Exotic Med - Reptile Husbandry

Front 1

Reptile orders

Back 1

-Chelonians
-Crocodilidans
-Squamates

Front 2

Squamtes
-classes

Back 2

-Saurians (lizards)
-Serpentes (snakes)
-Sphenodontia (some new zealand animal)

Front 3

Important reptile generalities for maintenance

Back 3

-temp
-thermoregulation
-fluid balance
-photoperiod
-nutrition
-quarantine

Front 4

Reptiles
-important aspects for cage design

Back 4

-heat source
-humidity control
-water quality
-ventilation
-lighting
-substrates
-sanitation

Front 5

Poikilothermy
-define

Back 5

-change body temperature in relation to the environment

Front 6

Because reptiles are poikilothermic how do they change body temperature?

Back 6

-alter location

Front 7

Reptiles
-important temperature considerations

Back 7

-POTZ
-critical high
-most require daily cooling
-some require seasonal cooling

Front 8

Where is seasonal cooling important?

Back 8

-zoos for breeding purposes

Front 9

Reptiles
-effects of Sub-optimal temp

Back 9

-dec activity
-impaired physiological processes (digestive enzymes, antibody production)
-increased susceptibility to infection and dysecdysis

Front 10

Dysecdysis
-define

Back 10

-problematic shedding

Front 11

Hyperthermia
-effects

Back 11

-acute effects
-burns

Front 12

Reptiles
-important needs for heat sources

Back 12

-primary and secondary sources
-thermal gradient

Front 13

Reptiles
-thermal gradient facts

Back 13

-vary b/n spp
-mid 80s-low 100s
-within a single cage
-from day to night

Front 14

Primary heat source
-reasons for use
-sources

Back 14

-background temp
-low point of POTZ

-radiant heat (ceramic bulbs, tiles, under cage heating)
-warm air
-light bulbs (poor source)
-aquarium heater

Front 15

Secondary heat source
-reasons for use
-sources

Back 15

-basking spot
-increased day temps

-hot rocks (no good, thermal burns)
-light bulbs (UV B source, 40-60 W)

Front 16

Important characteristics for heat sources

Back 16

-most spp need diurnal gradient
-must be appropriate for each spp (arboreal, terrestrial, subterranean)
-good monitoring

Front 17

Humidity controls

Back 17

-large shallow water bowls
-daily misting
-live plants/substrate
-humidifiers
-drip systems

Front 18

Effects of humidity being too high

Back 18

-environment too wet
-low ventilation
-live plants

Front 19

What can occur if the reptile environment becomes to wet?

Back 19

-blister disease
-mold

Front 20

How to tell if there is a lot of humidity?

Back 20

-water marks on glass

Front 21

Effects of live plants in high humidity

Back 21

-parasites
-unwanted insects

Front 22

What can happen if humidity is too low?

Back 22

-dysecdysis
-respiratory probs
-sub-clinical dehydration (kidney disease)
-affected reproduction

Front 23

Species requiring good ventilation
-how can this be done

Back 23

-chameleons

-use screen cages

Front 24

Interaction between ventilation and humidity

Back 24

-dec. ventilation --> inc. humidity

Front 25

Ventilation
-guidelines

Back 25

-all reptiles need proper ventilation
-enclosures shouldn't smell stagnant
-humidity should not build up on glass
-fans may be employed

Front 26

Reptiles
-importance of photoperiod

Back 26

light and temperature are important for:
-oogenesis
-spermatogenesis
-gonadal development

Front 27

Retiles
-approx what is an optimal photoperiod

Back 27

-12 hrs light
-12 hrs dark

Front 28

Retiles
-reasons lighting considerations are important

Back 28

-photoperiod
-ultraviolet source
-heat source

Front 29

Reptiles
-lighting used for photoperiods

Back 29

-primary --> fluorescent lights

-secondary --> basking lights

Front 30

Circadian lighting
-define

Back 30

-daily

Front 31

Circannual lighting
-define

Back 31

-yearly

Front 32

Circadian and circannual photo periods are an important consideration for:

Back 32

-successful breeding

Front 33

Typical summer photoperiod

Back 33

-15 hrs light
-9 hrs dark

Front 34

Reason lizards need ultraviolet light source

Back 34

-UV B ---> Vit D3 metabolism

Front 35

UV light source
-optimal wavelength

Back 35

-290-320 nm

Front 36

How often should UV lights be replaced?

Back 36

-every 6 months

Front 37

How far from the animl should UV lights be placed?

Back 37

12-18 inches

Front 38

At what % of UV light can the pet get sunburn?

Back 38

10%

Front 39

Hazards of UV light

Back 39

-owner
-nocturnal spp.
-possibly don't need

Front 40

How else can an animal get UV light?

Back 40

-direct sun exposure

Front 41

Temperature range for most basking areas

Back 41

100-110F

Front 42

Effect of direct access to lighting
-why

Back 42

-direct injury

-basking animals associate heat and light

Front 43

Approximate humidity level that is satisfactory for most species

Back 43

50-60%

Front 44

Effects of humidity extremes

Back 44

-dysecdysis (too low)

-inc. environmental pathogens (too high)

Front 45

Substrate
-advantages

Back 45

-natural looking enclosure
-provide security
-provide humidity

Front 46

Substrate
-disadvantage

Back 46

-difficult to clean
-parasites
-ingestion/toxic

Front 47

Wood shavings vs. Cypress mulch

Back 47

Wood shavings
-cedar --> toxic
-can get GI & teeth problems

Cypress mulch
-works well
-should be purchased in bulk
-decorative
-can cause GI problems

Front 48

Moss
-advantages

Back 48

-good for amphibians
-various types
-provide humidity
-biological filter
-can mix some types with top soil or mulch

Front 49

Top Soil
-advantages

Back 49

-sterile from garden center
-screened
-clean

Front 50

Rocks
-properties

Back 50

-mack sure they're secured
-lava rock --> abrasive (don't use
-small pebbles can be eaten

Front 51

Sand
-problems

Back 51

-irritant (silica)
-can cause GI block
-hard to clean
-caution when using Calcium sand

Front 52

Species that need sand substrate

Back 52

-sand skinks
-sand boas

Front 53

One of the best substrates for reptile enclosures

Back 53

-newspaper

Front 54

Branches
-disadvantages

Back 54

-some may be toxic
-can introduce pests

Front 55

Thigmotactic
-define

Back 55

-prefers wedging in tight objects

Front 56

Reasons for poor water quality

Back 56

-stagnant water --> Aeromonas sp. (bacteria)
-reptiles defecate in water
-temperature is important
-parasites

Front 57

Drinking water
-water quality info

Back 57

-change frequently
-use proper disinfectants
-bowls, ponds, mist, drip

Front 58

Maintaining water quality in a large pond

Back 58

-drain and disinfect daily

Front 59

Maintaining water quality in an aquarium tank

Back 59

-establish a nitrogen cycle
-mechanical and biological filtration
-de-chlorination

Front 60

Optimal water temperature
-why

Back 60

-75-80F for large ponds
-reptiles won't bathe in cold water

Front 61

Quarantine length for reptiles

Back 61

-at least 60-120 days

Front 62

Reasons for quarantine

Back 62

-physical exam
-biological sampling (blood, feces)
-treatment
-isolation

Front 63

Quarantine
-purposes

Back 63

-limit introduction of infectious disease
-observe new animal
-acclimate to new environment/food