ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Reptiles Flashcards
What taxonomic order do tortoises belong to?
Taxonomic order Testudines
What taxonomic order do snakes and lizards belong to?
Taxonomic order Squamata
Why is thermoregulation so important in reptiles?
Thermoregulation is required to maximise biochemical and physiological functions in reptiles
What is the best heat source to use for diurnal reptiles?
A basking light should be used as a heat source for diurnal reptiles
What is the best heat source to use for nocturnal reptiles?
A heat mat should be used as a heat source for nocturnal reptiles
Why should reptiles be provided with a range of temperatures within their enclosure (i.e. a hot end and a cold end)?
Reptiles should be provided with a range of temperatures within their enclosure to allow them to adjust their metabolic rate based on their activity. Their metabolic rate will be boosted within high temperatures and lowered within cooler temperatures
What is the ideal temperature range for the ‘hot end’ of a reptile enclosure?
32 - 35°C
What is the ideal temperature for the ‘cold end’ of a reptile enclosure?
25°C
How does the temperature range between the ‘hot’ and ‘cold end’ of a reptile enclosure differ during the night?
The temperature difference between the ‘hot end’ and ‘cold end’ of the enclosure should be no more than 5°C during the night. This is to imitate the temperature change between day and night that the reptile would experience in the wild
What should be used to control and monitor the temperatures within a reptile enclosure?
A thermostat and thermometer should be used to control and monitor the temperature range within a reptile enclosure
What are four of the main problems associated with suboptimal temperatures in reptiles?
Immunosuppression
Stress
Reduced appetite/drinking
Reduced metabolism
What is the function of UV-a light in reptiles?
UV-a light triggers and maintains the reproductive cycle as well as has behavioural effects
Why should reptiles have access to UV light (mainly UV-b) within their enclosure?
UV light helps reptiles to synthesise vitamin D3 required for dietary calcium absorption
How far away from the reptile should the UV light source be positioned?
The UV light source should be positioned 20-30cm away from the reptile
Why should the UV-b light source be positioned at the ‘hot end’ of the reptile enclosure?
The UV-b light source should be positioned at the ‘hot end’ of the reptile enclosure as the reptile requires warm skin to initiate vitamin D3 synthesis
Which reptile species require calcium and vitamin D3 supplements within their diet?
Lizards
Tortoises
What is the best method for feeding calcium and vitamin D3 supplements to herbivorous reptiles?
It is best to use powdered calcium and vitamin D3 supplements that can be sprinkled onto their food
What is the best method for feeding calcium and vitamin D3 supplements to insectivorous reptiles?
It is best to use powdered calcium and vitamin D3 supplements that can be dusted onto the insects or used to ‘gut load’ (feed) the insects before feeding them to the reptile
What is the main pathological risk associated with a calcium deficiency in reptiles?
Metabolic bone disease
What are the three main clinical signs of metabolic bone disease in tortoises?
Deformed carapace
Soft shell
Deformed beak
What are the three main clinical signs of metabolic bone disease in lizards?
Deformed limbs
Deformed spine
Seizures
What are the three main sources of hydration that should be used for reptiles?
Water bowl
Humidity chamber
Misting system
What should be used to monitor the humidity levels within the reptile enclosure?
A hygrometer should be used to monitor the humidity levels within a reptile enclosure
What are the three most common breeds of tortoise that are kept as pets?
Hermann’s tortoise
Spur-thighed tortoise
Horsefield tortoise
How can you differentiate the Hermann’s, Spur-thighed and Horsefield tortoise?
The Hermann’s tortoise has a pointy tail, the Spur-thighed tortoise has a rounded tail and the Horsefield tortoise has a lighter coloured shell
Identify this breed of tortoise
Hermann’s tortoise
Identify this breed of tortoise
Spur-thighed tortoise
Identify this breed of tortoise
Horsefield tortoise
How do you carry out sex determination for a tortoise?
Male tortoises have a longer tail and their cloaca vent is located distally at the end of their tail whereas female tortoises have a shorter tail and their cloaca vent is located proximally close to their body
How should you handle a tortoise during a clinical examination?
One or two hands should be around the shell of the tortoise
What is the ideal enclosure for housing a tortoise?
A tortoise should be housed in an open topped enclosure with very good ventilation
At what age and size should a tortoise begin hibernation?
A tortoise should begin hibernation at 2-3 years old when they are at least 10cm in length
How long should hibernation last for a healthy adult tortoise?
Hibernation should last 2-3 months for a healthy adult tortoise
At what temperature should a tortoise be kept at when in hibernation?
When in hibernation, a tortoise should be kept at 4°C (they are often put in a fridge to maintain this)
What type of diet should a tortoise receive?
Tortoises should receive a herbivorous diet of grasses, hay, weeds and vegetables
Why should tortoises never be given iceberg lettuce?
Iceberg lettuce causes an inversion of the calcium:phosphorus ratio in tortoises which in the long term can lead to metabolic bone disease
What are the three most common breeds of snake that are kept as pets?
Boa constrictor
Royal python
Corn snake
Identify this breed of snake
Boa constrictor
Identify this breed of snake
Royal python
Identify this breed of snake
Corn snake
How do you carry out sex determination for a snake?
Sex determination in snakes is determined through probing the cloaca vent. The probe can be inserted further into the male snake compared to the female due to the hemipenes that are lateral to the vent in the males
How should you handle a snake during a clinical examination?
One hand should be used to control the head of the snake and the other hand should be used to support the rest of the body
Why do boa constrictors and corn snakes have different housing requirements compared to royal pythons?
Boa constrictors and corn snakes are semi-arboreal (spend half their life in trees) whereas royal pythons are terrestrial and thus require different housing setups
What is the ideal enclosure for housing a snake?
Vivarium is generally an ideal enclosure for housing a snake
Why do snakes require reduced UV light provisions compared to other reptiles?
Snakes are crepuscular/nocturnal and thus require less UV light compared to other reptiles
What type of diet should a snake receive?
Snakes should receive a carnivorous diet generally consisting of thawed rodents that are 1.5x the size of the snake’s head
How often should an adult snake be fed?
On average, an adult snake should be fed every 2-4 weeks
(T/F) Live vertebrate prey is illegal in the UK
TRUE. This is why pet snakes in the UK are fed thawed prey rather than live prey
Why do snakes not require calcium or vitamin D3 supplementation?
Snakes do not require calcium or vitamin D3 supplementation as they gain enough calcium from their carnivorous diet
What are the four most common breeds of lizard that are kept as pets?
Bearded dragon
Veiled chameleon
Leopard gecko
Green iguana
Identify this breed of lizard
Bearded dragon
Identify this breed of lizard
Veiled chameleon
Identify this breed of lizard
Leopard gecko
Identify this breed of lizard
Green iguana
Identify which breeds of lizard are nocturnal or diurnal
The bearded dragon, veiled chameleon and green iguana are all diurnal. The leopard gecko is nocturnal
Identify which breeds of lizard are arboreal or terrestrial
The veiled chameleon and green iguana are both arboreal. The bearded dragon and leopard gecko are both terrestrial
How do you carry out sex determination for a lizard?
Male lizards have more prominent femoral pores on their thighs than female lizards
How should you handle a lizard during a clinical examination?
One hand should be around the pectoral girdle to control the head and the other hand should be around the pelvis to support the back legs and tail
What is the ideal enclosure for housing a lizard (except a chameleon)?
Vivarium is generally an ideal enclosure for housing a lizard
What is the ideal enclosure for housing the veiled chameleon?
Well ventilated, vertical enclosure with the ‘hot end’ at the top and ‘cold end’ at the bottom
Why do chameleon enclosures require a large plant and a misting system?
The chameleon will drink the misting off of the leaves as they do not recognise stagnant water as a source of hydration
What type of diet should a bearded dragon receive?
Bearded dragons should receive an omnivorous diet consisting of meal worms, crickets and vegetables
What type of diet should a leopard gecko and veiled chameleon receive?
Leopard geckos and veiled chameleons should receive as insectivorous diet of meal worms and crickets
What type of diet should a green iguana receive?
Green iguanas should receive a herbivorous diet consisting of dark leafy green vegetables
Why should live insects be removed from the lizard enclosure if they have not been eaten within five minutes?
Live insects should be removed after five minutes as they may attack the lizard (especially crickets)
What is ecdysis?
Ecdysis is the shedding of old skin
How can you tell that a reptile is about to undergo ecdysis?
Two weeks before shedding, lymph-like fluid will accumulate between the old and new layer of skin causing the reptile to appear dull in colour
(T/F) Both snakes and lizards have one complete shed
FALSE. Snakes have one complete shed however lizards shed in several pieces
What is dysecdysis?
Dysecdysis is the abnormal shedding of old skin
How does dysecdysis present in snakes?
When snakes undergo dysecdysis, their old skin layer sheds in several pieces and their spectacle is often retained which prevents them from seeing properly
How does dysecdysis present in lizards?
When lizards undergo dysecdysis, their digits and tail become constricted which often leads to the loss of their digits and the tip of their tail
What are the three main causes of dysecdysis?
Malnutrition
Poor humidity
Dehydration
How can dysecdysis be treated?
The snake or lizard can be placed in shallow warm water to loosen the shed
