reptiles Flashcards
1.5.2.10 (7/5)
No LO about critical values in reptiles (HR, RR, body temp. etc)
Why not? (incl key term)
their metabolic rate depends on env temp
their body temp depends on env temp
(ectothermic)
name the 3 reptile orders (put in italics when you look through)
1) squamata
2) chelonia
3) crocodilia
reptile orders: give 2 animals from the squamata order
lizards
snakes
reptile orders: give 3 animals from the chelonia order
hint: all T’s
tortoises
turtles
terrapins
reptile orders: give an animal from the crocodilia order
alligators *dangerous animal license req
(crocodiles???)
reptiles - legalities
need to go over **
- CITES lists species that cannot be taken from wild
- require permits for import and sale (can only be if captive bred?????????)
- imports: up to 5 can enter with owner without vet check?? but cannot import hatchlings without license???
define ‘captive bred’
parents bred in captivity
reptiles - legalities
license required for…
under the act…
- venomous snake AND lizard species
- crocodilia
- Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976
the aims when keeping reptiles in captivity: 3
- allows maintenance of good health
- promotes natural behaviours
- minimises negative impacts of captivity
cornsnakes in wild - natural behaviours
- carnivores - whole prey (constrictors), every few days
- forests/fields/wetlands
- diurnal (active in day)
- solitary
enclosure - size and shape
general point to note + 3 areas
dep on species, no of indiv., behaviour
- large enough for temp gradient
- 30-40% floor space for normal activity
- size based on body length
enclosure - materials (6)
- non-toxic
- non-porous
- easy to clean
- easy to obtain and maintain
- durable
- not likely cause injury
temperature -
ectothermic (body temp dep on env temp)
req range of temps to thermoregulate
= POTZ (preferred optimum temp zone)
POTZ
what does it stand for?
what is it?
preferred optimum temp zone
optimum temp for normal healthy function
4 bodily functions that the POTZ is needed for:
- feeding
- digestion
- reproduction
- immunocompetence
POTZ varies by…(4)
- species
- time of day/year
- physiological state
- health status
“behavioural fever” (check properly)
reptile will seek out heat/raise own body temp above normal range
as a means of killing pathogens/fighting viruses that may cause clinical illness
process used in place of animal getting fever itself (e.g. from pathogen)?
heat - temperature gradient
- hot and cold area:
hot = at or above POTZ, cold = at or below POTZ - IN BOTH PLANES: left to right AND up and down
- thermometers at height animal most likely to be at e.g. basking spot
- cooler at night
3 examples of heat sources:
1) ceramic/incandescent bulb
2) heat pad/mat
3) hot rocks
heat sources - ceramic/incandescent bulb
points to note
- basking species e.g. beardies
- protective guard to prevent burns
heat sources - heat mats
points to note
- nocturnal/crepuscular species
e.g. leopard gecko - outside viv?
- can provide heat at night
- not covering more than 1/3 to 1/2 floor area (??)
heat sources - hot rocks
points to note
too hot
uncontrollable/unpredictable
not recommended
lighting - types of light needed
- lizards and chelonians = full spectrum (UVA, UVB, visible light)
- infrared = heat
- visible light = reproductive behaviour
lighting - points to note (not to do with types of lighting)
- bulbs changed regularly per manufacturer guidance (usually 6 months)
- correct distance from reptile (UV damage/skin tumours)
- light must be inside viv - UV doesn’t travel through glass
- daylight vs nighttime setting required (??)
- NOT hot spot (??)
substrate - properties
- non-irritant
- non-toxic
- easy to clean/obtain/replace
species dependant - messy eaters = food on floor, if floor sand = eating sand = impactions
pros and cons of substrates - apparently Table 3.7 pp. 40, BSAVA reptiles?? do this
humidity:
1) associated with?
2) measured using?
3) done/maintained using?
1) temp - hotter = harder to keep humid
2) hygrometer
3) spraying/misting/drip systems/humidifiers/moss and peat
humidity - consequences when too high
[varies by species - natural hab e.g. desert vs rainforest]
- dyseccdysis (abnormal shedding-snakes)
- renal failure (due to chronically dehyd.) - green iguanas
humidity - consequences when too low
[varies by species - natural hab e.g. desert vs rainforest]
- fungal and bacterial dermatitis
ventilation
air changes (not just movement - fresh air) = red. odours and prev. pathogen build up
careful balance with temp and humidity
passive e.g. ventilation holes
active e.g. fans
diet - carnivorous species
whole prey items (not just meat chunks)
diet - herbivorous species
- leafy weeds and veg (not fruit) based diets
- finely chopped = red. selective feeding
diet - omnivorous species
[same as carnivore and herbivore, PLUS:]
insect based diet (mealworms, crickets etc.)
diet - herbivores
AVOID… (research why)
High oxalates foods (reduce Ca availability) e.g. parsley, spinach, romaine lettuce, spring greens
Brassicas e.g. cabbage, kale, broccoli (goitrogenic)
High phytate containing foods e.g. cereals and legumes (reduce P, Ca and Fe uptake)
Pellets (too high in energy and protein)
snake diets - note…
- do not handle within 24-48hrs
- amount and freq = dep on species and age
- regular weighing and BCS to get amount and freq right
- can alter feeding to manage behaviour
e.g. over active snake = feed MORE FREQ to calm down
diet - supplementation (2types)
Ca
Multivitamins incl VitD
diet - supplementation
2 ways in which Ca supplements are given
1) dusting - food coated in supplement
2) gut loading - the insects (that will be fed to reptile) are themselves fed a ‘meal’ on the supplement/nutritious ‘meal’
COMMON BEHAVIOURS
- CLIMBING/HIDING/BATHING
- THERMOREGULATION
- BRUMATION
- AGGRESSION
what is brumation?
reptile hibernation
common behaviour - brumation
- not all species
- trigger = dropping env temp
- red. in metabolic rate and oxygen demand
- uses fat reserves (if brumate with poor BCS = often don’t survive)
common behaviours - aggression
- head bopping/tail whipping/hissing/rearing up
- territorial displays - part of normal behaviour repatoire in some species
- important to keep in socially appt situations (some are solitary - keep out of contact with other snakes)
- tongue flick = NOT SIGN OF AGGRESSION
SEX DETERMINATION - bearded dragons
femoral pores = more prominent in males
hemipene bulges = 2 in males, none in females
SEX DETERMINATION - snakes
hemipene probing
SEX DETERMINATION - chelonians
TAIL - male longer e.g. Hermann
PLASTRON - males concave (but can be unreliable)
CARAPACE - male margin tucked, flared female
the main cause of health and welfare problems in reptiles:
INADEQUATE HUSBANDRY
NAME 4 REPTILE HEALTH PROBLEMS
- musculoskeletal issues
- GI issues
- skin/shell issues
- respiratory disease
musculoskeletal issues
(name 3 and OUTLINE)
metabolic bone disease (fractures/bone deformities)
gout (uric acid crystals form in joints (e.g. if diet too high in protein))
Overgrown nails and beak
GI issues (bresk down more - basially copy pasted)
Gut impaction (sand +/- wood chip substrate)
Endoparasites (worms)
Regurgitation
Endoparasites
Handling too
Anorexia (lots of causes including stress, inadequate set up, systemic illness, dehydration)
skin and shell issues
Burns and scalds (cover bulbs)
Ectoparasites e.g. snake mites
Tumours (UV damage)
Dyseccdysis including retained spectacles
Trauma (e.g. fighting, enclosure design, “pushing”)
Shell pyramiding
Soft shell (metabolic bone disease)
Stomatitis (mouth inflammation)
respiratory disease:
Inadequate ventilation
High temperatures/low humidity – drying of mucous membranes
Low temperatures – reduced immunity
Poor hygiene
Small vivarium (snakes) – not able to clear discharges
Nutritional deficiencies
define carapace
upper shell
define plastron
lower shell
