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The keeping of reptiles as pets, both nationally and internationally, has become increasingly common in recent years (RSPCA 2004; APPMA 2015), with some estimates of captive reptile numbers suggesting that UK populations are even larger than those species more typically considered as pets (e.g. 7.5% of pet-owning households own reptiles compared with 2.5% hamsters and 2.5% guinea-pigs (PFMA 2016)).
Many species of reptile are considered unsuitable for private husbandry (RSPCA 2002; BVA et al. 2015), and therefore they represent a potentially huge welfare concern that needs addressing. What limited evidence there is indicates that almost half of all reptile-owners experience unexpected problems with their pets (Blue Cross 2005).
Even when captive-bred, reptiles remain undomesticated wild animals and their needs are diverse and highly specialist. Reptiles can be relatively behaviourally inflexible and extremely sensitive to environmental change, resulting in a poor ability to cope with imperfect captive conditions (RSPCA 2002). Such specialist requirements are difficult to meet and may be beyond the knowledge and/or means of pet owners.
