among those who have been keeping and specializing in a certain species for a great many years, or even decades in some cases. Not only might they be inclined to hold fast to their ways, but others will happily use it as an excuse to go the cheap, simple, basic route they advocate for. It’s proven, after all. And the animals are still alive, aren’t they? For the sake of simplicity in providing examples, I’ll focus on just one species in the ever-growing catalog of what is available to the public. The most well-known in the herptile trade is almost indisputably the leopard gecko. Carried in every pet store, cheap enough to buy with an allowance, and sporting that endearing cheek-to-cheek smile, they are the old “goto” first reptile. As such, they have suffered immensely, both from the easy availability of incorrect information about their care and from the refusal to accept updated methods of keeping as they are discovered. Although ignorance is rather difficult to forgive with answers a brief internet search away, stubbornness is perhaps more concerning. Most new owners are at least willing to listen when help is provided – though there are certainly more than enough frustrating exceptions, and help usually isn’t sought until after the animal starts looking worse for wear – but even those who have managed to keep their pet alive for a mere handful of months tend to suddenly deem themselves worthy of donning the title “reptile expert,” and become cemented in their methods. The most interesting (oh, how gently put) phenomenon that these experts engage in is that of declaring, with unshakable conviction, a statement that is treated as such an untouchable truth that it needs no explanation or reasoning, and that, with its sheer resounding brilliance, ostensibly deflects all arguments against it. A common example: Someone in an online reptile group posts a picture of their leopard gecko lounging in her terrarium. She is well-fed, healthy, and content enough with life, it appears. Her owner has gone through great trouble to replicate her natural habitat as much as possible, incorporating a soil and sand mixture for her to fulfill her instinct to dig burrows, putting live plants throughout the enclosure, and providing a light on a timer, both to help the plants thrive and to provide a proper day and night cycle for the gecko. Having witnessed this more than enough times from a distance, I brace myself for the oncoming storm. The comment section explodes, and while there will always be those oddball complaints springing up here and there that I’ve never seen before, inevitably, there will also be the returning accusations of those horrible, unforgivable crimes. “Get rid of the light. That will make her go blind.” This is a crowd Page 69
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