Reptiles

Question 1

What are the 8 H’s of husbandry?

Answer 1

Heat
Hide
Humidity
Health
Hygiene
Healthy appetite
Habitat
Handling

Question 2

What does preferred body temperature mean?

Answer 2

The temperature at which metabolism is optimal

Question 3

Difference between thermometer and thermostat?

Answer 3

Thermostat regulates heat

Thermometer reads it

Question 4

What is ultraviolet light essential for?

Answer 4

Synthesis of Vitamin D and calcium metabolism

Question 5

What is the average humidity requirement?

Answer 5

40-80%

Question 6

What in the vivarium can alter humidity levels?

Answer 6

Size of the water bowl

Question 7

What are the 3 substrates that are unsuitable to use?

Answer 7

Artificial turf
Bark chips
Dirt

Question 8

What is the most common cause of disease in turtles?

Answer 8

Poor water quality

Question 9

What type of diet do all Australian snakes have?

Answer 9

Carnivorous

Question 10

How often should hatchling and adult pythons be fed?

Answer 10

Hatchlings 4-5 days

Adult 1-2 weeks

Question 11

How often should small and adult lizards be fed?

Answer 11

Small 1-2 days

Adult 2-3 days

Question 12

How much should an adult reptile be fed maximally?

Answer 12

20%of body weight

Question 13

What is the most commonly seen condition in pythons?

Answer 13

Stomatitis

-Usually inappetant

Question 14

What mite can infect snakes, and what are the clinical signs?

Answer 14

Ophionyssus natricis
Dysecdysis
Long periods in water bowls

Question 15

What are skin blisters caused by? (Ventral necrotic dermatitis)

Answer 15

Excessive humidity
Inappropriate substrate
Suboptimal temperature
Poor hygiene

Question 16

What can metabolic bone disease be misdiagnosed as?

Answer 16

Neurological issue

-Can have hindlimb and tail paresis, twitchy

Question 17

How do you treat respiratory disease?

Answer 17

Increase the vivarium temperature

usually don’t need antibiotics

Question 18

How long should you quarantine a new reptile?

Answer 18

3-6 months

Question 19

What are some clinical signs of stomatitis in pythons?

Answer 19

Oral lesions
Anorexia
Ptyalism
“Tongue stick”

Question 20

Why can respiratory disease in snakes be especially problematic?

Answer 20

No diaphragm so can’t cough
Linear anatomy
Only have a right lung

Question 21

What are some clinical signs of Ferlavirus in snakes?

Answer 21

Respiratory signs
neurological signs
Non-specific signs-
Poor appetite
Lethargy
Regurgitation
-No antibody test in Aus

Question 22

What is the protocol for fluid therapy in snakes?

Answer 22

25-40 mls/kg/day S.C.

Question 23

What happens in steatitis?

Answer 23

Fat deposits become hard and abscessed

Euthanasia in severe cases

Question 24

How long can mites survive off the host?

Answer 24

40 days

Question 25

What can you use to treat mites in snakes?

Answer 25

Ivermectin
Fipronil
Permethrin spray
Vegetable oil
Warm baths to ease discomfort

Question 26

Why is metabolic bone disease uncommon in snakes?

Answer 26

Because they are fed whole animals with lots of calcium

Question 27

What are 3 causes of renal metabolic bone disease?

Answer 27

Dehydration
High protein diet
Hypervitaminosis D

Question 28

How do you treat a reptile with renal metabolic bone disease?

Answer 28

Phosphate binders
Fluid therapy
Supportive care

Question 29

What should be included in a reptile blood and biochem panel?

Answer 29

Leukocyte estimate and differential count
PCV and total protein
UA, CK, AST
Glucose, calcium, phosphorus, bile acids

Question 30

During ecdysis what happens to the lymphocyte numbers?

Answer 30

Lymphocytosis

-Increased