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63 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Reptile orders
|
-Chelonians
-Crocodilidans -Squamates |
|
Squamtes
-classes |
-Saurians (lizards)
-Serpentes (snakes) -Sphenodontia (some new zealand animal) |
|
Important reptile generalities for maintenance
|
-temp
-thermoregulation -fluid balance -photoperiod -nutrition -quarantine |
|
Reptiles
-important aspects for cage design |
-heat source
-humidity control -water quality -ventilation -lighting -substrates -sanitation |
|
Poikilothermy
-define |
-change body temperature in relation to the environment
|
|
Because reptiles are poikilothermic how do they change body temperature?
|
-alter location
|
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Reptiles
-important temperature considerations |
-POTZ
-critical high -most require daily cooling -some require seasonal cooling |
|
Where is seasonal cooling important?
|
-zoos for breeding purposes
|
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Reptiles
-effects of Sub-optimal temp |
-dec activity
-impaired physiological processes (digestive enzymes, antibody production) -increased susceptibility to infection and dysecdysis |
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Dysecdysis
-define |
-problematic shedding
|
|
Hyperthermia
-effects |
-acute effects
-burns |
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Reptiles
-important needs for heat sources |
-primary and secondary sources
-thermal gradient |
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Reptiles
-thermal gradient facts |
-vary b/n spp
-mid 80s-low 100s -within a single cage -from day to night |
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Primary heat source
-reasons for use -sources |
-background temp
-low point of POTZ -radiant heat (ceramic bulbs, tiles, under cage heating) -warm air -light bulbs (poor source) -aquarium heater |
|
Secondary heat source
-reasons for use -sources |
-basking spot
-increased day temps -hot rocks (no good, thermal burns) -light bulbs (UV B source, 40-60 W) |
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Important characteristics for heat sources
|
-most spp need diurnal gradient
-must be appropriate for each spp (arboreal, terrestrial, subterranean) -good monitoring |
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Humidity controls
|
-large shallow water bowls
-daily misting -live plants/substrate -humidifiers -drip systems |
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Effects of humidity being too high
|
-environment too wet
-low ventilation -live plants |
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What can occur if the reptile environment becomes to wet?
|
-blister disease
-mold |
|
How to tell if there is a lot of humidity?
|
-water marks on glass
|
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Effects of live plants in high humidity
|
-parasites
-unwanted insects |
|
What can happen if humidity is too low?
|
-dysecdysis
-respiratory probs -sub-clinical dehydration (kidney disease) -affected reproduction |
|
Species requiring good ventilation
-how can this be done |
-chameleons
-use screen cages |
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Interaction between ventilation and humidity
|
-dec. ventilation --> inc. humidity
|
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Ventilation
-guidelines |
-all reptiles need proper ventilation
-enclosures shouldn't smell stagnant -humidity should not build up on glass -fans may be employed |
|
Reptiles
-importance of photoperiod |
light and temperature are important for:
-oogenesis -spermatogenesis -gonadal development |
|
Retiles
-approx what is an optimal photoperiod |
-12 hrs light
-12 hrs dark |
|
Retiles
-reasons lighting considerations are important |
-photoperiod
-ultraviolet source -heat source |
|
Reptiles
-lighting used for photoperiods |
-primary --> fluorescent lights
-secondary --> basking lights |
|
Circadian lighting
-define |
-daily
|
|
Circannual lighting
-define |
-yearly
|
|
Circadian and circannual photo periods are an important consideration for:
|
-successful breeding
|
|
Typical summer photoperiod
|
-15 hrs light
-9 hrs dark |
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Reason lizards need ultraviolet light source
|
-UV B ---> Vit D3 metabolism
|
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UV light source
-optimal wavelength |
-290-320 nm
|
|
How often should UV lights be replaced?
|
-every 6 months
|
|
How far from the animl should UV lights be placed?
|
12-18 inches
|
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At what % of UV light can the pet get sunburn?
|
10%
|
|
Hazards of UV light
|
-owner
-nocturnal spp. -possibly don't need |
|
How else can an animal get UV light?
|
-direct sun exposure
|
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Temperature range for most basking areas
|
100-110F
|
|
Effect of direct access to lighting
-why |
-direct injury
-basking animals associate heat and light |
|
Approximate humidity level that is satisfactory for most species
|
50-60%
|
|
Effects of humidity extremes
|
-dysecdysis (too low)
-inc. environmental pathogens (too high) |
|
Substrate
-advantages |
-natural looking enclosure
-provide security -provide humidity |
|
Substrate
-disadvantage |
-difficult to clean
-parasites -ingestion/toxic |
|
Wood shavings vs. Cypress mulch
|
Wood shavings
-cedar --> toxic -can get GI & teeth problems Cypress mulch -works well -should be purchased in bulk -decorative -can cause GI problems |
|
Moss
-advantages |
-good for amphibians
-various types -provide humidity -biological filter -can mix some types with top soil or mulch |
|
Top Soil
-advantages |
-sterile from garden center
-screened -clean |
|
Rocks
-properties |
-mack sure they're secured
-lava rock --> abrasive (don't use -small pebbles can be eaten |
|
Sand
-problems |
-irritant (silica)
-can cause GI block -hard to clean -caution when using Calcium sand |
|
Species that need sand substrate
|
-sand skinks
-sand boas |
|
One of the best substrates for reptile enclosures
|
-newspaper
|
|
Branches
-disadvantages |
-some may be toxic
-can introduce pests |
|
Thigmotactic
-define |
-prefers wedging in tight objects
|
|
Reasons for poor water quality
|
-stagnant water --> Aeromonas sp. (bacteria)
-reptiles defecate in water -temperature is important -parasites |
|
Drinking water
-water quality info |
-change frequently
-use proper disinfectants -bowls, ponds, mist, drip |
|
Maintaining water quality in a large pond
|
-drain and disinfect daily
|
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Maintaining water quality in an aquarium tank
|
-establish a nitrogen cycle
-mechanical and biological filtration -de-chlorination |
|
Optimal water temperature
-why |
-75-80F for large ponds
-reptiles won't bathe in cold water |
|
Quarantine length for reptiles
|
-at least 60-120 days
|
|
Reasons for quarantine
|
-physical exam
-biological sampling (blood, feces) -treatment -isolation |
|
Quarantine
-purposes |
-limit introduction of infectious disease
-observe new animal -acclimate to new environment/food |