A Few Questions...

[Kimo]

Ok before i get started here, i'd just like to applaud everyone here on Ssnakess for their wealth of information, i truly enjoy reading over the many different posts (although i do not actually reply to any) and learning as much as i possibly can, with that said and done time to open up a debate here in regards to Enclosures...

First off, i understand alot of herpers have a problem with varying substrates from sand to whatever, and i understand some of the reasoning behind this, and have heard 100's of times now "Our job in keeping herps is to eliminate potential dangers that these animals encounter in the wild. such as impaction and varying other sorts of problems...now, me being new to long term keeping of herps (used to field herp locally and keep varying snakes and amphibians for a few days/weeks for study, then release) i have obtained a KSB and have had it now for about 2 months, and YES i house my sand boa on a very fine grain sand, now before the flame war ensues in regards to my substrate of choice, i do feed him outside of his housing in a deli cup where there will be no risk of impaction due to the sand, however, i feel it is also my job as a herper to make sure that the animal is not stressed! is this not correct? wich is one of the reasons why i've created the most realistic home for him as possible! wich would be one of the reasons why i decided on on the substrate, and keep in mind this was after careful reasearch on the paticular enviroment that they are native to!, now this also leads into my next question....after viewing varying enclosures on the forum here, i must applaud some of you, in your creativity, and passion for herping, some of the enclosures i've witnessed on this site almost brought a tear to my eye in joy, knowing that that paticular animal that has the pleasure of living there, would be most lucky!, HOWEVER! i must say, just from my point of view, that some of the enclosures i've witnessed, our down right HORRID! A plastic tupperware container with paper towel???? and you can't go telling me that the animal is not stressed! now i know i cant go saying that the animal is stressed, cause quite frankly untill they develop some sort of mood gauge thats acurate, we wont really know, but i have to ask what possess some people to house in these short lil tupperware bins resting in a rack system? would not just the smell of a different animal cause stress? (assumeing diff animals are being kept together in these rack systems) but i want everyone here to keep in mind these are just questions!!!!!!! i do not mean to attack how obviously some of the more experienced herpers here conduct their buisness! i just had to ask these questions, cause i almost want to CRY when i see this 3 foot snake being housed in this tiny tupperware container resting in one of these rack systems!

and i suppose this where i end off, and let the flame war aimed at me begin!


Just a curious herper!