01/17/2023
Why Reptiles Need Interior Design
Many reptile keepers make the error of believing that the aesthetics of the enclosure are only for the eyes of visitors. It's just a bunch of decorative items with no practical utility, so that's why it's called "décor," right?
Wrong.
Although décor can make an enclosure more appealing, it is not its main function. Enrichment is the primary goal of adding décor to your reptile's habitat. Describe enrichment. The act of purposefully encouraging an animal to indulge its instincts and perform natural behaviors is known as enrichment.
If we take it a step further, environmental enrichment refers to creating an environment for an animal that is enriching. Beyond the bare essentials of food, water, and shelter, this entails:
More Hidden Spaces Are Produced by Décor
Even if enrichment calls for going above the bare essentials, there are situations when giving people choices for those necessities counts as enrichment in and of itself. One of those things is shelter.
Although reptiles can be found almost anyplace, it's likely that you don't see them very often, even if you go outside specifically to look for them. Why? They are very adept at hiding, therefore. Because hiding allows them to avoid predators and save energy, most reptiles prefer to spend the majority of their time there. This allows them to survive long enough to reproduce.
The majority of the decorations in your enclosure ought to give your reptile more areas to hide, whether it be in the shade of a sizable plant, under some leaves, inside a hollow log or plastic cave, or any combination of these. Reptiles function best when they have choices, just like humans.
Many reptile keepers have the misconception that they shouldn't give their animals too many hiding spots because then they would spend all of their time there and never get to see them. But the exact reverse is true. Reptiles become extremely stressed when they don't have places to hide because they feel exposed to predators. To understand how reptiles feel, picture a person with social anxiety in the middle of a mosh pit. Reduced hunger, increased susceptibility to sickness, trouble recovering from illness, and a likely significantly shorter lifespan are all symptoms of stress in reptiles compared to their less stressed counterparts. Stress-related death is a legitimate diagnosis.
The good news is that you will be more likely to see your reptile out in the open if you offer a variety of hiding spots (rather than just one or two). The sort of reptile you have will obviously determine this, but there's a good possibility that they will feel more at ease exposing themselves if they are aware of their close hiding place.
Decor Offers Exploration Opportunities
Think about your existing living situation. Take away all forms of amusement at this point, including board games, novels, laptops, video games, television, the internet, and art supplies. You're imprisoned within, so don't even consider leaving your home (quarantine memories, anyone?). Your house will still function flawlessly, but you might pass out from boredom.
In fact, when reptiles are kept in desolate enclosures with nothing to occupy them, things are pretty much the same for them. Reptiles are not just too simple or stupid to care, despite the widespread misconception that they are. They are actually extremely intelligent considering that they must be able to obtain their own food and water in the wild, remember where to hide, and identify the boundaries of their area. These tasks call for intelligence. And boredom can exist where intelligence exists.
To keep your reptile engaged and to change up their surroundings, provide a variety of décor in their enclosure. This helps to prevent boredom. A natural, burrowable substrate, climbing branches, tasty plants, and other enrichment items all encourage your reptile to interact with its environment and move about. As a result, your reptile will likely live longer, have better heart health, greater muscular tone, a healthier weight, and less stress on its organs. Additionally, you get to see them discover the items you've given them! Few things are as satisfying as seeing your bearded dragon dig its own tunnel or your ball python scale a branch.
Change the decor sometimes to provide your reptile with more enrichment. Shift a log. Add a fresh element. Reorganize the fence. Whatever you do, keep an eye on your reptile's reactions and make adjustments. If you have a reptile that is easily stressed, don't overdo it.
They Feel Satisfied by the Decor
Let's take a brief vacation from all of these textual paragraphs. Look at these breathtaking vistas. These are some locations where reptiles can be found in the wild. What features do these habitats share?
states
Send a message to learn more
