Section 885.160  Herptile Facilities and Welfare Standards

a)         Facility Standards

All Herpetoculture and Herptile Special Use Permit holders shall keep herptiles in a secure, escape-proof enclosure that is large enough to allow the herptiles reasonable movement. The herptiles shall be supplied clean water, cover and a clean environment and shall be fed regularly. 

1)         Enclosures must be relatively free of feces and multiple shed skins. Non-eaten food items must be removed.  Each permit holder must demonstrate that his or her premises and any facilities used in his or her operation comply with this Section.

2)         The facility must be constructed of materials of sufficient strength and design to prohibit escape, and enclosures must be of dimensions that allow the intended species to move about freely.  Facilities shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect herptiles from damage by unauthorized persons or from other causes.  Electric power, if required to comply with other provisions of this Section, shall be available on the premises.

3)         Temperatures in indoor facilities shall be regulated by heating or cooling to simulate conditions of the herptile's natural environment.  Indoor facilities shall have lighting, by natural or artificial means or both, of quality, intensity, color, temperature, distribution and duration appropriate for the species.

4)         Outdoor facilities shall be sited and constructed to simulate the natural environment of the herptile with regard to humidity, moisture, temperature, lighting, cover, clean water, and all other factors necessary for survival and growth.

b)         Inspection of Facilities

To assure adequacy of facilities when a permit application is being reviewed, or upon receipt of a complaint, the applicant/permit holder shall make the premises, facilities and equipment available at any reasonable hour for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the Act and this Part.  If the applicant's/permit holder's premises, facilities or equipment do not meet the requirements of the Act and this Part, the applicant/permit holder will be advised of deficiencies and the corrective measures that must be taken to bring the premises, facilities and equipment into compliance.  The permit holder will be given a deadline by which prescribed corrective measures must be completed.