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How do people that keep repiles keep getting a bad rep?

Actually we -can- tame wild animals... Dogs weren't always a domestic pet, same goes for cows, horses... anything.
Is it impossible that centuries hence there will be "domestic snakes" with behaviors vastly different than those that exist in the wild?
I don't think it's impossible...
But yeah that's not the topic at hand...

Anyways, I don't think it's exclusive to reptiles... but all animal trade. The news broadcast negative news, that's what makes people watch...
So naturally they will be focusing on the bad things that occur...
Add to that the natural fear of snakes and... tadaaa, drama
 
One poor reptile keeper is more newsworthy than a million good ones, sadly. People want to see things going wrong.
 
Kokopelli said:
Actually we -can- tame wild animals... Dogs weren't always a domestic pet, same goes for cows, horses... anything.
Is it impossible that centuries hence there will be "domestic snakes" with behaviors vastly different than those that exist in the wild?
I don't think it's impossible...
But yeah that's not the topic at hand...

Anyways, I don't think it's exclusive to reptiles... but all animal trade. The news broadcast negative news, that's what makes people watch...
So naturally they will be focusing on the bad things that occur...
Add to that the natural fear of snakes and... tadaaa, drama
Click to expand...

Yes of course domestication is possible *pets cat* but that took a very long time to do. I think it would be possible to domesticate a croc just like any other animal but I don't think you can tame a wild born croc no matter what length of time you spend with it and the same goes for tigers and wolves. To me domestication and "taming" wild borns are two different things.

And yes negativity makes for better TV. Sad to say more people would rather hear about the Pit-bull who viciously mauled a toddler then the rottweiler who save a kitten or child. That's why I usually don't watch the news.
 
Remember that guy that wanted to go live with the grizzly bears in Alaska. He did stuff like that. They found some of his and his girlfriends clothing in a pile of bear scat.
 
wade said:
Remember that guy that wanted to go live with the grizzly bears in Alaska. He did stuff like that. They found some of his and his girlfriends clothing in a pile of bear scat.
Click to expand...

Probably badgered them a whole lot
 
I must respectfully disagree that domestication of reptiles is possible. Domestication requires at least a little bit of cognitive function, and the reptilian brain is incapable of much above pure instinct. A snake may become acclimated to handling, because it perceives that its handler is no longer a threat (minimizing the flight instinct), and that its handler is too large to qualify as prey (minimizing the feeding instinct). The snake may seem to enjoy being handled, but it's probably simply that the warmth of a human body is perceived as not uncomfortable at that moment (capitalizing on the temperature maintenance instinct). They also recognize that the handler is not a potential mate, so the mating instinct doesn't come into play. Reptiles simply cannot possess enough brain power to seek out the companionship sought by dogs (pack instinct) or cats (grooming instinct).

The fool in the video is a meal waiting to happen - he must keep the croc so stuffed with food that the risk is diminished simply because the croc isn't hungry and is not likely to kill if it's not hungry or in danger. Should that perception change for the croc, the fool will probably end up as croc poop.
 
Reptiel keepers get a bad reputation because there are a TON of idiots out there...and every single one of them is an "expert". Look at that Manny goofball that plays around with the Jackass gang. That dude is an educated and knowledgeable biologist...but he's an idiot, because he ignores everything he knows to be true in favor of sensationalizing his activities for a paycheck.

You know the type...been around snakes their whole life, studied them, paid their $50,000 for the herpetology degree...than make the brilliant decision to free handle a juvenile Black Mamba...for the camera...

90% of the people killed by reptiles in captivity are because they are acting like an idiot and ignoring the warnings...or the knowledge that they have. Pretending it can happen to them because they are "just that good". Acting like knowing a bunch of information is going to protect them from their own bad decisions...

I hate people...
 
For the same reason that because some Republicans are racists, many think all Republicans are racists; or that some Democrats have socialist leanings, then all Democrats are socialists.

It only takes a few to ruin it for many.
 
glenhead said:
I must respectfully disagree that domestication of reptiles is possible. Domestication requires at least a little bit of cognitive function, and the reptilian brain is incapable of much above pure instinct. A snake may become acclimated to handling, because it perceives that its handler is no longer a threat (minimizing the flight instinct), and that its handler is too large to qualify as prey (minimizing the feeding instinct). The snake may seem to enjoy being handled, but it's probably simply that the warmth of a human body is perceived as not uncomfortable at that moment (capitalizing on the temperature maintenance instinct). They also recognize that the handler is not a potential mate, so the mating instinct doesn't come into play. Reptiles simply cannot possess enough brain power to seek out the companionship sought by dogs (pack instinct) or cats (grooming instinct).
Click to expand...

You can disagree, but between that and stating these things as facts.... there was no conclusive research that can even begin to hope to make the statements you just made mate.
Evolution occurs when conditions change- a very good example of which are Western Diamond Backs- there's a reserve where they were hunted down. Because those who that were quick to rattle were hunted down- the ones who were less prone to do so remained. And now, all of the Rattlers in that reserve are very quiet- that actually makes them more dangerous, but regardless- that's just one way how instincts CAN be altered by evolution.
This took around 20 years or less, that's it- a very short period of time for such a change to happen, but it did.

In captivity, those snakes who have calmer disposition are the ones more likely to be sold on, and mate, and thus spread their genes.
The size of the brain is irrelevant to how far can a snake be put under stress before it's instincts to strike kick in. (how easily are theChemical Catalysts for the Fight or Flee instinct triggered)

I think you may be confusing domestication with them becoming actual intelligent pets(that make tricks or "love" their owners)- This is less likely, however, never say never.

Years and years of subduing hunting instincts by feeding f/t, zero exposure to predators and frequent handling take their toll- Changes IMHO are not only possible, but inevitable
 
Kokopelli said:
You can disagree, but between that and stating these things as facts.... there was no conclusive research that can even begin to hope to make the statements you just made mate.
Evolution occurs when conditions change- a very good example of which are Western Diamond Backs- there's a reserve where they were hunted down. Because those who that were quick to rattle were hunted down- the ones who were less prone to do so remained. And now, all of the Rattlers in that reserve are very quiet- that actually makes them more dangerous, but regardless- that's just one way how instincts CAN be altered by evolution.
This took around 20 years or less, that's it- a very short period of time for such a change to happen, but it did.

In captivity, those snakes who have calmer disposition are the ones more likely to be sold on, and mate, and thus spread their genes.
The size of the brain is irrelevant to how far can a snake be put under stress before it's instincts to strike kick in. (how easily are theChemical Catalysts for the Fight or Flee instinct triggered)

I think you may be confusing domestication with them becoming actual intelligent pets(that make tricks or "love" their owners)- This is less likely, however, never say never.

Years and years of subduing hunting instincts by feeding f/t, zero exposure to predators and frequent handling take their toll- Changes IMHO are not only possible, but inevitable
Click to expand...
This video came up a couple of months ago and started a debate about tame crocs etc....
Here's my answer from back then....
After this post I thought I would research *Taming animals*... And it does make some interesting reading....
This is what I have uncovered...
It is known that ancient Egyptians kept and tamed crocodiles, which they worshipped and exhibited, apparently unrestrained in public parades and ceremonies.
Thats interesting, but unless an ancient Egyptian corroborates this, it's just a myth.....
But...
Here's something you can corroborate...
The Disney organisation in the USA has a long history of movie making with many films featuring trained animals. Significantly, the Disney organisation also runs theme parks, including animal kingdom in Florida.
One of the attractions is an African Adventure that invites guests on a trip to save a baby elephant from poachers. This takes guests in trucks around a replica of the African bush that features numerous wild animals, including a lake containing a large group of adult male Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). The visitor trip only takes a couple of minutes to pass the crocodiles..
Yet a problem presented it self with these crocodile if the lake needed maintenance or the crocodiles needed a vet... To drain the lake and wrangle the crocodiles could take a day and the ride had to be shut down. This was unacceptable to Disney and the visitors.
So a programme of training was undertaken.. An off exhibit holding area was built and the crocodiles trained to leave the lake for the holding area at the sound of a bell.... It only took a couple of sessions for the crocodiles to get what they had to do and the lake can be emptied of all 27 crocodiles in less than five minutes.. Plus they will also enter and leave individual shift cages and hold still for a vet to check them over....

This technique of training is called Operant conditioning and is being employed by lots of zoos and public animal exhibits.....
So as for passive aggressive or drugs or what ever else was mentioned, I don't know..... But a method of training is out there.....
Thanks to the OP I have found out some interesting facts.....
I know the proper name for tap training now... LOL
I have since found out that some zoos use this method of training to weigh their dart frogs.... At the sound of a clicker all the frogs come out of hiding a second click and they get into individual perspex boxes for weighing and examination.....
 
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