Editing Herpetoculture

{{Short description|Feeding and care of reptiles}}
[[File:Phyllobates terribilis vivarium.jpg|thumb|A [[vivarium]] housing poison dart frogs |322x322px]]
'''Herpetoculture''' is the keeping of live [[reptile]]s and [[amphibia]]ns in [[captivity (animal)|captivity]], whether as a [[hobby]] or as a commercial [[biological reproduction|breeding]] operation. "Herps" is an informal term for both reptiles and amphibians, shortened from the scientific umbrella term “herptiles”.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://usherp.org/sample-page/what-is-herpetoculture/|title=What is Herpetoculture?|date=2013-02-06|work=United States Herpetoculture Alliance|access-date=2017-06-07|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210100035/http://usherp.org/sample-page/what-is-herpetoculture/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is undertaken by people of all ages and from all walks of life, including career herpetologists, professional reptile or amphibian breeders, and casual hobbyists.

==Etymology==
The origin of the word "herpetoculture" is credited to Tom Huff, who devised the word to distinguish what he, as a self-described "herpetoculturist", was doing—working to keeping reptiles and amphibians alive and healthy—from what herpetologists of that era were generally doing, namely, collecting specimens for preservation in museum collections. The word itself comes from the Greek language origin {{Transliteration|grc|herpein}}, which means "to creep".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Herpetoculture|url=http://www.discoveranimals.org/pets/type/category/Herpetoculture|website=www.discoveranimals.org|access-date=2017-06-07|archive-date=2017-07-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704072613/http://www.discoveranimals.org/pets/type/category/herpetoculture/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Equipment==

=== Enclosures ===
Though traditional [[Aquarium|glass aquariums]] and [[Vivarium|terrariums]] are still widely used, in recent years [[glass]] and [[fiberglass]] cages designed specifically for herps have become more widely available. Many herpetoculturists prefer these newer enclosures as they come in larger sizes, are more secure, can be stacked, and are more easily modified to included heat and humidity sources. At one time it was commonly accepted to keep multiple creatures in a small enclosure; however, current cage size recommendations discourage this. These size recommendations differ depending on the species and its natural environment.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |doi=10.1016/B978-1-4557-0893-2.00001-6 |chapter=Current Herpetologic Husbandry and Products |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2phWAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA2 |title=Current Therapy in Reptile Medicine and Surgery |year=2014 |last1=Barten |first1=Stephen L. |last2=Fleming |first2=Gregory J. |pages=2–12 |isbn=978-1-4557-0893-2 |editor1-first=Douglas R. |editor1-last=Mader |editor2-first=Stephen J. |editor2-last=Divers }}</ref>

===Vivaria===
As reptiles are [[Ectotherm|cold blooded]] they generally need to be kept in climate-controlled enclosures, especially when kept in regions further away from the equator. A standard enclosure usually incorporates a thermostat and a heat emitter; usually a heating pad, heat tape or an incandescent light bulb. Hot rocks can be used, but as a secondary heat source, as they often provide uneven heating. Some reptiles also require some form of [[Ultraviolet radiation]] which can be provided through a UV bulb. The lighting can be set to a timer to simulate a day/night cycle. Heat emitters are usually placed at one end of the enclosure to allow for a temperature gradient, so a reptile may move to the other end of the enclosure if it needs to cool itself.<ref name=":0" />

===Incubators===
Many reptiles are oviparous and will lay eggs if successfully mated. Breeders may use incubators to increase their chances of successful hatching. Reptilian incubators generally consist of a thermostat and hygrometer, plus various heating and misting devices, as to create a stable environment. Unlike most avian eggs, reptile eggs do not need to be turned; in the wild they are generally laid in mounds or underground and left to incubate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://beardeddragontank.com/the-best-reptile-incubator|title=The Best Reptile Incubator In 2017 – Happy Breeding! {{!}} Bearded Dragon Tank|website=beardeddragontank.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-07|archive-date=2017-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721070410/http://beardeddragontank.com/the-best-reptile-incubator|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Husbandry==

===Feeding===
Reptiles and amphibians can be [[omnivore]]s, [[carnivore]]s, or [[herbivore]]s. Omnivorous reptiles can be fed species-dependent mixes of plant or meat-based foods, with additional supplementation, most commonly calcium. Carnivorous reptiles may need living or dried insects or whole rodents. Frozen rodents can be bought from pet shops and are then thawed before feeding, and live rodents can be kept and sustained before feeding. Some species of reptiles will also feed on smaller reptiles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/living-with-wildlife/reptiles-in-captivity|title=Reptiles in Captivity|website=dpipwe.tas.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2017-06-07|archive-date=2017-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703150008/http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/living-with-wildlife/reptiles-in-captivity|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Breeding===
Many species of reptiles have a seasonal breeding cycle. For example, in southern Australia, the Eastern Long Neck turtle [[brumate]]s over winter before mating in spring. Herpetoculturists who wish to breed their reptiles may have to alter the environment in the [[vivarium]] to simulate seasons to encourage successful mating. Amphibians are easily bred in captivity. Due to their small size and low-maintenance requirements, large captive populations can be substantiated easily and for a low-cost compared to other organisms.

==Controversy==
While commonly kept species of reptiles and amphibians are typically captive bred rather than field-collected, capture of wild animals for the exotic pet trade can have an adverse impact on wild populations.<ref>
:{{cite journal|year=2023|publisher=[[Elsevier BV]]|first3=Angie|first2=Jan|first1=Jennah|last3=Elwin|last2=Burbach|last1=Green|volume=43|page=e02452|s2cid=257933409|doi=10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02452|journal=[[Global Ecology and Conservation]]|issn=2351-9894|title=Taking stock of wildlife farming: A global perspective|doi-access=free}}
:
:This review cites this research.
:
:{{Cite journal |last=Valdez |first=Jose W. |date=2021-03-03 |title=Using Google Trends to Determine Current, Past, and Future Trends in the Reptile Pet Trade |journal=Animals |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=676 |doi=10.3390/ani11030676 |issn=2076-2615 |pmc=8001315 |pmid=33802560 |doi-access=free}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Herpetoculture and Conservation |url=http://www.anapsid.org/conserv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514115249/http://www.anapsid.org/conserv.html |archive-date=2008-05-14 |access-date=2008-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Grismer |first1=L. Lee |last2=Viets |first2=Brian E. |last3=Boyle |first3=Lawrence J. |date=1999 |title=Two New Continental Species of Goniurosaurus (Squamata: Eublepharidae) with a Phylogeny and Evolutionary Classification of the Genus |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=382–393 |doi=10.2307/1565635 |jstor=1565635 |id={{ProQuest|212220994}}}}</ref><ref name="watch">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Flecks M, Weinsheimer F, Böhme W, Chenga J, Lötters S, Rödder D |year=2012 |title=Watching extinction happen: the dramatic population decline of the critically endangered Tanzanian Turquoise Dwarf Gecko, ''Lygodactylus williamsi '' |url=http://www.salamandra-journal.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=270&Itemid=74 |url-status=dead |journal=Salamandra |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=12–20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032326/http://www.salamandra-journal.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=270&Itemid=74 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2013-09-17}}</ref> Additionally, exotic species may escape from or be released by irresponsible pet owners and become [[invasive species]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Invasive Pythons Threaten Florida Everglades &#124; US News |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/07/21/invasive-pythons-threaten-florida-everglades |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321225009/https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/07/21/invasive-pythons-threaten-florida-everglades |archive-date=2017-03-21 |access-date=2017-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mazzotti |first1=Frank J. |last2=Harvey |first2=Rebecca G. |date=26 June 2018 |title=The Invasion of Exotic Reptiles and Amphibians in Florida |url=https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw365 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417134021/https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw365 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |access-date=19 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |last2=Phys.org |title=Invasive snake in Gran Canaria has killed off most native reptiles on the island |url=https://phys.org/news/2021-12-invasive-snake-gran-canaria-native.html |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=phys.org |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Wildlife trade]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.anapsid.org/conserv.html Herpetoculture and Conservation]
*[http://www.kingsnake.com Resources for herpetoculturists]
*[http://www.reptilopolis.fr.nf A French portal about herpetoculture]
*[http://www.hondurassilvestre.com Honduras Herpetoculturists Portal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315131944/http://www.hondurassilvestre.com/ |date=2010-03-15 }}
*[http://www.usark.org/ herpetoculture lobbyist organization USARK]
*[https://www.learnaboutcritters.org/primer A Primer on Reptiles and Amphibians]

[[Category:Amphibians in captivity]]
[[Category:Reptiles and humans]]
[[Category:Pet keeping]]