Reptiles can all too often be the forgotten animals when it comes to welfare in captivity, with the majority of studies still focusing on mammals and birds.

In the wild state they live in highly complex environments of dynamic spectra and lux of light, temperature and wavelength, on a daily and seasonal basis; changeable patterns of micro-climates and humidity; seasonally diverse diets as differing prey items become available at different times of the year; in short, textural environments of intricate convolution and complexity. Such complexity affords the animal the luxury of choice. Unfortunately, they too are a complexity that is very rarely catered for in the standard zoo jewel cases.