Reptiles

Question 1

What do most reptile diseases in the UK result from?

Answer 1

Poor/incorrect nutrition

poor husbandry

Question 2

What does environmental stress do?

Answer 2

Reduces immune system function and predisposes to infection

Question 3

Orders

Answer 3

Crocodilia
Rhyncocephalia
Squamata
Chelonia/Testudinia

Question 4

Crocodilia

Answer 4

Crocodiles, alligators, caiman, gharial, false gharial

Need a wild/dangerous animals licence tokeep as pet

Question 5

Rhyncocephalia

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Squamata (largest order) suborders (3)

Answer 6

Suaria/lacertilia- lizards (~19 families)
Serpentes- snakes (~11 families)
Amphisbaena- worm lizards (1 family)

Question 7

What species does the Chelonia/Testudina order contain?

Answer 7

Tortoises (land dwelling)
Terrapins(land/water)
Turtles (mainly water)

Question 8

How many species of snake are there?

Answer 8

~3000

Question 9

The four families of snakes

Answer 9

Colubridae
Boidae
Viperidae
Elapidae

Question 10

Boidae

Answer 10

Boa constrictor, royal python, anaconda
Commonly kept
Powerful constrictors

Question 11

Colubridae

Answer 11

Corn snake, rat snake, king snake, garter snake

Commonly kept

Question 12

Elapidae

Answer 12

Mamba, cobra, taipan, sea snake
One lung and corotid, small heads, front fangs
Mainly oviparous

Question 13

Viperidae

Answer 13

Rattlesnake, pit viper, puff adder
Most advanced, one carotid, one lung, hinged maxilla for jaw movement
Oviparous or viviparous

Question 14

Corn snakes (Elphae guttata)

Answer 14

10-20 years

up to 150cm (females often bigger than males)

Question 15

King snakes (Lampropeltis spp.)

Answer 15

15-25 years

up to 180cm

Question 16

Types of pythons (3)

Answer 16

Ball python (1-1.5m)
Burmese
Reticulated (>6m)

Question 17

Types of boas (2)

Answer 17

Constrictor (~2m)

Rosy (~0.9m)

Question 18

Commonly kept lizards (6)

Answer 18

Geckos
Bearded dragons
Iguana
Chameleons
Skinks
Chinese water dragon

Question 19

Commonly kept tortoises (4)

Answer 19

Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise
Horsefields tortoise
Hermanns
Marginated

Question 20

Environment (general)

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Aquatic and semi-aquatic species require a body of water to…

Answer 21

Feed in (needs to have adequate heating and filtration)

Question 22

Reptiles are ectothermic/endothermic

Answer 22

Ectothermic

Question 23

What do sick/stressed reptiles often exhibit?

Answer 23

Behavioural fever (seek out higher than normal temperatures)

Question 24

Provide different heat sources to achieve…..

Answer 24

POTZ

Question 25

Primary heat source

Answer 25

Low end of POTZ provides background/ambient heat Should not be a light source- need to consider correct period of daylight/darkness

Question 26

Options for primary heat source

Answer 26

Heat mats Heat tape Incandescent bulbs Ceramic lamps

Question 27

Secondary heat source

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Ambient temperature should not exceed...... | Heat source should not exceed......

Answer 28

PBT | POTZ

Question 29

....... and ....... thermometers essential

Answer 29

Min and max

Question 30

Humidity: Desert species... Most species tolerate.... Rainforest species.....

Answer 30

Lower 20-30% 50-70% Higher 70-80%

Question 31

What meter monitors humidity?

Answer 31

Hygrometer *

Question 32

Always provide higher/lower humidity area for ecdysis (shedding)

Answer 32

Higher

Question 33

........ essential for lighting

Answer 33

Timers

Question 34

Most species tolerate ....... hours of light a day

Answer 34

12-14

Question 35

Tropical species lighting

Answer 35

Summer 13 hours light/ 11 hours dark | Winter: 11 hours light/13 hours dark

Question 36

Temperate species lighting

Answer 36

Summer: 15 hours light/ 9 hours dark Winter: 9 hours light/ 15 hours dark

Question 37

UVA

Answer 37

320-400nm | Stimulates reproductive behaviour in lizards

Question 38

UVB

Answer 38

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)

Question 39

What's important in the diet? | Problems with this? *

Answer 39

Calcium: Phosphorus ratio Crickets/mealworms inverse Ca:P ratio Pinkie mice lower than adult mice (0.79:1 cf 1.4:1)

Question 40

Frequency of feeding depends on?

Answer 40

Weight gain/condition

Question 41

``` Frequency of feeding: Small snakes/lizards Young large boas/pythons Iguanas/chelonians Large snakes ```

Answer 41

1-2 times/week 3 times a week Daily Once every 2-4 weeks

Question 42

Diet of tortoises/spiny tailed lizards/green iguana *

Answer 42

Herbivores Green veg, flowers, succulents, calcium supplement UVB essential

Question 43

Diet of terrapins/turtles

Answer 43

Omnivores Feed in water Separate tank may be useful Earthworms, pinkies, fish, green veg, commercial food

Question 44

Diet of snakes

Answer 44

Carnivores Often prefer to feed in small dark space May require teasing with food (pythons) Rodents, rabbits

Question 45

Diet of monitor lizards

Answer 45

Rodents, fish, eggs

Question 46

Diet of bearded dragons, water dragons, geckos, chameleons

Answer 46

Insectivores Mealworms, wax worms, crickets, locusts Can gut load insects with fruit and calcium supplement before feeding (Green iguans 100% veg)

Question 47

Why should you avoid overhandling after feeding?

Answer 47

As may regurgitate (especially young reptiles)

Question 48

Some ........ and ....... will happily live with others of the same species when set up is right

Answer 48

Lizards and Chelonians

Question 49

What can over handling lead to?

Answer 49

Food refusal

Question 50

Holding chelonians *

Answer 50

Hold shell just in front of hindlimbs or around back of shell between hind limbs (useful in aggressive species) Some can scratch and bite

Question 51

Handling lizards

Answer 51

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)

Question 52

Handling snakes

Answer 52

Can be aggressive Careful handling- can be easily bruised/rib fractures Thumb and second finger behind head, forefinger on top of head

Question 53

If bitten by snake

Answer 53

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

Question 54

What species hibernate

Answer 54

Temperate species Californian box turtle Mediterranean tortoise

Question 55

Pros of hibernation

Answer 55

Stimulates normal thyroid function and reproductive behaviour

Question 56

Cons of hibernation

Answer 56

Harmful in young, ill or underweight animals

Question 57

What to do for hibernation

Answer 57

Withold food for 2 weeks, place in box with bedding, reduce temperature to below 10*C, monitor state

Question 58

Time for hibernation

Answer 58

Nov/Dec- March

Question 59

Waking up from hibernation

Answer 59

Warm water bath, encourages drinking and expulsion of faeces