About 1.3 million: That’s how many terrariums there were in Germany last year, according to the industry association for pet supplies. The hobby is popular, but exact numbers of how many reptiles and amphibians are kept as pets are hardly possible – because: “Similar to how there is usually not just one fish to be found in an aquarium, terrariums usually live as an image of natural biotopes several occupants, which can often be found in the hundreds in one household due to easy breeding,” says Axel Kwet from the German Society for Herpetology and Terrarium Science.
Like any hobby, keeping exotic animals is subject to trends – and these can also be observed in Munich. Rare or newly discovered species and special breeds are particularly in demand, reports Katharina Lameter from the animal protection organization Pro Wildlife: “Just like with dogs, there are fashion trends. The animal should have a special look.”
This can lead to torture breeding, for example when reptiles are bred for their scales or the colors and patterns of the animals are changed. This could cause neurological problems.
“The trend with the color morphs has spilled over from Asia and the USA and is associated with a lot of money,” says Markus Baur from the sanctuary for reptiles in Munich. “There are keepers who collect animals like stamps and dream of breeding a certain color.”
An animal with a different spotting or a special color can be worth tens of thousands of euros. But as soon as others succeed in doing so, the price drop is exorbitant. He also gets to feel the past trends in the sanctuary.
Lots to do: Markus Baur in his office in the reptile sanctuary on Kaulbachstrasse.
(Photo: Catherine Hess)
“We always got what was no longer popular,” says Baur. His club does most of its work with species such as certain tortoises, corn snakes, ball pythons, boa constrictors, leopard gecko and bearded dragons – i.e. those that are commercially available in large numbers, including in hardware stores and garden centers.
Veterinarian Michael Pees is critical of such offers. The director of the clinic for pets, reptiles and birds at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover thinks: “You shouldn’t be able to buy a reptile like a flower.” This promotes impulse purchases and suggests that the attitude is simple.
In addition, some animals grow immensely over time – and with it the problems. A python snake, for example, can grow to be over four meters long. Then it happens that sanctuaries like the one in Munich have to take over the exotic animals of overwhelmed owners.
Showpiece: A Chinese crocodile-tailed hump lizard in a private terrarium.
(Photo: Daniel Löb/dpa)
The majority of reptiles and amphibians now come from offspring, according to the Federal Association for Professional Nature, Animal and Species Conservation. For fans, however, the origin of the animals is often not comprehensible because the dealers do not provide any information.
The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation sees a major problem on the Internet. There, trade is increasingly shifting to social networks. Protected animals could be offered in closed groups or via private chats from messenger services without the authorities being able to control this. That’s why a task force is planned to combat illegal online trade in protected species and reduce the workload of sanctuaries like the one in Munich.