Your view of the reptile hobby

[lady_bug87]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

Weakness is also subjective. They may be weak to their native environment, but if they can live long in captivity(captivity being the new environment) then are they still weak? And if they are able to live long and healthy lives in captivity, is it still morally reprehensible and if so why?

How do you feel about humans nurturing the weak(handi-caps, disabled...etc)?

Genetic weakness is determined by physical attributes that affect the way they live and reproduce. Each generation that gets produced becomes weaker unless outcrossed properly. Clutch sizes drop, hatch rate suffers, birth defects increase etc. You may not see it in F2- F4 but it does happen, its a proven fact that once genetic variation decreases so does the genetic stability. In fact there are pieds that do not produce viable clutches since they have been so imbed. I would consider them genetically weak. No matter the environment.

I find the human question insulting.

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

By the way my question on humans was not part of the argument. I was just interested in her opinion on the separate subject of humans. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was using that question as a part of my argument.

I'm a caregiver to elderly grandparents and before my son came along I worked as a social worker in geriatrics and palliative care..

Apologize when ready.

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

The comparison to killer whales is really silly. They're extremely intelligent and they also have deep emotional bonds with their family members that are often violently shattered when these parks move whales around. They also naturally roam over thousands of square miles of ocean, and the tanks most parks keep them in are the equivalent of snake rack systems. Often times the parks will store multiple unrelated whales in the same small holding tanks at night, which causes stress and fighting.

There are just no valid parallels between keeping killer whales and reptiles.

The point was on exotics in general.