husbandry of reptiles Flashcards
difference between herpetology vs herpetoculture
- herpetology; scientific study of reptiles and amphibians
- hepretoculture: keeping reptiles and amphibians
class reptilia has __ orders
4
order testudines
turtles (saltwater) terrapins (fresh water), tortoises (land)
order sphenodontia
tuataras from NZ
order squamata
lizards, snakes, worm lizards
order crocodilia
crocs, alligators, gavials and caimans
reptile metabolism
much slower than mammals (1/5-1/7th of mammals)
what is reptile metabolism determined by
temp, body size (smaller= more active= higher metabolic rate), species, diet, predation behaviour
out of aerobic or anaerobic metabolism which is more efficient, which do reptiles use
aerobic,
but reptiles use anaerobic for vigorous activities therefore lactate accumulates quickly so they can only do short bursts of intense activity
are reptiles cold blooded
no, but they are ectothermic meaning they generate some metabolic heat but lack of insulation means it can’t be retained so rely on external temps to regulate body temp
advantages of being ectothermic
energy is not wasted on maintaining body temp, lower food requirements and able to safely hibernate (brumate) in cooler weather
disadvantages of being ectothermic
all activity is limited by external temp, also limits their environmental range, can’t do high levels of activity
UVB radiation and reptiles
important for reptile behaviour and vitamin D3 metabolism (and therefore calcium metabolism, calcium needed for bones, eggs and muscle contraction)
3 wavelengths of UV light
UVA; appetite
UVB; bones
UVC; cancer
UV light naturally found in sunlight but filtered out by class or plastic
primary husbandry factor: species
what does it consider
- social or not
- dominance
- territorial
- prey vs predator
reptiles enclosure should: (3 things)
- allow for normal physiologic and behavioural needs
- allow for social interaction and development of hierarchies (where appropriate)
- make it possible for animal to remain clean and dry
what are some challenges of free range reptiles
- cold floors, injuries, other pets, escape
size of enclosure
not too small but not too big that get too cold
arboreal reptiles need ____ enclosures while terrestrial reptiles need _____ enclosures
tall, long
materials of enclosure should be
waterproof, easy to clean, with no traps
why is substrate needed
for breeding behaviour, won’t lay eggs without it and will become egg bound
substrate materials
- sand, bark and mulch not great because people pay for it so they tend to not throw it out as much as they should
- newspaper is great option
why is a hide important in a reptile enclosure
for safety, security, behaviour and thermoregulation
what kind of lights are needed in an enclosure
white light for diurnal cycle
UV light for UVA: appetite and behaviour UVB: vitamin D3 and calcium metabolism
what are 2 types of heat in an enclosure
radiant (from above) and convective (from below)
what are 3 ways they control their body temp
cardiovascular shunting, changing body shape and their behaviour
2 key concepts of heating an enclosure
- preferred body temp
- preferred optimal thermal zone
what is humidity
percent saturation of water in air
what would excessive and insufficient humidity cause
- excessive: blisters that rupture and cause bacterial infections
- insufficient; don’t produce enough lymphatic fluid (lube in order to shed skin), can constrict and for ex in snakes their tail could fall off
what does ventilation achieve
provide fresh air, remove ammonia and prevent overheating
nitrogen cycle in tanks
- nitrogen introduced in tank
- respiration, excess food and waste causes ammonia
- nitrosomas bacteria converts ammonia into nitrites
- nitrobactor bacteria converts nitrite into nitrate
- plants use nitrates as fertilizers
doing a water change: how much should you take out and how often
10% each week
what is leading cause of poor health in captive reptiles
poor hygiene
principles of biosecurity
- keep diseases out
- minimize potential stressors
- minimize potential spread of disease
- identify and remove sick reptiles
why should you not feed reptiles live food
may attack the reptile
frequency of feeding determined by
metabolic rate which is determined by age, species, reproductive status, activity levels
in terms of brumation; when the animals wake up they think about
breeding (so don’t let them brumate if you don’t want to breed them)
what are 2 types of behaviours
maintenance and social
foraging enrichment
seek out food
physical enrichment
an environment that stimulates normal physical activity
sensory enrichment
allows reptiles to use sight, sound, taste, smell and touch in daily life
social enrichment
does reptile need companion or bonding time w human
occupational enrichment
giving reptile choice over daily activities
stressors can be
physical, nutritional or social
