| The 3 Important Things You Need To Do Before Getting a Herp I want to address a few issues when it comes to getting a herp: 1) CB or WC? 2) Researching the species that you want 3) Choosing a Breeder. CB or WC? First, let's state what CB and WC mean. CB means captive born which is when a herp is born or hatched in captivity, and WC is when an animal comes from the wild (wild-caught). As many keepers know CB reptiles are better suited for captivity than WC herps because of 2 main reasons: Health and Ease of Care. CB reptiles are often disease and parasite free and adapt much more readily to captivity while WC reptiles are often carrying loads of parasites and they are much more likely to be sick. Also, they don't adapt to captivity as easily. There are also nice perks to having CB herps such as better color and pattern, often scar free, and you can have morphs such as albinos much more readily. Also, buying captive born reptiles lessens the pressure on wild populations. You should try not to buy WC individuals because of these reasons unless necessary like in the case of a seldomly kept species or a new species. Before taking on WC reptiles, you should have plenty of experience with CB herps so that you will be better able to care for WC ones. Researching the Species That You Want Before buying a reptile, always do research on the species. Do it thoroughly so you will have the necessary knowledge to care for your pet (after all, you don't want to be unsuccessful, do you?). You can do your research by reading books (Keep on trying to learn more even after you have gotten your herp. It will make your hobby a lot more enjoyable and your pet will be better off), using the internet (and use common sense in deciding whether a site is giving you accurate information), and talking to fellow herp keepers. Choosing a Breeder It is extremely important to choose a breeder that is of good reputation and character because you will be much more likely to get a healthy herp. You can decide on a breeder by searching for ones that you like, then you can post on a reptile forum and ask whether people have had good or bad experiences with the breeders. People will always talk about a good or bad experience with a breeder. And if the breeder gets great reviews, well, then by all means, buy from that person! |