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AM2 > Reptile husbandry > Flashcards

Reptile husbandry Flashcards

1
Q

What species are within the order squamata?

A

Snakes and lizards

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2
Q

What species are within the order chelonian?

A

Tortoises and turtles

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3
Q

What are the 2 main classes of snakes and the main species in them?

A

Colubrids - corn snakes, rat snakes, king snakes, milk snakes

Boids - boa constrictors, royal python, burmese python

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4
Q

How can a Herman tortoise be identified?

A

Horny spur on the end of the tail

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5
Q

How can a mediterranean tortoise be identified?

A

Spurs on the cranial thigh.

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6
Q

How can a Horsfield’s Tortoise be identified?

A

4 nails on their front fee, as opposed to 5.

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7
Q

How should a non-venomous snake be handled?

A 
Approach slowly.
Control the head first.
Place a towel over first.
Support the body, but allow to move.
Do not handle during ecdysis
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8
Q

How should a venomous snake be handled?

A

Requires special training and equipment.
Antivenom should be available
Snake tongs, hooks and plastic restraining tubes.

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9
Q

How are snakes sexed?

A

Probe
Male: 6-15 sub-caudal scales
Female: 2-6 sub-caudal scales

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10
Q

What is tail autonomy?

A

Self amputation.

This is common in geckos and iguanas if they are incorrectly handled.

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11
Q

How should an iguana be handled?

A

Use one hand to restrain the head and forelimbs.
Use the other hand to hold the hindlimbs parallel to the tail base.
Tuck the tail under your arm.

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12
Q

What is the vaso-vagal reflex?

A

Applying gentle pressure to the eyeballs stimulates the autonomic nervous system.
This leads to a reduction in HR, RR and BP

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13
Q

How are lizards sexed?

A

Dimorphic.
Males have larger heads and crests.
Males have prominent pre-femoral pores
Hemipenal bulge at the base of the tail.

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14
Q

How can a male monitor lizard be sexed?

A

Radiograph.

Mineralised hemibaculae.

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15
Q

How should a chelonian be handled?

A

Hold the shell firmly at the femoral fossae

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16
Q

How are chelonians sexed?

A

Sexual dimorphism is common.
Males have longer tails and a more distal vent.
Concave plastron.

Female mediterranean and red-eared terrapins are larger.

Male red-eared terrapins have longer nails on the forelimbs.

Eastern bod turtles: males have a red iris and females have a brown/yellow iris

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17
Q

What physiological mechanisms are determined by the POTZ?

A

Appetite
Digestion
Immune function

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18
Q

What must be provided, within the range of the POTZ?

A

Temperature gradient to allow for behavioural thermoregulation. This can be vertical or horizontal.
Basking area.
Temperature to drop at night.
Species specific and vary seasonally.

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19
Q

What heat sources should be provided?

A

Secondary background heat source as well as a primary focal heat source to provide a basking area and a gradient.
Heat mat outside of the vivarium.
Radiant heat source -> to allow for basking.

20
Q

Why should direct contact to the heat source be avoided?

A

To prevent burns.

21
Q

How can the relative humidity be increased?

A 
Damp substrate
Spraying
Misting
Water features
Water bowls
22
Q

What are the dangers of low humidity?

A

Renal failure in iguanas and dysecdysis in snakes and lizards.

23
Q

What are the dangers of high humidity?

A

Bacterial and fungal dermatitis

24
Q

Why is UV light important to reptiles?

A

Lizards and tortoises have a poor uptake of vitamin D in GI tract.
Vitamin D is produced by the skin when there is exposure to UVB light.
Vitamin D3 = calcitrol. This stimulates calcium uptake from the GI tract.

25
Q

How should artificial UV lighting be maintained?

A

Replace the bulb every 6-12 months.

26
Q

How far away from the UV bulb should the basking area be?

A

30-45cm

27
Q

Why is the photoperiod important?

A

Stimulates breeding.
13hrs summer
11hrs winter

28
Q

What are important properties of substrate?

A

Non-toxic, non-irritant, easy to clean, safe if ingested.

Need to consider the risk of GI impaction.

29
Q

What needs to be considered in the design of a vivarium?

A

Branches for arboreal species.
Suitable substrate for species that like to burrow.
Hides for security.
Abrasive surface for snakes to shed.
Water bowls/pools
Hygiene is important and should be easy to clean.

30
Q

What is the diet of most snakes?

A

Eat whole prey - rats and mice.

31
Q

What is the diet of garter snakes?

A

Fish.
If thawed, it needs to be supplemented with thiamine.
Smaller snakes need to be fed more frequently than larger ones.

32
Q

What is a gut-loaded insect?

A

Fed with a high calcium diet prior to being fed to the reptile.

33
Q

What is the ideal calcium:phosphorus ratio?

A

2:1

34
Q

What is the diet of a herbivorous chelonian?

A

75-95% green leaf - weeds
5-15% vegetables
<10% fruit and succulents - should only be a treat

Provide fresh water and bathe regularly.

35
Q

What are the causes of metabolic bone disease?

A

Insufficient calcium in the diet.
Poor Ca:Phos ratio
Lack of UV light

36
Q

What are the common nutritional diseases of reptiles?

A

Metabolic bone disease
Vitamin A deficiency
Obesity/hepatic lipidosis
Peridontal disease - acrodont dentitions due to soft foods.

37
Q

How should mediterranean/horsfield tortoises be housed?

A

Open-topped indoor pen

Outdoor enclosure in summer

38
Q

What is an appropriate outdoor enclosure?

A 
Pen on lawn is not appropriate.
Large, dry, well-drained enclosure.
Substrate to burrow in
Rock, plants for shade, basking areas, edible plants
Secure perimeter
Predator proof
39
Q

What is an appropriate indoor enclosure?

A 
Well ventilated - tortoise table.
Suitable substrate
POTZ: 20-28, decrease to 15 at night
Heat lamp basking spot: 30-35
UVB light source
40
Q

How should tortoises be prepared for hibernation?

A

Pre-hibernation health check.
Fast before hibernation to empty GIT (2-4 weeks).
Bathe daily to ensure adequate hydration.

Fridge or well insulated, predator proof box.

41
Q

How long should a tortoise hibernate?

A

Maximum 3 months - only if healthy.

42
Q

What temperature should a tortoise hibernate at?

A

5 degrees.

43
Q

How much weight loss should be expected during the hibernation of a tortoise?

A

1-2% wt loss / month.

Wake if >10% loss

44
Q

What post-hibernation care is required for tortoises?

A

Warm baths daily to encourage drinking and urination.
Should eat within 1-2 days.
Post-hibernation anorexia is common.
Stomatitis, rhinitis, renal failure

45
Q

How should red-eared terrapins be housed?

A

Semi-aquatic
Indoor tank; preformed pond; outdoor pool
Robust filtration system to maintain water quality.
Water temperature: 22-28
Basking spot: 28-32

46
Q

Why is a soil/gravel substrate essential for females?

A

allows for oviposition

47
Q

What is the Red-eared terrapin diet?

A

Opportunistic omnivores.
Juveniles are more carnivorous.
Feed 2-3x weekly.

AM2 (3 decks)

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