Responsible Reptile Keeping

08/09/2026

Ask the experts

We don’t rely on a fixed committee or board to decide every technical issue. Reptile and amphibian keeping covers such a huge range of species, subjects and disciplines that a small group of people cannot realistically have the right expertise for every topic.

Instead, we speak to specialists, listen to their views, compare evidence and experience, and then make the final decision based on their counsel.

Ultimately, the RRK team is responsible for the content we publish and the positions we take.

Our goal is simple: bring together the right people, use the best available knowledge, and create clear, practical resources that support responsible reptile and amphibian keeping.

To learn more about the RRK task forces, visit our website:
https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/task-forces

Together, we can make a difference.

08/09/2026

Heads up - UK fish keepers.

We’ve noticed an unfortunate trend on social media of content being shared that shows temperate (and sometimes even tropical) fish being kept in outdoor water features, like patio ponds.

This is illegal – and we would ask the industry not to share (and to remove) any content that promotes this behaviour.

The only ornamental fish that can be kept outside (eg in a pond) are:
• common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
• goldfish (Carassius auratus)
• ide or orfe (Leuciscus idus)
• rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, other than anadromous steelhead)

All other freshwater fish can ONLY be kept in an indoor aquarium. That includes temperate fish and it’s why fish like white cloud mountain minnows or Japanese rice fish cannot be kept in patio ponds or garden features outside.

You can find a fuller explanation about this on our website where we also link to the Gov.uk site where this information originates. We have also worked with Fish Health Inspectorate to collate this information. https://ornamentalfish.org/can-i-keep-temperate-freshwater-fish-in-an-outside-pond/

It’s important that industry acts responsibly around this issue. Please share this message and you can point customers who ask to buy these fish for this purpose to our information. Otherwise, we risk losing access to popular freshwater fish because regular, frequent breaches of the regulation will inevitably lead to greater enforcement from the Fish Health Inspectorate, with the ultimate sanction being a ban if the industry is being seen to ignore or regularly flout the law.

07/09/2026

Thanks KBN Reptiles! 🧡

Are you following Responsible Reptile Keeping?

Have you subscribed to them?

Do you know who they are?!

If the answer is NO to any of the above…

WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING AT?!

Responsible Reptile Keeping do some absolutely fantastic work supporting, educating and fighting for the future of responsible reptile keeping.

From podcasts and educational content to keeping everyone updated on the important issues affecting our hobby behind the scenes, these are people you really should be following if reptiles are part of your life.

So go and give them a follow, subscribe, have a listen and get involved!

We'll wait...
https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/

04/09/2026

Every reptile keeper, breeder and business should thank Dr Martin Singheiser at Bundesverband für fachgerechten Natur-, Tier- und Artenschutz e.V.

Without his work with BNA, many reptile lamps would be made illegal.

More than 45 organisations (Including RRK) united to protect specialist UV lighting for reptiles, amphibians and birds

We joined BNA in calling for EU exemptions regarding specialist UV lamps to be allowed beyond 2027 when these lamps would otherwise be banned.

The organisations warn that technically and biologically equivalent alternatives to the specialist lamps currently in use simply do not yet exist.

Banning the lamps could therefore have serious consequences for responsible animal keeping, zoological institutions and conservation breeding programmes across Europe, including programmes involving threatened species.

As BNA puts it:
‘Appropriate lighting is not a matter of convenience but a fundamental requirement for the health, welfare, and reproduction of many animal species.’

The coalition is calling on the European Commission to extend the relevant RoHS exemptions for the maximum period permitted, giving technology time to catch up without compromising animal welfare or conservation.

Until the Commission reaches a decision, the affected products can continue to be sold in the EU beyond spring 2027.

This is a good example of why animal welfare must be properly considered when wider environmental regulation is developed.

Good intentions are not enough.

Regulation also needs to work in the real world.

Thanks Dr Singheiser, and the team at BNA. To find out more, see the BNA post.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1091403629923864&set=a.193361236394779

Wenn das Licht ausgeht, geraten Tierwohl und Ex-situ-Artenschutz in Gefahr

Daher hat der BNA gemeinsam mit über 45 nationalen und internationalen Organisationen aus Tier- und Artenschutz (z.B. FedernHilfe e.V., Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz e.V. - ZGAP, Citizen Conservation), Tiermedizin (AG ARK und weitere), Zoogemeinschaft (wie Deutscher Wildgehege Verband e. V., Deutsche Tierpark-Gesellschaft e.V.), Heimtierhaltung (u.a. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde (DGHT), Nordisk Herpetologisk Forening - NHF, Italian Gekko Association - IGA, Interessengruppe Phelsuma, Vivaristische Vereinigung e. V., Responsible Reptile Keeping, Vereinigung für Artenschutz, Vogelhaltung und Vogelzucht -AZ e.V., Gesellschaft für arterhaltende Vogelzucht e.V., WPA-Deutschland, VDA - Verband Deutscher Vereine für Aquarien- und Terrarienkunde, IGSN - Interessengemeinschaft Schildkrötenschutz und Nachzucht e.V. ) und der Heimtierbranche eine Stellungnahme zum drohenden Verbot bestimmter Leuchtmittel beim Auftragnehmer der EU-Kommission eingereicht. Unsere Stellungnahme ist unter folgendem Link abrufbar:https://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/fileadmin/user_upload/RoHS_Pack_29/Consultation_responses/2_b__4_-II/1_f_-I___2_b__4_-II___4_f_-IV_-_Bundesverband_fuer_fachgerechten_Natur-.pdf

Ziel ist der Erhalt wichtiger Ausnahmeregelungen für UV-Lampen, die für die artgemäße Haltung und den Ex-situ-Artenschutz vieler Reptilien, Amphibien und Vögel und unverzichtbar sind, da sie UVA/B-Strahlung, sichtbares Licht und notwendige Wärme in Form von Infrarot-A-Strahlung abgeben und geeignete Alternativen derzeit nicht zur Verfügung stehen. WICHTIG für alle Halterinnen und Halter: Solange keine Entscheidung der EU-Kommission vorliegt, dürfen die bestehenden Produkte über das Frühjahr 2027 hinaus angeboten und verkauft werden!

Diese Initiative zeigt einmal mehr, wofür wir stehen: wissenschaftlich fundierte Interessenvertretung für Tierwohl, Artenschutz und sachkundige Tierhaltung. Nur gemeinsam können wir etwas bewegen. Unterstützen könnt ihr uns ganz einfach über eine Mitgliedschaft – ob als Verband, Verein oder Einzelperson! Jede Mitgliedschaft zählt – die Formulare findet ihr hier: https://bna-ev.de/index.php/bna-mitglied-werden
Wir freuen uns über eure Unterstützung!

01/09/2026

It’s September's day, so show us yours!

Adding a crazy splash of yellow to start your month, here's Sam Boag 🇬🇧 and Envy, her western mangrove cat snake.

On the 1st of each month, we fill social media with reptile selfies to show the world how much our animals mean to us. We are pushing back against campaigners who want to prevent us from posting selfies with our animals.

📸 Get involved! Post a selfie of you with your animals on your page, add and TAG RRK!

🎁 Each month, we’ll pick our favourite and the winner receives a cool mug. They'll also be the stars of next month’s video!

Join in for your chance to be the face of RRK's monthly !

🔔 Would you like to sponsor RRK's project? You'll be featured on the winners' mug, and you'll get a shoutout every month. Get in touch to find out more!

27/08/2026

Meet the people behind RRK.

Responsible Reptile Keeping is powered by a small team with a huge amount of passion for reptiles and responsible reptile keeping.

We bring decades of experience in reptile keeping, the pet sector, journalism, communications, and working with policymakers whose decisions affect our community.

But ultimately, RRK exists for you.

We’re here to provide reliable information, support responsible keepers and make sure your voices are heard.

We’ve created a 'Meet the team' page so you can find out a little more about the people behind the work:

https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/meet-the-team

And if you believe in what we’re doing, please join RRK. Your membership directly helps us do more for reptile keepers everywhere.

Together, we can make a difference.

24/08/2026

Have you ever considered the impact we can make when we come together as a community?
That's exactly what we're doing at Responsible Reptile Keeping.

We're dedicated to promoting and protecting responsible reptile ownership. But we can't do it alone! And that's where you come in.

By becoming an RRK member, you will help protect responsible reptile keepers around the world and ensure our future generations can enjoy reptile keeping and herpetology.

Help us put a stop to anti-reptile-keeping propaganda and unfair laws by joining us as a member.

https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/memberships

Together, we can make a difference.

24/08/2026

Stowaway animals are more common than you think!
Check out this info from National Centre for Reptile Welfare and check your luggage before you head home.

22/08/2026

Tony from RRK is attending the Nordisk Herpetologisk Forening - NHF Summer Symposium in Denmark, today. He’ll be speaking about the problems we face as a community, and what we can do about it.

If you’re there, pop by and say hi!

Sommer Symposium 2026! 🌿🐍

Så er dagen kommet!
Vi glæder os til en fantastisk dag i Terrariet - Reptile Zoo i Vissenbjerg.

Her er dagens program 👇

21/08/2026

RRK challenges Scottish positive-list proposals

Responsible Reptile Keeping has sent a detailed legal briefing to the Scottish Government setting out the serious problems it could face if it pursues a positive list for reptiles and other pets.

A positive list is effectively a default ban for many pet animals. Any species excluded from the list can no longer be kept, bred, sold or transferred, creating major consequences for responsible keepers, breeders, pet businesses and the wider sector.

Our briefing examines the implications for property rights, businesses, lawful trade, human rights and existing Scottish regulation, as well as the evidence and legal tests the Government would need to satisfy.

Our position is simple: regulate responsibility, not species.

This is exactly the kind of work RRK exists to do: making sure policymakers hear an informed, evidence-based case for responsible reptile keeping before damaging policy becomes law.

If you value having an organisation doing this work on behalf of keepers and the reptile sector, please consider becoming an RRK member.

The stronger our membership, the stronger our voice.

Read the full briefing here: https://responsiblereptilekeeping.org/scottish-government-open-letter.