Exotics Flashcards
1
Q
Which climates do rabbit dislike?
A
Hot and dry
2
Q
What can cause gut hypomobility in rabbits?
A
Fear and stress
3
Q
Two problems with house rabbits?
A
May not have enough UV or grazing
4
Q
Which climates do guinea pigs need protection from?
A
Cold and damp
5
Q
Which climate do chinchillas like?
A
Dry, cool
6
Q
Which climates do chinchillas need protection from?
A
Damp and heat
7
Q
Should chinchillas live alone or in a group?
A
Need friends
8
Q
What material do chinchillas need in their dust bath?
A
Fine volcanic sand
9
Q
What material isn’t appropriate for chinchilla housing?
A
Will eat through anything wooden
10
Q
Which are the solitary hamsters?
A
Syrian
11
Q
What groups do gerbils live in?
A
Tribal
12
Q
Which times of day are gerbils awake?
A
Diurnal
13
Q
What kind of climate do hamsters and gerbils like?
A
Dry
14
Q
What three behaviours should hamsters and gerbils be able to do?
A
Forage, climb, burrow
15
Q
What climate do rats like?
A
Cool and moist
16
Q
What must birds be able to do in their cage by law?
A
Spread their wings
17
Q
Why should perches vary in texture and diameter?
A
To avoid arthritic change
18
Q
Which trees are best for bird perches?
A
Willow and fruit trees
19
Q
Which kind of birds should be bathed?
A
Rainforest/river
20
Q
How much light do tropical birds need all year?
A
10-12 hours
21
Q
What climate do birds like?
A
Good humidity
22
Q
Which kind of heat source to reptiles need?
A
Thermostatic external
23
Q
Which are the only reptiles which don’t need a UVB source?
A
Snakes
24
Q
How close to the basking area should the UVB source be?
A
20cm
25
How often should the UVB source be replace??
Annually
26
What is the problem with back wall heat pads?
Don't give a temperature gradient
27
What condition can you see if a reptile gets too hot?
Enteritis
28
What do ceramic bulbs provide?
Heat but no light
29
What are two problems with ceramic bulbs?
Can't tell if hot by looking, need wire around it
30
What is a problem with blue-red bulbs?
Don't last as long
31
What are heat/light combined bulbs designed for?
Additional spot heating in very large enclosure
32
What can heat/light combined bulbs cause in home use?
Dehydration
33
For most species, how many times a day should you spray?
1-2
34
Why must reptiles have good ventilation?
To avoid mould
35
What kind of misting might some species like frogs need?
Automatic misting
36
What kind of climate do chameleons like?
Tropical
37
What kind of temperatures do chameleons like?
High daytime with dramatic drop at night
38
What kind of humidity do chameleons like?
High at night
39
Where do bearded dragons live?
HOT desert
40
What kind of variation in their climate do bearded dragons like?
Diurnal
41
What kind of UVB do bearded dragons like?
HIGH
42
What kind of heat do bearded dragons like?
Hot spot in day
43
When do snakes especially need a quiet, vibration free environment?
When feeding
44
What might snakes need over winter?
A cool rest period
45
What kind of vivarium can young terrapins live in?
Aqua-vivarium
46
Do young terrapins need light or UVB?
Both
47
Where is a good place for adult terrapins to live?
A garden pond
48
How much space to tortoises need in summer?
10m2 each
49
Why should you rotate tortoise grazing?
To avoid roundworm
50
What season must be extended in tortoises?
Summer - into Autumn and Spring
51
Where can you give tortoises a controlled short hibernation in the UK?
In the fridge
52
What is better than a vivarium for baby tortoises?
A tortoise table
53
What is a problem with moist skin?
Gets diseased easily
54
Do reptiles or amphibians get ill and die faster?
Amphibians
55
What happens to parasites in a moist environment?
Build up quickly
56
What should water be like in an amphibian tank?
Filtered and moving (to aid humidity)
57
What must ventilation be like for amphibians?
Very good
58
Can you mix amphibian species?
No
59
Why should you not use wooden vivaria for amphibians?
Water and high humidity
60
How much of a rabbit's diet should hay make up?
Majority
61
What kind of vegetables can you give rabbits?
Green
62
Which rabbits require concentrates?
Growing and breeding
63
Which is the best rabbit food?
Extruded pellets - Burgess Super Excel and Supreme Selective
64
What is fibre, startch and Ca:P like in the best rabbit food?
Low starch, high fibre, correct Ca:P
65
What is Supreme "Russel Rabbit"?
Alfalfa-based muesli mix
66
What are cheap rabbit mixes mainly based on?
Flaked peas, flaked maize, rolled grains
67
What is wrong with cheap rabbit mixes?
Too high in carbs, low in fibre, incorrect Ca:P ratio
68
What is wrong with low fibre in rabbits?
Messes up gut flora, poor gut motility, non-caecotrophy
69
Which rabbits are Breeder pellets designed for?
Meat rabbits
70
How quickly can meat rabbits get to slaughter?
12 weeks
71
What are rabbit breeder pellets high in?
Energy and protein
72
What else to rabbit breeder pellets often contain?
Coccidiostat
73
What does too high carbs cause in rabbits?
Poor caecal flora, non-caecotrophy, soiled perineum
74
What can inadequate calcium cause in rabbits?
Osteodystrophy and dental disease
75
What can excess calcium cause in rabbits?
Sludge in bladder - calciuria
76
What is the ideal Ca:P ratio in rabbits?
1:1
77
Which food has the ideal Ca:P ratio in rabbits?
Grass
78
What is wrong with giving carrot tops to rabbits?
Too much Ca
79
What's wrong with giving maize and peas to rabbits?
Too much P - osteodystrophy
80
What is the maximum concentrates rabbits should have?
2-3% of correct body weight
81
Why should you not give rabbits lettuce?
Narcotic
82
How long will it take to see vitamin C deficiency in rabbits?
14 days
83
How much can vitamin C requirement increase during growth, sickness etc?
2-3x
84
What happens if guinea pigs don't get enough fibre?
Barbering
85
What kind of grass is a good source of vitamin C?
Actively growing
86
What happens to vitamin C levels once a vegetable is cut?
Decreases
87
What are Supreme Pet Foods "Gertie Guinea Pig" based on?
Alfalfa
88
How much vitamin C does Supreme Pet Foods "Gertie Guinea Pig" have?
250mg/kg
89
How many more times vitamin C does Burgess Super Guinea Pig have than Gertie Guinea Pig?
Three times
90
How much vitamin C does Burgess Super Guinea have?
1000mg/kg
91
What else is Burgess Super Guinea high in?
Fibre
92
What skeletal problems can lack of vitamin C cause in guinea pigs?
Joint swelling and pain, esp if young
93
What dental problems can lack of vitamin C cause in guinea pigs?
malocclusion secondary to scurvy, traps tongue
94
What three things can deactivate vitamin C in water?
Heat or sunlight, organic matter, contact with metal of water bottles
95
What is the maximum fat chinchillas can stand?
3%
96
What is vegetation like where chinchillas live?
Poor and fibrous
97
What treat can chinchillas have?
Hard vegetables and fruit, occasional sultanas and raisins
98
What do good quality chinchilla pellets look like?
Slim and hard
99
What do good quality chinchilla pellets contain?
Low fat, high vit C
100
What do poor quality chinchilla pellets look like?
Crumbly, cheap, high fat
101
What is wrong with Supreme Pet Food "Charlie Chinchilla"?
Allows selective feeding, not abrasive enough for good dental health
102
What vitamin C rate should chinchillas have?
Same as guinea pigs
103
What can hypocalcaemia cause in young chinchillas?
Fits
104
What can too much watery veg cause in chinchillas?
Colic/bloat
105
What skin problems can incorrect feeding cause in chinchillas?
Greasy fur and scaly skin
106
What are two other problems incorrect feeding can cause in chinchillas?
Fatty liver disease, paraphimosis
107
What should you not give to chinchillas as a sudden change in diet?
Fermentable foods
108
Which niche do Degus occupy?
Rabbit
109
What happens to Degus if fed an omnivore diet?
Get diabetes mellitus
110
What is a first sign of diabetes in Degus?
Cataracts
111
Which four species are naturally omnivorous?
Rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils
112
Which pellets can you give Degus?
Guinea pig
113
Which pellets should you not give Degus?
Gerbil or hamster
114
What are the problems with Supreme Pet Foods Rat, Hamster and Gerbil?
Selective feeding, produce obesity, not enough animal protein
115
Which small mammals can have live insects?
Gerbils and hamsters in glass-sided enclosures
116
What are the problems with cheap food for rats/mice/hamsters/gerbils?
Low in animal protein and EFAs, marginal calcium
117
What do laboratory animal pellets have in that makes them good but owners unwilling to feed?
Fishmeal
118
What's the problem with complete extruded ferret foods?
Not as fun as normal prey, not as good for teeth as a carcase
119
What's the problem with tinned cat food for ferrets?
Predisposes to dental disease
120
What is the only reliable tooth care for ferrets?
A carcase
121
What should you remove from a day-old chick before giving to a ferret? Why?
Yolk - contains avidin (an anti-B vitamin)
122
What disease is commonly seen in parrots due to too much fatty seeds?
Fatty liver disease
123
What are two essential amino acids for birds?
Lysine and methionine
124
Where are lysine and methionine only found?
Pulses, maize, animal problem
125
Which birds are neophobic?
All
126
Which are the only birds which can have more than 8% fat in the diet?
The big macaws - or those that live outside
127
Which birds eat entirely seeds?
NONE
128
How much fat do the big macaws need?
18%
129
How can you best provide fat in a birds diet?
large oil-rich nuts e.g. brazils, walnuts
130
Why are egg foods good for birds?
Lots of lysine and methionine, lots of protein
131
What are egg foods also known as?
Rearing foods
132
Which birds owners usually feed egg foods?
Those that breed and show small bird species
133
What are egg feed and seed mix and almost balanced diet for?
Finches/canaries, budgerigars, cockatiels
134
What kind of diets do softbill birds have?
Insectivorous
135
What are some softbill birds?
Thrushes, robins, starlings
136
What should the diet be low in for Mynahs?
Iron
137
Which kind of birds need more iodine than other species?
Budgies
138
What are two problems with in-water supplements for birds?
Very sweet so "bacterial soup" and birds don't drink much anyway
139
What are millet sprays good for?
Getting sick birds to eat
140
What's one problem with millet seeds?
Cause obesity in caged birds
141
What is the ideal budgie mix?
Trill (seed supplemented with egg food and iodine)
142
What is mainly in budgie mix?
Millet and canary seed
143
What are some green food that budgies can have?
Chickweed, plantain, dandelion, lettuce
144
Which mixes should cockatiels have?
Cockatiel or small parakeet
145
What can you give to cockatiels if they are overweight?
Budgie mix - has less fat-rich seeds
146
What is different about canary mix?
More fat rich as they need higher oil level
147
Why do canaries need a higher oil level?
Higher metabolic rate
148
What do you feed show canaries during a moult?
Colour food
149
What species does "parrot" include?
African greys, Amazons, cockatoos
150
How much animal protein do parrots each?
Some, from time to time
151
What is the maximum fat most parrots require in the diet?
8%
152
What are the only parrots that need more than 8% fat?
The large macaws
153
What does "parrot mix" mainly contain?
Sunflower seed and peanuts
154
Which spores can be found in parrot mix?
Aspergillus
155
How much fat does parrot mix have?
45-50%
156
What 6 things is parrot mix low in?
Fibre, calcium, EFAs, lysine, methionine, fat soluble vitamins
157
What's the problem with complete extruded diets for parrots?
Not easy to convert them to these, boring, unvarying, low fibre
158
What can you give parrots for the essential amino acids?
Maize or pulses
159
What can you give parrots for carbohydrates?
Rice, cooked potatoes, pasta
160
What do you do to a parrot pulses mix before feeding?
Soak and cook
161
What is a disadvantage of feeding a pulses mix to parrots?
Time consuming
162
What is an advantage of feeding a pulses mix to parrots?
Cheap
163
Which two foods are toxic to parrots?
Chocolate and avocado
164
What does high salt cause in parrots?
Pruritis, feather picking
165
Can parrots have fermented milk products?
Yes
166
What is "tidy mix"?
Parrot mix with the husks removed
167
What is wrong with "parrot mix with fruit"?
Dried fruit has little nutritional value
168
What foods do some parrot care books prohibit?
Banana and pineapple
169
Which parrots can banana be a problem in?
Very young
170
Which parrots especially need a supplement?
Young, breeding, African Greys
171
What is the standard balanced supplement for parrots?
Nutrobal
172
What are the advantages to feeding yoghurt to parrots?
Gleaming feathers
173
Can parrots digest milk?
No
174
What do lorikeets eat?
Nectar +/- fruit
175
What kind of animal protein will Med tortoises opportunistically eat?
Snail/worm
176
What temperature is the soil where Med tortoises hibernate?
4-5 degrees
177
What is the soil like in the wild where tortoises live?
Calcium-rich, alkaline
178
What happens if you feed a tortoise the same food throughout the year?
Grows too fast
179
How much of the year should the tortoise be grazing?
7-8 months
180
How can you give tortoises extra calcium?
Cuttlefish or supplement on fruit
181
What are three foods you should not let a tortoise get hooked on?
Dog food, peas, beans
182
What happens if owners give tortoises too much protein?
Overgrown beaks and claws, liver disease
183
What supplementation do tortoises living in polytunnels need?
Vitamin A
184
What condition do obese tortoises get?
Fibrous osteodystrophy
185
Which age tortoises are prone to osteodystrophy?
Young
186
What do terrapins rarely eat in captivity?
Vegetation
187
What should you feed juvenile and adult terrapins on?
Pelleted foods
188
What can you also feed young terrapins?
Aquatic live foods
189
What happens if you feed terrapins red meat?
Osteodystrophy
190
What do leopard geckos eat?
Insects
191
When is the only time you should give mealworms to leopard geckos?
Calorie rush before breeding
192
What is the Ca:P ratio of mealworms?
1:22
193
What happens if you give mealworms to leopard geckos?
Osteodystrophy
194
What Ca:P ratio do leopard geckos need?
2:1
195
What is the Ca:P ratio of crickets and locusts?
0.8:1
196
After how long should you bin a tub of supplement?
3-4 months
197
What do iguanas eat?
Leaves, flowers, a little fruit
198
Which kind of UV do iguanas need?
VERY HIGH, full spectrum (rainforest canopy)
199
What is iguana growth like?
Slow
200
What should bearded dragons eat?
Green first, flowers, fruits, insects
201
How many times a week should bearded dragons have insects?
Twice per week
202
What happens if bearded dragons get too much insects?
Constipation
203
How many UV strips should bearded dragons have?
Two
204
Where does the Bosc monitor live?
North Africa
205
What do bosc monitors eat?
Carnivorous
206
Why do Bosc monitors end up being overfed?
Walk a long way in the wild, always hungry
207
What are four problems caused by obesity in Bosc monitors?
Sore feet, fatty liver, hypovitaminosis E, haemorrhagic GE
208
Why shouldn't day old chicks be a significant part of a snakes diet?
Very low calcium, contain avidin unless the yolk sac is removed
209
What does frequency of snake feeding depend on?
Their size
210
How often are baby snakes fed?
3-7 days
211
How often are medium-sized snakes fed?
7-21 days
212
How often are big snakes fed?
Every 4-6 weeks
213
Why do snakes stop eating after coming home?
Stressed with noise and vibration
214
How much should you feed a snake in one sitting?
As much as it wants
215
How do you know when to feed a snake again?
When the last meal has passed out
216
How large can the prey you feed a snake be?
The widest diameter of the snake
217
Why should you not handle a snake after feeding?
Regurgitates
218
What are the six sizes of rats sold to feed snakes?
Pups, fluffs, weaners, small, medium, large
219
What are the five sizes of mice sold to feed snakes?
Pinkies, fluffs, small, medium, large
220
What colour mice should you try if a snake won't feed?
Dark brown
221
Which are the only snakes that might need freshly killed prey?
Imported wild
222
What kind of food do ALL adult amphibians eat?
Carnivorous
223
What must the prey be doing for an amphibian to eat it?
Moving
224
Why can fish survive out of water for hours?
Die because of CO2 rise, not O2 lack
225
What are the dissolved gases in water?
Oxygen, nitrogen, ammonia and carbon dioxide
226
When can fish temperature be elevated?
For therapy/breeding
227
What is a problem with elevated fish temperature?
Lower dissolved oxygen partial pressure
228
When may fish temperature be lower?
Transportation
229
What is a problem with disturbed sediment in a fish tank?
Higher O2 requirement
230
What is a problem with super-saturation of gases?
Nitrogen - gas bubble dieases
231
What commensal can cause opportunistic infection in fish?
Aeromonas
232
What causes stress with fish in the Spring and Summer?
Large diurnal temperature changes
233
What are four methods of fish euthanasia?
Direct trauma, electrical stunning, clove oil, MS222 (benzocaine)
234
How should you transport a fish?
Double, thick polythene bags, thermal insulation, rigid container, 1/3 air/oxygen, sedatives
235
How is nitrate formed?
Ammonia to nitrite to nitrate
236
What's a problem with under gravel filters?
Can clog
237
What's a problem with excessive tank cleaning?
Inadequate bacterial presence
238
What is new tank disease?
Lack of bacterial presence
239
What is an advantage of lilies in a fish tank?
Shade/protection
240
What are three ways on controlling algae?
Mechanical, UV, herbivorous fish
241
What's a problem with plants in a fish tank?
Can bring snails or parasites
242
What two things must water depth be sufficient for?
Overwintering and thermal buffering capacity
243
What's a problem with high water flow?
Can exhaust delicate fish
244
What are the three stages of style in zoo enclosure?
Menagerie, living art galleries, experience oritented
245
What are the three cornerstones in zoos?
Education, conservation, entertainment/research
246
What does the European Zoos Directive say?
Sets standards
247
What does the zoo licensing act 1981 say?
Must provide well-adapted environment, vetcare and husbandry
248
What are SSSMZPs?
Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice
249
How do SSSMZPs categorise animals?
According to risk 1-3
250
What are five ways to quantify welfare?
Indicator behaviours, activity budgets, behaviour diversity, enclosure usage, physiological responses
251
Which two methods measure how much time is spent doing each behaviour?
Activity budgets and behavioural diversity
252
What does a spread of participation index do?
Splits the enclosure into zones and measures how much time animals spend in each
253
What do 0 and 1 in a spread of participation index mean?
0 = no bias, 1 = spend all time in one place
254
What four conditions must be in place for live feeding?
Allowed in exceptional surfaces and veterinary advice, requires ethical review, feeding must be observed, never in public view
255
In which species is diabetes a big problem?
Old World monkeys
256
What are seven ways of preventing flight in birds?
Small enclosure, feather clipping, overfeeding, tethering, brailling, pinioning, tendonectomy
257
What is pinioning?
Removing pinion joint so can't grow primary feathers
