What is Captive Breeding?
Captive breeding is the process of maintaining the natural breeding processes of plants or animals in a controlled environment. Captive-bred programs are employed to help protect species caught in the wild, from the possibility of extinction. It is estimated that over 90% of pets sold in pet stores and online markets come from mass-commercial pet breeding operations known as mills. Commercial breeding operations are exploitive not only to the animals trapped in inhumane breeding conditions but also to the people who overpay to purchase these pets, many of whom have diseases, genetic defects and behavior problems from poor breeding, inadequate nutrition and a lack of socialization and veterinary care.
The first programs were started in the 1960s, which were aimed to reintroduce certain species of animals into the wild. However, these initial programs were focused on protecting endangered species and their habits to preserve biodiversity and not for trade.
The Benefits
With wild populations of reptiles are on the decline, the added pressures and dangers from the pet trade are certainly not needed. By breeding animals in store, we at Allan’s Pet Center are filling the demand for reptiles and reducing the demand for animals caught in the wild.
While wild-caught animals are cheaper and are readily available for pet stores, we take pride in breeding only the best animals for our customers. By selling captive-bred animals here at Allan’s Pet Center, we avoid harming the wild population of animals, which means humans are not funding the exploitation of animals either.
Reptile Breeding Issues
Of the 11.5 million pet reptiles that reside within 5.6 million U.S. households, the vast majority are purchased from pet stores. Due to the nature of the industry, most bred reptiles were either purchased from outside breeders or imported, which can often result in animals suffering from stress-related issues.
Why Buy Captive-bred Animals?
Wild animals are often captured by locals and exported over a lengthy process before finding their permanent place of residence, resulting in a stressed animal. However, these animals are less stressed and usually have fewer health issues; therefore, they are better and healthier animals.
A captive-bred animal is already adapted to life in a terrarium and therefore does not undergo stress that a wild animal does when kept in captivity. This stress can cause other health complications that snowball and lead to an unhealthy and unhappy animal. But with animals bred in captivity, the customer can determine, therefore, there is no need to worry about buying a wild-caught animal that may be at the end of its life cycle. Captive-bred animals are also less stressed due to being acclimated to life in a terrarium, thus, making them easy-to-care-for much and overall better pets than animals caught in the wild.
Captive-bred Make Better Pets
Because they have fewer health problems than wild-caught animals, captive-bred animals make better pets. Captive-bred animals are also known to be tamer and are more accustomed to people, being handled and the everyday normal operations that come with being some body’s pet. Captive-bred animals are more docile and have better temperaments than their wild counterparts.
Choosing a captive-bred animal also allows you to raise a pet from infancy gives you the animal for the duration of its life, something that is not possible with animals caught in the wild.
Pet Stores and Captive Breeding
Because they have fewer health problems than wild-caught animals, captive-bred animals make better pets. These animals are also known to be tamer and are more accustomed to people, being handled and the everyday normal operations that come with being some body’s pet. Captive-bred animals are more docile and have better temperaments than their wild counterparts.
Choosing a captive-bred animal also allows you to raise a pet from infancy gives you the animal for the duration of its life, something that is not possible with animals caught in the wild.
