Opinion · Jun 4, 2026 · Citadel Culebra Faculty

Handling Is Not Love (And That's Okay)

We project a lot onto our animals. Respecting what a reptile actually is makes us better keepers, not colder ones.

Behavior & Handling Socialization & Bond BuildingOpinions & Editorials

It's tempting to believe our animals enjoy being held the way a dog enjoys it. Most don't — and that's not a sad fact, it's a useful one. Tolerance is not affection, and building husbandry around what the animal needs rather than what we want is the whole game.

What this resource covers — anthropomorphism and its costs, tolerance vs. enjoyment, handling frequency that respects the animal, and why this view makes keeping more rewarding, not less.

This is a free entry in the Citadel Culebra Library, expanded continuously by our faculty. The complete write-up is on the way — and members get every new entry first inside Culebra Connect.

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