, especially Page 68
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