| Resumo: | Nowadays reptiles as well as amphibians, are becoming increasingly popular pets. Husbandry requirements needed to ensure their proper welfare in captivity are constantly changing and being updated as new insights are discovered about their biology and natural history. Despite this fact, husbandry and care provided in captivity by the average consumer are not evidence based, often even being detrimental to the animal’s welfare. Herpetofaunal species were chosen for this study precisely because the general public very rarely demonstrates interest in questions regarding their welfare. As most consumers who first acquire these animals as pets do so in pet shops, those same establishments should have the responsibility of informing about their proper husbandry and welfare needs in a captive setting. Since it is possible to observe that most of these species kept by private consumers are not provided with proper husbandry conditions, it is hypothesized that pet shops themselves do not have the required knowledge and training on how to ensure their welfare. To assess this hypothesis, a questionnaire targeting pet shop employees was created, focusing on specific and general knowledge questions pertaining to herpetofaunal species as well as animal welfare. All respondents revealed a low capacity to correctly judge welfare conditions provided to herpetofaunal species in exhibition, regardless of their knowledge or training. Likewise, respondents were also not aware of the legislation which requires them to educate consumers about invasive species, and various enclosures where animals were kept did not follow the minimum requirements prescribed by the law. Training quality provided to store staff must be questioned and improved.
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