What are the pros and cons of keeping a wild lizard or snake as a pet?

Question

What are the pros and cons of keeping a wild lizard or snake as a pet?

Answer 1

Cons-

-It could be illegal

-They might not be able to survive being in captive

-It could be aggressive

-It could cary unknown diseases and parasites

-It could stress them out and they ends up dying.

Pros-

-NONE

Why would you want to take a happy animal from it's home? A wild animal is ment to be in the wild, not being a captive house pet.

Answer 2

Cons-

It may be illegal.

Captive animals don't always survive the transition.

Captive animals are most often kept by inexperienced keepers.

Answer 3

pros: cheap (only in the short run as they require the $100-500 of equipment and tend to need more care from the vet)

Cons:

1.massive amounts of stress that kills a large number

2.stress weakens the immune system making it more likely to die

3.more likely to get ill (need to be taken to the vet)

4.likely to have a stress related behavior disorder (may need to be taken to the vet)

5.shortened lifespan

6.possibly illegal

7.harder to tame (sometimes impossible)

8.can spread disease  

Answer 4

there are no pros only cons to keeping wild collected herps as "pets". captive bred is FAR superior in EVERY way.

the only time it is ever ok ,is by careful breeders, obeying all local laws, and paying attention to environmental impacts who are looking to diversify the current captive bloodlines

Answer 5

The only pro is saving money and gas by going to the local pet store and purchasing one. As for cons, there are many as you can see. I won't bother re-listing all of them. If you just want to observe it for a short time remember to handle it as little as possible, wash your hands well if you do touch it, provide adequate room in the habitat and research food and water requirements for the creature. If you are unsure then bring it ( in a secure enclosure ) to your local pet store and ask them what it should be fed. Release it after a few days, no longer than a week, in a place close to where you found it if it is safe and possible. Remember, these are wild creatures and are not accustomed to being "kept", the stress from capture and your own lack of experience can easily lead to their death.

Answer 6

Cons:

-Species population may be imperiled

-May not adapt to captivity

-May be parasitized

-Might be considered inhumane (debatable)

Pros:

-Species may not be bred in captivity, in which case it is only available as a wild caught

-May bring new bloodlines into existing captive-bred lines for genetic diversity

All captive bred herps originated with wild-caught specimens.

Answer 7

agreed, no pros. why would you take an animal that is happy in its free environment when you can get the same one which was captive bred. they can easily die from the stress of being confined as well