Between a reptile caught in the wild and one that is captive bred, choosing the latter is a wise decision for a number of reasons:

• Reptiles bred in captivity are generally healthier. Reptiles captured and transported have been subjected to stress, leaving them highly susceptible to health problems. These wild-caught reptiles also tend to have a very heavy parasitic load.
• Captive bred reptiles are generally less nervous and are easier to handle.
• Some species of snakes, such as ball pythons, readily accept pre-killed prey when captive bred than when caught in the wild.
• When you buy a captive bred reptile, you help maintain the wild population of these groups of animals. For each wild caught reptile that arrives at a pet store or into a home, many more die from injury, illness, and or stress due to capture, transport, etc.

Unfortunately, a wild caught reptile is often less expensive than a captive bred one. But when you consider the potential illness and parasites it may be carrying, a captive bred reptile is a wiser option.

It is best to have your new pet examined by a Niagara Falls veterinarian before being brought home to make sure that it is not suffering from any health problems. Read more about pet care here.