Do you ask if an exotic pet reptile was captive bred or taken from the wild?

There seems to be two sides to the argument about taking reptiles from the wild to export and sell as pets.

For: Some of those reptiles are regarded locally as pests, and harvesting them helps the local economy

Against: When certain reptile species are in demand as pets, wild populations diminish until they becomes threatened with extinction.

It really is preferable always to purchase a reptile that has been bred in captivity. I have heard that hundreds of reptiles fail to survive during transportation from their native land.

Some exotic species are protected by international law, but there is also concern about cheaper reptile pets. Some countries might decide to ban their import altogether.

It is important to know where exotic reptile pets originate, and to purchase only from a licenced trader or importer.