L13 + L14 - Reptile, Amphibian and Fish husbandry in Captive Care

Question 1

WHat is metabolic bone disease is reptiles caused by?

Answer 1

Lack of UV light will reduce the amount of vitamin D which leads to less calcium being able to be used for bone formation

This leads to stunted growth and irregular bone formation

Question 2

WHAt 4 things effect good captive care of reptiles?

Answer 2

1. enclosure design
2. lighting
3. heating and temperature
4. humidity

Question 3

What knd of lighting should be used in a reptile enclosure?

Answer 3

Reptiles require UV to synthesise vitamin D, there are lots of lighting options. 3 lighting levels:

• 2% plant lighting
• 5% forest, dappled lighting
• 10% - desert lighting

Question 4

What kind of heating should be used in a reptile enclosure?

Answer 4

It is vital for reptilian health to be kept warm enough, so enclosures should mimic natural heat cycle conditions

Central heating, bulbs, radiators, cables
Cooling down area is essential

Question 5

Why is humidity important for some reptiles?

Answer 5

Needed in some species to have a healthy lifestyle - water in the atmosphere is needed for regular skin sheading - chameleons

Question 6

Should reptiles be given small or large enclosures?

Answer 6

There are pros and cons of both.
Bottom line is that

more space = more options = more control = more scope to display natural behaviours

BUT

only if furnishings are appropriate

Question 7

As well as looking for abnormal behaviours, what should you look for?

Answer 7

absence of normal behaviours - not moving etc.

Question 8

Why might overcrowding effect a reptile?

Answer 8

Lack of access to a resource such as a heat lamp

Question 9

What kind of perches should reptiles get?

Answer 9

Different species need different perches - gerneraliation is bad. For example some snakes prefer difffent thickness of tree branch to wrap around

Question 10

WHy is the Ca:P ration important in reptiles?

Answer 10

FOr calcium in the diet to be absorbed, there needs to be at least an equal ratio between Ca:P in the body, preferable 2:1 Ca:P

Question 11

What happens is there is too much phosphate in a reptile?

Answer 11

it will start to inhibit calcium uptake

Question 12

GIve 4 foods with high calcium for reptiles

Answer 12

Locusts, Wax worms, crickets, meal worms

Question 13

Give 2 methodsof reptile enrichment

Answer 13

1. targeted training
   - done very well with larger lizards - komodo dragons
   - weight checks and moving enclosures it is useful for
2. feed can be manipulated
   - in tubes
   - scattered

Question 14

What are the 3 types of breeding style in reptiles?

Answer 14

1. Oviparous - egg bearing - pythons, bearded dragons
2. Viviparous - live bearing - boas
3. Ovoviviparous - eggs laid internally and hatched inside - prehensile tailed skink

Question 15

Are most reptilian young Precocial or Altricial?

Answer 15

Precocial

Alligators and skinks give some maternal support
Eggs don’t need rotating like avian eggs

Question 16

Give an example of temperature sex determination

Answer 16

Turtles

Crocodiles

Question 17

What procedures need to take for venomous animals?

Answer 17

• VRAFI card - emergency incident card
• List of species needed to be hospitalised
• frequent risk assessments
• clearly signed enclosures
• upto date records
• terrestrial have an escape place
• indication and communication for staff safety
• poison is still viable in a dead animal
• only trained staff work with them
• correct clothing and equipment