Animal Husbandry: Exotics Flashcards
How do you distinguish between male and female budgerigars
Males: blue cere
Females: brown cere
How do you distinguish between male and female cockatiels
Males have bright orange cheek patches and yellow heads
Females have tail bars and grey heads
What are two commonly present species of amazons
Orange winged and blue fronted
How do you distinguish between male and female cockatoos
Male: black iris
Female: red iris
What is the most common color of parrot
Grey
How do you sex monomorphic species
DNA sexing on feather pulp
Why should perches be natural branches
It allows for increased blood flow to the feet and avoids the formation of pressure sores
What is the ideal floor covering for a pet bird cage
Newspaper
Name 3 infectious diseases affecting psittacine’s
- Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD)
- Avian borna virus (ABV)
- Chlamydia
Why should you not provide a high perch for a parrot in indoor housing
They can see it as a position of authority and this can lead to aggression
How can birds be identified
By a closed or split ring OR microchip placement in the left pectoral muscle
How many hours a day of UV lamp exposure do pet birds need
4 or more hours
Which psittacine species have an increased incidence of hypocalcaemia and osteodystrophy compared to other species
Grey parrots
Which species of psittacine do you commonly see iodine deficiency
Budgerigars
Which tools can you use for a claw trim
Canine nail clippers or a dremmel
List 3 causes of nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in psittacine
- Lack of Ca
- Lack of vitamin D
- Lack of UV light (natural of artificial)
What is different about perching birds (passerines) from other birds
Their BM is 50% higher and their body temperature is 2 degrees higher
What do hardbill birds (finches) eat
Grains (they are granivorous)
What do softbilled birds eat
Fruit, insects and invertebrates
What is haemosiderosis
Iron accumulation in cells but no toxicity
What is haemochromatosis
Iron accumulation and impaired function leading to toxicity
What should the iron content of passerine’s diets be limited to
Less than 70ppm
How can you limit iron uptake in passerine’s
Adding tannins to the diet and avoiding items high in ascorbic acid
What do pigeons and doves eat
Beans, pulses and corn
What is the basic 4 step pattern to raptor training
- Manning
- Early training
- Fitness
- Hunting
What is the most commonly presented species of Hawk
The harris hawk
How should you present food to waterfowl to stimulate appetite
Floating on the water in a bowl
Where is the food deposited in diurnal raptors vs owls
Diurnal: the crop
Owls: down the esophagus into the proventriculus
What is the CP content of: chick crumbs, grower pellets, and maintenance diets
20%
16%
14%
Feeding waterfowl over __ of crude protein can lead to growth deformities
16%
What influences raptors feeding requirements
Environmental temperature
When do rabbits reach sexual maturity
4-8 months
Do rabbits have a defined oestrus period
No - there are reflex ovulators
What is the gestation period of a rabbit
28-32 days (1 month)
What is the lifespan of a pet rabbit
8-12 years
What are the 4 main reasons a rabbit needs fiber in its diet
- Helps keep the teeth in shape
- Promotes GI health
- Allows normal behavior
- Provides energy
What is the average weight of feed for a rabbit/day
2.5kg/day
What is the recommended daily feed ration for a rabbit
Ad-lib hay/grass
Two handfuls of leafy greens
1 tbsp of pellets
At what rate do rabbits teeth grow
3mm/week (incisors)
3mm/month (cheek teeth)
What is the dental formula of a rabbit
2/1, 0/0, 3/2, 3/3
Describe the motion of gnawing
The lower jaw moves forward, so the incisors oppose but molars don’t and the cheeks are drawn in across the diastema
What is the only rodent species to not have a post partum oestrus period
Chipmunks
What are 3 breeds of guinea pigs
- English (most common in the UK)
- Abyssinian
- Peruvian
Describe the Chinese hamster breed
Small
Round body shape
Describe the Roborovski hamster breed
Smallest
White eyebrows
In what pairs should guinea pigs be kept
Single sex groups, pairs, or harems
(not with rabbits)
All hamsters are social except which breed
Syrian
What rodents can be kept as same sex pairings, pairs (neutered males to a female) or a harem
Guinea pigs, chinchillas, mice and rats
How can Degus be housed together
In pairs or groups
How can gerbils be housed together
In same sex groups or a breeding pair
Which small mammal has an absolute requirement for vitamin C
Guinea pigs
Guinea pigs need a __ diet
High fibre
What is the dental formula of histrycomorphs
1/1, 0/0, 1/1, 3/3
What type of food should you avoid for chinchillas and degus and why
Sugary foods (they are prone to diabetes)
What is the dental formula of myomorphs
1/1, 0/0, 0/0, 3/3
What is different about the young of degus’s from other hystricomorphs
Their young are altricial, guinea pigs and hamsters young are precocious
What should not be used as a substrate for gerbils
Sand
What is a kit
A young ferret
What is a sprite
A neutered female ferret
What is a gib
A neutered male ferret
What is a hob
A male ferret
What is a hobble
A vasectomized male ferret
What is a jill
A female ferret
How can estrogen toxicity arise in ferrets
They are induced reflex ovulator’s, and if they are not mated after ovulation is induced it can cause a build up of estrogen
Describe the general diet of a ferret
They are obligate carnivores, and their diet generally consists of high fat, high animal protein and low in carbohydrates
What is annointing
A thing hedgehogs do when they foam at the mouth and spread it onto their spines with their tongue
What is the minimum hutch space for a rabbit
6ft x 2ft x 2ft
What is the best pairing of rabbits
Neutered male and neutered female
List 3 substrates for a rabbit hutch
- Newspaper
- Wood shavings
- Hay (for eating and bedding)
List 4 reasons fiber is important in a rabbits diet
- Helps keep teeth in shape
- Promotes GI health
- Allows normal behavioral
- Provides energy
What is the dental formula of a rabbit
2/1, 0/0, 3/2, 3/3
What is the growth rate of rabbits incisors and cheek teeth
Incisors: 3mm per week
Cheek teeth: 3mm per month
When are rabbits most active
At dawn and dusk (crepuscular)
What is the gestation period of a rabbit
28-32 days
Are rabbits born with antibody’s/an immune system
Yes, there is a maternal transfer of immunity before birth
At what age should rabbits be neutered
4-6 months
When are rabbit kits weaned
At 6 weeks
What are the 5 features of captive housing requirements for reptiles
- Space
- Substrate
- Heat
- Humidity
- Light
What are 3 examples of good substrate for reptiles
Artificial grass, paper and grass pellets
What is the average POTZ for reptiles
24C-38C
What is the average humidity you should keep reptiles in
40-60%
What is light so important for reptiles
A lack of light can cause nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism because UV-B is needed for vitamin D synthesis and Ca absorption
Where should you place the light source for reptiles from the cage
Less than 12 inches away
Which reptile species are herbivores
Tortoises and iguana’s
Which reptile species are omnivores
Most lizards and bearded dragons, some geckos and terrapins
Which species transition from omnivores to herb/carnivores later in life
Bearded dragons and water dragons
Which species of reptiles are carnivores
Snakes, some geckos and collared lizards
How you feed a small snake vs large snake
Small: feed every 7-10 days
Large: feed every 3-4 weeks
Which reptiles need supplements
All reptiles except for those eating mammalian prey
Which supplements are needed for reptiles and how often
Calcium powder 3x weekly and Multivitamin 2x weekly
Describe the process of how you would place a reptile in hibernation
- Decrease feed over two weeks in the late autumn
- Place in a hibernaculum with constant temperature of 4-7C and no light
- Gradually resume normal temperature and feeding and weigh
- Bathe to rehydrate
How are brumination and reproduction related
Brumination triggers a rise in reproductive hormones
When should you not hibernate reptile
If it is less than 3 years old or under weight
Which lizard species is insectivorous through their life
Gecko
Which tortoise breeds do not hibernate
African spurred tortoise and the red footed tortoise (some spur thighed)
