Reptile Husbandry, Restraint, + Disease Flashcards
What is the recommended humidity range for tropical reptile species?
80-90%
What is the recommended humidity range for dessert reptile species?
30-50%
What is UVB lighting necessary for?
Vitamin D synthesis and Calcium absorption
What the diurnal temperature range for reptiles? Both tropical and desert?
85-95°F
What is the maximum basking light temperature for reptiles?
100°F-105°F
Why is temperature monitoring important for reptiles?
To avoid thermal burns and achieve optimum temperature ranges
What are 7 appropriate under layer materials for reptiles in their enclosures?
- Newspaper
- Artificial turf (sturdy, good quality)
- Recycled paper products
- Aspen bedding
- Cypress
- Mulch
- Ornamental bark chips
What type of housing is best for Arboreal + Terrestrial species of reptiles
Both: Made of synthetic nonporous material, sealed wood, Plexiglas
Arboreal species: vertical enclosures
Terrestrial species: horizontal enclosures
Herbivore diet: 3 facts
What reptile species is a Herbivore?
- Grasses, leaves, vegetables and fruit
- Feed diet with moderate to high fiber content and moderate to low fat and protein
- Alfalfa should be part of diet to provide protein source, should be fed in moderation
Example: Lizard
What 5 foods should Herbivores avoid?
- Don’t feed dog/cat food.
- Parsley
- Spinach
- Chives
- Oxalic acid may bind calcium and reduce calcium level
Carnivore diet:
- Prey, small mammals, birds or other reptiles
- High protein diet with moderate fat and low fiber
- Immature rodents should be coated with a calcium supplement
- Increase calcium intake
What should you avoid feeding carnivores + why? What are examples of carnivorous reptile species
Avoid feeding live prey, may cause injury to reptile
Ex: Lizards, Snakes
What is an Insectivore? What is important about their diet? Reptile example
Insectivore: Eats insects, worms, and other invertebrates
Diet: Crickets, mealworms, waxworms
- Insects must be fed a nutrient rich diet for up to 2 days before being offered to the reptile
- Gut loading, insects do not provide enough nutrition without gut loading
Example: Lizards
What is an Omnivore? What is important about their diet? What about water? Reptile example
Omnivore: Eats plant and prey
Diet: Combination of food items for herbivores, carnivores and insectivores
Water: depending on the species water may be offered in a dish, misting or dripping system
Example: Lizards
What a lizards main defense?
How do you restrian them?
Venipuncture sites (3)
Defense: Bite
Restrain:
- Hold head first; placing the index finger and thumb around base of mandible
- Use free hand to hold rear legs and tail
- Don’t grab the tail; some lizards can lose the distal part of their tail as a defense mechanism (this is called tail autotomy)
- Sometimes covering eyes can calm them down
Venipuncture sites: ventral coccygeal (tail) vein, jugular vein, ventral abdominal vein
