Tortoise and rabbit SDL Flashcards
What are the pros and cons of outside all year round husbandry for tortoises?
Pros:
- Plenty of space
- Natural UV and sunlight
Cons:
- Often too cold in winter months
- Can ‘take over’ garden
- Need to ensure plants in garden are not toxic
- Can dig and escape
What are the pros and cons of tortoise table?
Pros:
- Good ventilation
- Easier to DIY a larger table
Cons:
- Harder to maintain temp and humidity
- Harder to hand UVB lamps above
- Tortoises vulnerable to children and other pets
- Children and other vulnerable to hot lamps
What are the pros and cons of keeping a tortoise in a vivarium?
Pros:
- Easier to control temp and humidity
- Easier to provide UVB lighting
- Safer
Cons:
- Less ventilation
- Often tend to be smaller and larger ones require custom building
Why is it important to stop feeding tortoises in the months leading up to hibernation?
bacteria can grow on rotting food in GIT if not empty before hibernation
Why is it important to bathe tortoises every day in the months leading to hibernation?
Ensure they are hydrated
Why is it important to weigh the tortoise before it enters hibernation?
To assess their weight change throughout hibernation
What are the 3 important things to do for a tortoise in the months leading to hibernation?
Stop feeding
Bathe every day
Weigh them
when and why should a tortoise receive a vet consult prior to hibernation?
Late august - early september
Check for any signs of disease that mean the tortoise should not enter hibernation e.g., parasites, pregnancy
What 3 things need to be monitored during hibernaiton?
temp
weight - should not lose more than 10% bodyweight
airflow
How long should a tortoise hibernate for?
6-12 weeks
How long after hibernation does it normally take a tortoise to eat, urinate and defecate?
Eat - 24-48hrs
Urinate and defecate - within 7 days
What is the use of reptoboost
helps to rehydrate and provide a supplementary source of energy to reptiles
Why do rabbits get uroliths?
Excess dietary Ca absorption is unregulated => increased plasma Ca conc => excretion of excess Ca in urine => cacium-based uroliths
What are common risk factors of urolith formation in rabbits?
high Ca diet
Low water intake
Overweight - cannot get into urination position and weak muscle tone around bladder => allows Ca to settle
Kidney disease
Lack of places to urinate
what are the common clinical signs in rabbits with uroliths?
Bloody urine
thick pasty urine
straining to urinate
inappetence
hunched
lethargic
decreased activity
