Originally Posted by
nfpgasmask
Anyway, like I said, this just makes me feel stronger about people keeping exotics and non-domesticated animals in general. And I'm not just talking about herps, but birds, fish, mammals, etc. These animals just do not belong in captivity, unless the keeper is a dedicated to its care and husbandry (like in a zoo environment), I just feel like it isn't a good idea, and certainly not fair to the creature. After I got the Mata Mata, it was less than a year before I started feeling guilty again.
And on top of the guilt, there is the whole problem of invasive species, disease, illegal trading of endangered and threatened species, pressure on wild populations, the list goes on. Basically, I just won't do it anymore. I don't want any part of the "pet trade". These are not pets, they are captive specimens. My cat is a pet, my dog is a pet. Tigers and Mata Mata turtles are not pets.
While I don't hold keepers in contempt, I just feel like its such a bad thing to do, if you really "love" and respect the animal. There's just sooooo many sad stories of neglect, improper care, and plain old failure, like in my Mata's case, that just make me feel like crap.
OK, I'll get off my soap box now. Good luck to all the keepers out there.
Bart