The Responsible Reptile Keeping Podcast

The campaign to ban your pets

An expert panel of pet-keeping professionals discuss the worrying proposals to introduce positive list legislation. Positive lists are also known as whitelists, approved lists, or permitted lists, but they all do the same thing – ban thousands of suitable pet species kept by knowledgeable and responsible keepers. Campaigns to introduce positive lists, like the Don't Pet Me campaign in Scotland, have been picked up by political parties such as the Scottish Greens and Scottish Labour. We urge our viewers to make their feelings known. We do not support a ban on keeping pets, and we will not support any organisation that does. In this podcast, the expert panel discusses how positive lists harm animal welfare, increase illegal wildlife trade, undermine conservation projects, and damage the health and wellbeing of millions of dedicated pet keepers. Evidence from around the world has demonstrated that positive lists cause enormous problems, and there is no evidence that positive lists deliver measurable benefits. Here are just some of the issues a positive list will create: • All current positive lists have failed • Positive lists are unenforceable • Positive lists curtail science • Positive lists make the dispersal of husbandry and welfare best practices impossible • Positive lists send pet keeping underground • Positive lists curtail conservation efforts • Positive lists fuel illegal wildlife trade • Positive lists are incompatible with existing legislation • Positive lists are unnecessary due to existing laws • Positive lists are unnecessary as there is no evidence of a significant problem • Positive lists create poor welfare, eliminating access to vets and expertise • Positive lists will also cause poor welfare by initiating a rehoming crisis • Positive lists cause more pets to be released into the wild • Positive lists cause harm to keepers’ mental health • Positive lists cause harm to the economy, here and in other countries • Positive lists are plagued by expensive legal challenges • Positive lists raise political risks • Positive lists are an unjustified curtailment of rights • Positive lists are disproportionate and unfair.   Panel experts:   Ruth McDonald • Tropical Fish Keeping UK • Companion Animals Sector Council   Dr Matt Bond • @ornamentalaquatictradeasso7827 • Companion Animal Sector Council • Sustainable Users’ Network • CITES Sustainable Users’ Group • Visiting fellowship - University of Essex • Sustainable Users’ Network • IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group   Tony Wigley • Responsible Reptile Keeping • Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association • The Pet Charity • Companion Animal Sector Council • Sustainable Users’ Network • @federacionFAUNA • Pets Canada • CITES Sustainable Users’ Group . . #PositiveList #WhiteList #PositiveListsDontWork #ResponsibleReptileKeeping #OrnamentalAquaticTradeAssociation #TropicalFishKeepingUK   –––––––––––––––––––––––   Responsible Reptile Keeping is a worldwide membership organisation that promotes good reptile welfare and responsible keeping, and we challenge the stories broadcast by anti-reptile-keeping campaigners. If you’d like to support our work, please consider becoming a member and sharing our content as widely as possible.   JOIN US https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/memberships [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/memberships]   FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping [https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping]   INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/ [https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/]   TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk [https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk]   SUBSTACK https://substack.com/@responsiblereptilekeeping [https://substack.com/@responsiblereptilekeeping]

Ethical morph breeding – REPTA’s deleterious genes policy

Do you know what a ‘deleterious gene’ is? If not, then this is a conversation you cannot afford to ignore. In this informative podcast, we speak with Charles Thompson of the Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association (REPTA) to discuss REPTA’s policy, which aims to eliminate welfare-compromised morphs. Find out all you need to know about deleterious genes and the importance of putting welfare first. It’s a vital conversation about ethics, responsibility, and the future of reptile keeping. We’d be interested to hear your thoughts. Should morphs associated with welfare problems be phased out? And where should responsible breeders draw the line? Bios: Charles Thompson is the Trade Delegate at REPTA and has owned and operated specialist reptile store Snakes N Adders for over 20 years.   Tony Wigley has worked with reptiles and exotic pets for nearly 40 years. He is the co-founder of Responsible Reptile Keeping, serves on the board of REPTA and The Pet Charity, and sits on Pets Canada’s Advocacy Committee.   –––––––––––––––––––––––   Responsible Reptile Keeping is a worldwide membership organisation that promotes good reptile welfare and responsible keeping, and we challenge the stories broadcast by anti-reptile-keeping campaigners. If you’d like to support our work, please consider becoming a member and sharing our content as widely as possible.   JOIN US https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/memberships [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/memberships]   FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping [https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping]   INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/ [https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/]   TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk [https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk]   SUBSTACK https://substack.com/@responsiblereptilekeeping [https://substack.com/@responsiblereptilekeeping]   –––––––––––––––––––––––   Keywords: REPTA, deleterious genes, reptile welfare, harmful reptile morphs, ethical reptile breeding . . #REPTA #TeamRRK #DeleteriousGenes #ReptileWelfare #EthicalReptileBreeding #HarmfulReptileMorphs

Are turtles invasive in the UK? Probably not.

Would you sell a turtle to a new keeper who has just seen the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film? Suzie Simpson from Turtle Tally UK explains how citizen science is examining turtles found in the wild throughout the UK, and discusses how the new TMNT film could make the problem far worse.   Responsible Reptile Keeping is a worldwide membership organisation that promotes good reptile welfare and responsible keeping, and we challenge the stories broadcast by anti-reptile-keeping campaigners. If you’d like to support our work, please consider becoming a member and sharing our content as widely as possible.   Find out more: https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/ [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/] https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping/ [https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping/] https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/ [https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/] https://responsiblereptilekeeping.substack.com/ [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.substack.com/] https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk [https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk]

Is your reptile obese?

Obesity is one of the most common reptile welfare issues, with around 20% of reptiles estimated to be fat or obese. And it's not just a problem for pet reptiles – it's an issue that affects all captive-animal taxa. In this podcast, we speak with specialist exotics vet, Tariq Abou-Zahr about why reptiles become obese, which species are the fattest, and what keepers, stores and vets can do to address the issue. It should be noted that reptile obesity is a relatively small problem when compared with other pet taxa, but we believe that if we act now we can prevent the reptile obesity problem from becoming worse.   –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––   Responsible Reptile Keeping is a worldwide membership organisation that promotes good reptile welfare and responsible keeping, and we challenge the stories broadcast by anti-reptile-keeping campaigners. If you’d like to support our work, please consider becoming a member and sharing our content as widely as possible.   Find out more: https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/ [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/] https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping/ [https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping/] https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/ [https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/] https://responsiblereptilekeeping.substack.com/ [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.substack.com/] https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk [https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk]

Reptile rescue and rehoming solutions. with NCRW’s Chris Newman (PART 2)

What would you do with your reptiles if you became so ill you couldn't care for them? How about if you moved home and couldn't take your animals with you? Or if you lost your job and couldn't afford to keep them anymore?   These are the circumstances behind most of the animals arriving at the world’s largest rescue and rehoming centre, based in Kent, UK. In part two of our podcast we speak with Chris Newman, the Chief Executive of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW). He shares the incredible story of how this unique centre was established and how it rescues and rehomes reptiles from all over the UK. We delve into the challenges created by animals such as green iguanas, common boas and various turtle species, and explore how the reptile trade is working to address these problems. We look at the key differences between a rescued and rehomed reptile, and how valuable data collected by NCRW helps combat issues affecting reptile welfare and the hobby.   SPOILER ALERT: only a small percentage of reptiles arriving at the centre are there because of poor-welfare issues. Most come from loving owners who, for whatever reason, can no longer care for their animals. It’s a situation any of us could find ourselves in.   Whether you're a reptile business owner or keeper, this podcast is a must-listen. You'll learn about the vital work of the NCRW and the issues facing the reptile community.   This is part two of our interview podcast with Chris Newman from the National Centre for Reptile Welfare. You can hear part one of the podcast here: https://responsiblereptilekeeping.podbean.com/e/rrk-podcast-with-ncrw-s-chris-newman-part-1-reptile-rescue-and-rehoming-solutions [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.podbean.com/e/rrk-podcast-with-ncrw-s-chris-newman-part-1-reptile-rescue-and-rehoming-solutions]   ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––   Responsible Reptile Keeping is a worldwide membership organisation that promotes good reptile welfare and responsible keeping, and we challenge the stories broadcast by anti-reptile-keeping campaigners. If you’d like to support our work, please consider becoming a member and sharing our content as widely as possible.   Find out more: https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/ [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/] https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping/ [https://www.facebook.com/ResponsibleReptileKeeping/] https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/ [https://www.instagram.com/responsiblereptilekeeping/] https://responsiblereptilekeeping.substack.com/ [https://responsiblereptilekeeping.substack.com/] https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk [https://www.tiktok.com/@this_is_rrk]     NATIONAL CENTRE FOR REPTILE WELFARE https://www.ncrw.co.uk/ [https://www.ncrw.co.uk/] https://www.facebook.com/TheNCRW [https://www.facebook.com/TheNCRW]