Reptiles in zoo and private collections have highly specific environmental requirements, particularly for UV light exposure, temperature gradients, and humidity. Meeting these needs is essential to prevent chronic disease.
Reptile welfare in captivity is frequently poor because reptile needs are poorly understood by owners and because signs of ill health are subtle and often unrecognised until disease is advanced. The specificity of reptile environmental requirements, including precise temperature gradients, appropriate UV exposure, correct humidity, and species-appropriate social conditions, means that generic husbandry approaches cause chronic welfare problems. Public education about reptile complexity and regulatory requirements for minimum husbandry standards are both needed to improve outcomes for the many millions of reptiles held in captivity globally.