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Reptile Husbandry Flashcards

1
Q

What do most reptile disease in the UK result from?

A

Poor/incorrect nutrition
Poor husbandry

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2
Q

What result does environmental stress have on reptiles?

A

Reduces immune system function and predisposes them to infection

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3
Q

What is the kingdom, phylum and class of reptiles?

A

Animalta
Chordata
Reptilia

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4
Q

What are the 4 orders of reptiles?

A

Crocodilia
Rhynococephalia
Testudina/Chelonia
Squamata

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5
Q

What animals are part of the order crocodilia?

A

Crocodiles, alligators, caiman, gharial, false gharial

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6
Q

Can you keep crocodilia as pets?

A

Yes, but you need a wild/dangerous animal license

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7
Q

What animals are part of the order rhyncocephalia?

A

Order contains only one living genus
Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

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8
Q

What feature is very pronounced in rhyncocephalia and what is its function?

A

Pronounced parietal eye - ‘third eye’.
Photoreceptive but not visual.
Though to be involved in circadian and seasonal cycles.

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9
Q

What animals are part of the order Chelonia/testudinia?

A

Tortoises
Terrapins
Turtles

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10
Q

What are the differences between tortoises, terrapins and turtles?

A

Tortoises = land dwelling, herbivorous
Terrapins = make use of both habitats, omnivorous
Turtles = largely water dwelling (lay on land), diet varies within species

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11
Q

What is the largest order of reptilia?

A

Squamata

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12
Q

What animals are part of the order Squamata?

A

Suborder = suaria/lacertilia = lizards
Suborder = serpentes = snakes

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13
Q

Which is the most commonly kept order of reptilia?

A

Chelonia

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14
Q

What are the main 4 species of tortoise you may encounter?

A

Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise
Horsefields tortoise
Hermanns tortoise
Marginated tortoise

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15
Q

What are the two commonly kept families of Serpentes?

A

Boidae and colubridae

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16
Q

Which species are in the family boidae?

A

Boa constrictor, royal python, anaconda

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17
Q

What species are in the family colubridae?

A

Corn snake, rat snake, king snake, garter snake

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18
Q

What species are in the family elapidae?

A

Mamba, cobra, taipan, sea snake

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19
Q

What species are in the family viperidae?

A

Rattlesnake, pit viper, puff adder

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20
Q

What is the lifespan of a corn snake (elphae guttata)?

A

10 - 20 years

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21
Q

What is the length of corn snakes?

A

Up to 150cm (females often bigger than males)

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22
Q

What is the lifespan of a king snake (lampropeltis spp.)?

A

15 - 25 years

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23
Q

What is the length of king snakes?

A

Up to 180cm

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24
Q

What is the length of a ball python?

A

1 - 1.5m (4-5ft)

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25
What is the length of a Burmese python?
15-20 ft
26
What is the length of a reticulated python?
>6m (20ft)
27
What is the length of a boa constrictor?
2m (7-8ft)
28
What is the length of a rosy boa?
0.9m (3ft)
29
What are the most commonly kept suaria/lacertilia?
Geckos, bearded dragons, iguana, chameleons, skinks, Chinese water dragon
30
What factor is key to consider when housing reptiles?
How they would live in the wild Terrestrial (ground living) Arboreal (tree living) Aquatic and semi-aquatic
31
What is very important when housing reptiles?
Hide area
32
What substrate should be used when housing reptiles?
Avoid things that can be ingested (gravel/stones etc.) Newspaper - cheap, digestible, disposable Astroturf/washable carpet squares possible alternative
33
What do aquatic & semi aquatic species of reptiles require?
Body of water to feed in - needs to have adequate heating and filtration
34
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having separate feeding tanks for aquatic and semi aquatic species?
Keep water clean, doesn't need to be changed as often Additional handling is required so can lead to stress
35
How do tortoises' water requirements differ from most other reptiles?
Tortoises require water that they can put nostrils and mouth in to drink
36
Reptiles are ectothermic. What does this mean?
Temperature is regulated by behavioural means
37
What is meant by the preferred optimum temperature zone (POTZ)?
Range of temperatures required to allow thermoregulation
38
What is meant by the preferred body temperature (PBT)?
Optimum temperature for body functions
39
What do sick/stress reptiles often exhibit?
'Behavioural fever' Seek out higher than normal temperatures
40
What should be provided to achieve POTZ?
Different heat sources
41
Describe the primary heat source for reptiles.
Low end of POTZ - provides background/ambient heat. Should not be a light source (need correct period of daylight/darkness). Should not exceed PBT.
42
Give examples of a primary heat source you can use for reptiles.
Heat mats Heat tape Incandescent bulbs Ceramic lamps
43
Describe the secondary heat source for reptiles.
Gives higher temperature hear source in specific areas. Should not exceed high end of POTZ.
44
What can be used as a secondary heat source for reptiles?
50-75W bulb
45
What should be considered when placing the secondary heat source in a reptiles' enclosure?
Species lifestyles. Arboreal species - direct onto a branch Terrestrial species - direct onto a basking rock or floor Semi-aquatic species - direct onto a dry area of basking
46
What should you never do with secondary heat sources?
Allow direct contact with the reptiles - burns
47
Why is temperature monitoring very important?
Ambient temperature should not exceed PBT. Heat source should not exceed top POTZ. Min and max thermometers essential.
48
What is a hygrometer?
Device that monitors humidity
49
What is humidity will most species tolerate?
50-70%
50
What humidity do desert species such as leopard geckos prefer?
20-30%
51
What humidity do rainforest species prefer?
70-80%
52
What is a higher humidity area important for?
Ecdysis
53
What is essential when providing lighting for reptiles?
Timers
54
How many hours of light a day will most species tolerate?
12-14 hours
55
What factors affect the hours of light reptiles should get?
Species - tropical? temperate? Time of year
56
How many hours of light should tropical species get?
Summer - 13 hours Winter - 11 hours
57
How many hours of light should temperate species get?
Summer - 15 hours Winter - 9 hours
58
What wavelengths of light are in UVA?
320-400nm
59
What does UVA light do for reptiles?
Stimulates reproductive behaviour in lizards
60
What wavelengths of light are in UVB?
290-320nm
61
What does UVB do for reptiles?
Required for conversion of Vitamin D3 in the skin Important for calcium metabolism
62
Why should you replace UVB lights regularly?
Efficacy declines over time
63
What is the types of lighting required dependent of?
Species Some sakes don't require UVB
64
What are key aspects of reptiles diets?
Calcium:Phosphorus ratio = 2:1 Vitamin D3
65
Feeding what insects to reptiles can be problematic and why?
Crickets/mealworms have inverse Ca:P ratio (0.33:1)
66
What does frequency of feeding depend on?
Weight gain/condition Species
67
How often should small snakes/lizards be fed?
1-2 times per week
68
How often should young large boas/pythons be fed?
3 times per week
69
How often should iguanas/chelonians be fed?
Daily
70
How often should large snakes be fed?
Once every 2-4 weeks
71
Give examples of herbivorous reptiles.
Tortoises, spiny tailed lizards, green iguanas
72
What should included in the diet of herbivorous reptiles?
Green veg, succulents, calcium supplement, UVB essential
73
Give examples of omnivorous reptiles.
Terrapins, turtles
74
What should included in the diet of omnivorous reptiles?
Earthworms, pinkies, fish, green veg, commercial food Feed in water
75
Give examples of carnivorous reptiles.
Snakes, monitor lizards
76
What should be included in the diet of snakes?
Rodents, rabbits Often prefer to feed in small dark place (constrictors) Ma require teasing with food (pythons)
77
What should be included in the diet of monitor lizards?
Rodents, fish, eggs
78
Give examples of insectivorous reptiles.
Bearded dragons, water dragons, geckos, chameleons
79
What should be included in the diet of insectivorous reptiles?
Mealworms, wax worms, crickets, locusts. Can gut load insects with fruit and calcium supplement before feeding
80
Why should you avoid overhandling after a reptile has eaten?
May regurgitate. Especially young reptiles - not particularly long sphincters
81
How many snakes should be kept together?
Most snakes better kept singly
82
Should chelonian and lizards be housed singly?
Some lizards and chelonian will happily lice with others of the same species when the set up is right
83
What can overhanding lead to in reptiles?
Refusal of food
84
How should you hold Chelonians?
Hold shell just in front of hind limbs Or around back of shell between hind limbs (useful if aggressive)
85
How should you hold lizards?
Hold around neck and upper body with one hand. Other hand supports pelvis and hindlimb
86
How can you hold a lizard to reduce the risk of scratches?
Keep hind limbs extended slightly an parallel with body
87
What should you never do when holding lizards?
Hold by tails - some species shed tails
88
How should you hold snakes?
Thumb and second finger behind head, forefinger on top of head
89
Why should you be particularly careful when handling snakes?
They can be aggressive so can hurt you. They can be easily bruised/ribs fracture.
90
What should you do if bitten by a snake?
Don't panic Resist pulling back as teeth point backwards. Push hand deeper into mouth and immerse snakes head in water to encourage it to release bite. Can use isopropyl alcohol is this doesn't work.
91
Which species hibernate/brumate?
Temperate species e.g. spur thighed, Hermann's, horsefields, marginated, Californian box, mediterranean
92
What is the positive of brumation?
Stimulates normal thyroid function and reproductive behaviour
93
What is the negative of brumation?
Harmful in young, ill or underweight animals
94
Describe how you should hibernate a tortoise.
Withhold food for 2 weeks, place in box with bedding, reduce temperature to below 10 degrees Celsius, monitor state (weigh)
95
When should a tortoise hibernate?
November/December to March
96
How should you wake up a tortoise after brumation?
Warm water bath, encourages drinking and expulsion of faeces

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