Reptile Husbandry, Restraint, and Diseases

Question 1

Reptile
Enclosure Material

Answer 1

• Synthetic, non-porous material
• Sealed wood
• Plexiglass

Question 2

Reptile
Enclosure Size

Answer 2

Larger are better
* arboreal species = vertical length
* terrestrial species = horizontal length

Question 3

Reptile
Enclosure Temp

Answer 3

• Diurnal temp (tropical and desert lizards): 85-95
• Basking light: 100-105

Question 4

Reptile
Enclosure Humidity

Answer 4

• Tropical Species: 80-90%
• Desert Species: 30-50%

Question 5

Reptiles and UVB

Answer 5

UVB lighting necessary for
* vitamin D synthesis
* calcium absorption

Question 6

Reptile Enclosure
Substrates

Answer 6

• Newspaper
• Artificial Turf
• Recycled Paper Products
• Aspen Bedding
• Cypress
• Mulch
• Ornamental Bark Chips

Question 7

Nutrition
Lizards
(herbivores)

Answer 7

• Grasses, Leaves, Veggies, Fruit
• Mod - High Fiber
• Mod - Low Fat and Protein
• Alfalfa in moderation - protein source
• Do NOT feed dog or cat food

Question 8

Foods to Avoid
Lizards (herbivores)

Answer 8

Reduces calcium levels - oxalic acid may bind calcium
* parsley
* spinach
* chives

Question 9

Nutrition
Lizards and Snakes
(carnivores)

Answer 9

• Prey on Small Mammals, Birds, other Reptiles
• High Protein
• Mod Fat
• Low Fiber
• Coat immature rodents in calcium supplement to increase calcium intake

Question 10

Foods to Avoid
Lizards and Snakes
(carnivores)

Answer 10

Live Prey
* may cause injury to reptile

Question 11

Nutrition
Lizards
(insectivores)

Answer 11

Crickets, Mealworms, Waxworms
* gut loading = feed insects nutrient rich diet 2 days before being offered
* insects do not provide enough nutrition without gut loading

Question 12

Nutrition
Lizards
(omnivores)

Answer 12

Plant and Prey Items
* combination of herbivores, carnivores, and insectivores
* water delivery dependent on species

Question 13

Restraining
Lizards

Answer 13

• Retrain head first - may bite
• Index finger and thumb around base of mandible
• Other hand, hold rear legs and tail
• Do not grab the tail

Question 14

Tail Autotomy

Answer 14

Defense mechanism
* distal part of tail lost by choice

Question 15

Lizard Calming Trick

Answer 15

Some species will calm down when both eyes are covered
* produces vagal stimulation
* results in calming effect

Question 16

Lizard
Venipuncture Sites

Answer 16

• Ventral Coccygeal (tail)
• Jugular
• Ventral Abdominal

Question 17

Restraining
Chelonians

Answer 17

All assuming non-aggressive
* grasp both sides of shell
* grasp base of skull at mandible with index finger and thumb
* gentle traction to extend head and neck

Question 18

Chelonians

Answer 18

Term to describe
* turtles
* tortoises

Question 19

Chelonian
Venipuncture Sites

Answer 19

• Jugular
• Subcarapacial Venous Sinus (just above head and underneath shell at midline)
• Dorsal Coccygeal

Question 20

Restraining
Snakes

Answer 20

Grasp head at level of mandible
* main defense is bite and constrict
* support body with other hand
* larger snakes need additional handling for spine support

Question 21

Reptile Toxins

Answer 21

Ivermectin
* do not give to chelonians, indigo snakes, or debilitates snakes
* extremely toxic
* neurologic defects and death