Exotics Husbandry (Ex 1-7) Flashcards
this order includes parrots, macaws, cockatoos and a variety of parakeets
Psittaciformes
this is the most suitable structural material for a parrot aviary to prevent destructive behavior such as chewing
stainless steel
what element can parrots have toxicity to? may be develop with use of cheaper galvanized mesh wire
zinc (heavy metals)
what must a bird be able to do as the minimum size requirement of the cage?
extend wings in all directions
this is the ideal floor covering for an aviary and should be cleaned out daily with old foodstuffs and feces removed to reduce spread of infection
newspaper
potential food toxins to the parrot? (3)
avocado, bacon, chocolate
Housing birds permanently indoors can be responsible for this deficiency
vitamin D (exposure to natural sunlight or artificial UV-b can help)
are the majority of parrots monomorphic or dimorphic?
monomorphic
how to sex a parrot?
DNA analysis
at what age do most larger parakeets and parrots mature?
2-3 years
at what age to small psittacines become sexually mature?
6-12 month
what are the three main deficiencies seen in parrots?
vitamin A, vitamin E, and calcium
this vitamin deficiency in parrots causes squamous metaplasia of epithelial cells lining the respiratory, GI, and urogenital tract leading to hyperkeratosis, poor feathering and coloration, and repro/chronic Resp. infections
A
This deficiency in parrots can lead to nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, osteodystrophy, pathological fractures, seizures, poor egg shell quality, and poor reproductive performance
calcium
cuttlefish bone and iodine blocks are frequently offered to these animals
small psittacines
feeding this to birds (especially smaller granivores) helps digestion by enhancing the grinding action of the gizzard - can also be a good source of minerals, especially calcium
grit
what is the wild diet of budgerigars, cockatiels, and small psittacines
granivore (native grass and seeds)
what is the wild diet of the grey parrot
florivore (seeds, fruit, flowers & nuts)
what is the wild diet of amazon parrots
frugivore
what is the wild diet of cockatoos
omnivore (seeds, plant roots & insects)
what is the wild diet of macaws?
frugivore & granivore (seeds, fruit, nuts, leaves, shoots, and bark)
How to sex a budgerigar?
color of cere on beak (male is blue, female is brown)
how to sex a cockatiel?
presence of wing/tail bars (females do, males do not)
how to sex a parakeet?
DNA (most are not dimorphic)
how to sex a grey parrot?
DNA (not dimorphic)
how to sex a cockatoo?
iris color (males have a black iris, females have red)
the basal metabolic rate of these birds is greater than others - small in size with large surface area
passerine birds
this type of passerine bird is graniferous and includes species such as canary, zebra, and Bengalese
finches
this is a potential consequence of feeding a poor quality seed based diet but is seen more commonly in frugivorous birds that have been exposed to moldy fruit
Aspergillus
these 2 deficiencies can be common in frugivorous and insectivorous passerine birds; can lead to hyperparathyroidism; appropriate supplementation necessary
calcium and vitamin D
this is the removal of the distal phalanges of one wing; may be required to control waterfowl
pinioning
2 categories of raptors
Falconiformes and Strigiformes
this category of raptors includes eagles, hawks, and falcons
Falconiformes
this category of raptors includes owls
Strigiformes
All perches for raptors should be covered with this to help prevent foot problems by dispersing the pressure on the feet
longleaf Astroturf
this is the main danger to a handler from a bird of prey is this
the talons
this is the main danger to a handler from a parrot
the beak
this is the name given to aquatic Chelonia (or Testudines)
terrapins
this is the name given to marine Chelonia (or Testudines)
turtles
this is the name given to terrestrial Chelonia (or Testudines)
tortoises
scaled reptiles, such as lizards and snakes belong to this order
Squamata
name 2 viviparous reptiles
boids and anacondas
can reptiles safely be housed alone?
yes
name the “5 freedoms” or 5 basic requirements of reptiles
space, substrate, heat, humidity, and light
this type of substrate should not be used for reptiles as it can irritate the eyes or cause GI impaction
sand (small particulates)
this type of substrate should not be used for a reptile was it may contain resin that is too irritant
wood chips/shredded wood
these two UV components are beneficial to reptiles
UV-A and UV-B
this component of UV is part of a reptile’s visual spectrum (‘see’ it with third eye/pineal eye)
UV-A
this component of UV is necessary for reptiles to varying degrees but may be necessary to synthesize Vitamin D3 precursors
UV-B
this disease will occur in reptiles without appropriate lighting and diet (also known as metabolic bone disease)
nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSHP)
most reptile diets are deficient in calcium, except for this reptile
snakes
this can be given to tortoises as a calcium source and to hep wear their beak
cuttle fish bone
this is the process where geckos can shed their tails
autotomy
How to sex a tortoise?
tail (long in male, shorter in female); cloaca position (closer to tail tip in M, closer to shell in F); plastron (concave in M, flatter in F)
How to sex a terrapin?
size (males are smaller) & males have elongate nails on forelimbs
how to sex a lizard?
femoral pores (more prominent on males) & tail base (wider in males)
how to sex a snake?
tail length (longer in males); cloacal spurs (prominent in males); sub caudal scales (greater number in males)
these two reptiles have ‘hemipenes’ which are paired copulatory organs that are stored within internal pockets on either side of the tail base and evaginate during reproduction
lizards and snakes
a health examination is advised this often for reptiles, including a complete physical examination and fecal analysis for endoparasites
annual
this is the cut off in scale length that the probe inserted into the cloaca of lizards and snakes must pass to assume it is a male
6 scales
this species of tortoise has a tubercle on its tail and NO spurs on the thighs
Hermann’s Tortoise
this species of tortoise has spurs on the back of its thighs and NO tubercle on its tail
spur-thighed tortoise
this species of tortoise has a tubercle on its tail AND spurs on its thighs
Horsfield tortoise
this species of tortoise has double leg spurs but NO tubercle on its tail
Leopard tortoise
this act makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met (includes: suitable environment, diet, normal behaviour patterns, housed with/without other animals as necessary, protected from pain/suffering/disease)
improved welfare act
rabbits belong to this order
lagomorphs
true or false? rabbits are a species of rodents
false
how do rabbits live socially in the wild
groups of females and immature males
a series of tunnels connected by burrows where wild female rabbits live
warrens
average life expectancy of a rabbit
6-10 years
age of sexual maturity in rabbits
4-8 months
average gestation period of rabbits
28-32 days
average adult weight of a rabbit (species dependent)
1-10 kg
normal body temp of a rabbit
38.5 C
how to sex female vs male rabbit
shape of preputial/vulval opening (male round, female V)
the preputial opening in a male rabbit has this shape
round