Simple Summary: The growing interest in exotic animals makes exotic animal fairs a popular place
for trading. However, there are concerns about the welfare of these animals. This study seeks to
evaluate the well-being of the reptiles and amphibians available at exotic fairs in Poland (based on
photos of the display boxes). The goal is to identify any existing issues and propose potential im-
provements to enhance these animals’ presentation conditions. This study analyzed photos of tem-
porary containers for exotic animals presented at a fair, focusing on the size of the containers, pres-
ence of substrate, availability of environmental enrichment, the occurrence of visual abnormal pos-
tures and behaviors, and an overall welfare assessment.
Abstract: Given the growing number of events involving exotic animals, it is crucial to prioritize the
well-being of the animals involved. This study aims to evaluate the quality of animal presentation at
a selected fair in Poland and assess the level of animal welfare evident in the exhibition boxes, contrib-
uting to the ongoing dialogue on this important issue. The evaluators used a five-point Likert scale
and a Yes/No system to analyze the living conditions during the fair, including the size of containers,
presence of substrate, and environmental enrichment. They also assessed the occurrence of visual ab-
normal postures and behaviors to gauge the overall level of welfare. To ensure the reliability and con-
sistency of the data and minimize potential bias, each evaluator repeated the rating process three
times, with a three-week interval between each session. An average value was then calculated for each
aspect. A total of 818 animals were present at the fair, with 688 being reptiles (84.11%) and 130 being
amphibians (15.89%). This study revealed that the provision of substrate scored higher for reptiles
compared to amphibians, while the size of containers for amphibians received higher ratings than
those for reptiles. Visual abnormalities in posture and behavior were more common in reptiles than in
amphibians. Display containers for snakes received the lowest ratings and showed more visual abnor-
malities in posture and behavior, raising concerns about their welfare. Despite the presence of envi-
ronmental enrichment, the overall level of animal welfare was assessed as being medium/low. Pear-
son’s correlation coefficient indicated good reliability among the evaluators during the assessment
process, with most assessments showing values >0.8. Despite existing regulations for exhibitors, ne-
glect remains prevalent. These findings highlight the potential negative impact of animal exposure at
fairs on animal welfare. Display containers were often inadequately sized for the animals, particularly
for snakes, chameleons, monitor lizards, and salamanders.