Reptiles Flashcards
What do most reptile diseases in the UK result from?
Poor/incorrect nutrition
poor husbandry
What does environmental stress do?
Reduces immune system function and predisposes to infection
Orders
Crocodilia
Rhyncocephalia
Squamata
Chelonia/Testudinia
Crocodilia
Crocodiles, alligators, caiman, gharial, false gharial
Need a wild/dangerous animals licence tokeep as pet
Rhyncocephalia
Only one living genus Tuatara endemic to New Zealand
2 species (Sphenodon punctatus, Sphenodon guntheri)
Photoreceptive but not visual- thought to be involved in circadian and seasonal cycles
Squamata (largest order) suborders (3)
Suaria/lacertilia- lizards (~19 families)
Serpentes- snakes (~11 families)
Amphisbaena- worm lizards (1 family)
What species does the Chelonia/Testudina order contain?
Tortoises (land dwelling)
Terrapins(land/water)
Turtles (mainly water)
How many species of snake are there?
~3000
The four families of snakes
Colubridae
Boidae
Viperidae
Elapidae
Boidae
Boa constrictor, royal python, anaconda
Commonly kept
Powerful constrictors
Colubridae
Corn snake, rat snake, king snake, garter snake
Commonly kept
Elapidae
Mamba, cobra, taipan, sea snake
One lung and corotid, small heads, front fangs
Mainly oviparous
Viperidae
Rattlesnake, pit viper, puff adder
Most advanced, one carotid, one lung, hinged maxilla for jaw movement
Oviparous or viviparous
Corn snakes (Elphae guttata)
10-20 years
up to 150cm (females often bigger than males)
King snakes (Lampropeltis spp.)
15-25 years
up to 180cm
Types of pythons (3)
Ball python (1-1.5m)
Burmese
Reticulated (>6m)
Types of boas (2)
Constrictor (~2m)
Rosy (~0.9m)
Commonly kept lizards (6)
Geckos Bearded dragons Iguana Chameleons Skinks Chinese water dragon
Commonly kept tortoises (4)
Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise
Horsefields tortoise
Hermanns
Marginated
Environment (general)
Requirements vary with species
Hide area important
Avoid things that can be ingested (gravel, stones)
Newspaper- cheap, digestible, disposable
Astroturf/washable carpet squares possible alternative
Aquatic and semi-aquatic species require a body of water to…
Feed in (needs to have adequate heating and filtration)
Reptiles are ectothermic/endothermic
Ectothermic
What do sick/stressed reptiles often exhibit?
Behavioural fever (seek out higher than normal temperatures)
Provide different heat sources to achieve…..
POTZ
Primary heat source
Low end of POTZ
provides background/ambient heat
Should not be a light source- need to consider correct period of daylight/darkness
Options for primary heat source
Heat mats
Heat tape
Incandescent bulbs
Ceramic lamps
Secondary heat source
Gives higher temperature heat source in specific area
Should not exceed high end of POTZ
Generally 50-75W bulb
Never allow direct contact with this source- burns
Ambient temperature should not exceed……
Heat source should not exceed……
PBT
POTZ
……. and ……. thermometers essential
Min and max
Humidity:
Desert species…
Most species tolerate….
Rainforest species…..
Lower 20-30%
50-70%
Higher 70-80%
What meter monitors humidity?
Hygrometer *
Always provide higher/lower humidity area for ecdysis (shedding)
Higher
…….. essential for lighting
Timers
Most species tolerate ……. hours of light a day
12-14
Tropical species lighting
Summer 13 hours light/ 11 hours dark
Winter: 11 hours light/13 hours dark
Temperate species lighting
Summer: 15 hours light/ 9 hours dark
Winter: 9 hours light/ 15 hours dark
UVA
320-400nm
Stimulates reproductive behaviour in lizards
UVB
290-320nm
Required for conversion of Vit D3 in skin
Important for calcium metabolism
6-12 inches from animal
Replace regularly (efficacy declines over time)
What’s important in the diet?
Problems with this? *
Calcium: Phosphorus ratio
Crickets/mealworms inverse Ca:P ratio
Pinkie mice lower than adult mice (0.79:1 cf 1.4:1)
Frequency of feeding depends on?
Weight gain/condition
Frequency of feeding: Small snakes/lizards Young large boas/pythons Iguanas/chelonians Large snakes
1-2 times/week
3 times a week
Daily
Once every 2-4 weeks
Diet of tortoises/spiny tailed lizards/green iguana *
Herbivores
Green veg, flowers, succulents, calcium supplement
UVB essential
Diet of terrapins/turtles
Omnivores
Feed in water
Separate tank may be useful
Earthworms, pinkies, fish, green veg, commercial food
Diet of snakes
Carnivores
Often prefer to feed in small dark space
May require teasing with food (pythons)
Rodents, rabbits
Diet of monitor lizards
Rodents, fish, eggs
Diet of bearded dragons, water dragons, geckos, chameleons
Insectivores
Mealworms, wax worms, crickets, locusts
Can gut load insects with fruit and calcium supplement before feeding
(Green iguans 100% veg)
Why should you avoid overhandling after feeding?
As may regurgitate (especially young reptiles)
Some …….. and ……. will happily live with others of the same species when set up is right
Lizards and Chelonians
What can over handling lead to?
Food refusal
Holding chelonians *
Hold shell just in front of hindlimbs or around back of shell between hind limbs (useful in aggressive species)
Some can scratch and bite
Handling lizards
Hold around neck and upper body with one hand
Other hand supports pelvis and hindlimbs (may need to keep hindlimbs extended slightly and parallel with body - reduces risk of scratches)
Never hold by tail (some species shed tail)
Handling snakes
Can be aggressive
Careful handling- can be easily bruised/rib fractures
Thumb and second finger behind head, forefinger on top of head
If bitten by snake
Resist pulling back as teeth point backwards
Push hand deeper into mouth and immerse snake’s head in water to encourage it to release bite
Can use isopropyl alcohol if that doesn’t work
What species hibernate
Temperate species
Californian box turtle
Mediterranean tortoise
Pros of hibernation
Stimulates normal thyroid function and reproductive behaviour
Cons of hibernation
Harmful in young, ill or underweight animals
What to do for hibernation
Withold food for 2 weeks, place in box with bedding, reduce temperature to below 10*C, monitor state
Time for hibernation
Nov/Dec- March
Waking up from hibernation
Warm water bath, encourages drinking and expulsion of faeces
