WILD CAUGHT VS CAPTIVE BRED

With our increased knowledge of the proper captive care requirements of amphibians and reptiles, our successes in captive breeding have increased tremendously. Today, many species are being regularly captive bred, and even; more are being captive bred on an occasional basis. Whereas in the past, your only choice was to acquire a wild caught amphibian or reptile, today you may choose between wild caught and captive bred. The smart hobbyist chooses captive bred.

Because breeding animals in captivity is a more costly process than collecting them from the wild, captive bred animals normally are priced higher than wild caught animals. However, you will save more money in the long run by buying captive bred animals. As a general rule captive bred animals are healthier and better adjusted to captivity. Captive bred animals on average harbor less diseases and parasites than their wild caught counterparts. Captive bred animals are used to captive conditions and are usually more comfortable in cages than wild caught animals. Thus, they are under less stress and less prone to catch new disease.

Although one wild caught animal may be half the price of a captive bred animal, it is much more likely to die, and you will have spent the money saved in replacing the dead wild caught and will often end up loosing money as you may go through several wild caught before finding one that will survive on a long term basis. Substantial vet bills must also be added here. Furthermore, you run the risk of introducing disease to other animals that you might have. One diseased Wild caught animal is capable of wiping out your entire collection!

You should also buy captive bred animals to support the conservation of wild animals. Every tine you make the decision to buy captive bred rather than wild caught, you prevent the collection of several animals from the wil4. Several - because for every animal to be sold on the retail level, several may have died from the aggregate after capture but before making it to your hands.
By buying captive bred animals, you keep the breeders in business and provide the means for captive self-sustaining alternative populations to be set up. For some species, it may soon be all we have left.

The choice between purchasing wild caught or captive bred animals is still yours. Think it over and make the smart choice. Buy captive Bred over wild caught!