1 / 56

Comprehensive Guide to Reptile Husbandry and Nutrition

Discover the essential tips for caring and feeding chelonians and lizards. Learn about species diversity, unique characteristics, taxonomy, and habitat preferences. Explore the fascinating world of reptiles with expert insights and practical advice.

cliftonh
Download Presentation

Comprehensive Guide to Reptile Husbandry and Nutrition

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Husbandry and Nutrition of Chelonians and Lizards July 24, 2008 Ryan Thames NCSU-CVM Class of 2010

  2. Basic Reptile Taxonomy Class Reptilia Subclass Anapsida Diapsida • Order • Chelonia/Testudines • Turtles and Tortoises • Squamata • Snakes and Lizards • Crocodylia • Crocodiles, Alligators, Caimans • Rhynchocephalia • Tuatara

  3. Reptiles: General Characteristics • 6000 – 7000 species • Ectothermic • Pulmonary respiration • Amniotes • Epidermal scales www.ashtonbiodiversity.org

  4. Reptiles: General Characteristics • 3 – 4 chambered hearts • Tetropods • Internal fertilization • No sweat glands • All continents except Antarctica coolsprings.org

  5. Turtle Tidbits • 250 – 300 species • Appeared 215 million years ago • Long lived • Varied habitats • Turtle vs Tortoise vs Terrapin www.oceansofkansas.com

  6. Chelonian Taxonomy • Order: Chelonia/Testudines • 2 Suborders: • Pleurodira ( 2 families, approx. 75 spp.) • Side-neck turtles: unable to retract neck • Aquatic – semi aquatic • Cryptodira ( 11 families, approx. 200 spp.) • Able to retract neck straight back into shell • Terrestrial, aquatic, and semi-aquatic

  7. Chelonian Taxonomy • Suborder Pleurodira • Pelomedusidae • Chelidae Mata Mata Snake Neck Turtle

  8. Chelonian Taxonomy • Suborder Cryptodira • Chelonidae: marine turtles • Chelydridae: snapping turtles • Emydidae: pond & river turtles • Kinosternidae: mud & musk turtles • Testunidae: land/true tortoises • Trionychidae: soft-shelled turtles www.answersingenesis.org

  9. Chelonian Taxonomy • Suborder Cryptodira • Chelonidae: marine turtles • Chelydridae: snapping turtles • Emydidae: pond & river turtles • Kinosternidae: mud & musk turtles • Testunidae: land/true tortoises • Trionychidae: soft-shelled turtles www.commons.wikimedia.org Alligator Snapping Turtle www.kbs.msu.edu

  10. Chelonian Taxonomy • Suborder Cryptodira • Chelonidae: marine turtles • Chelydridae: snapping turtles • Emydidae: pond & river turtles • Kinosternidae: mud & musk turtles • Testunidae: land/true tortoises • Trionychidae: soft-shelled turtles garyshey.blogspot.com Eastern Box Turtle student.britannica.com Red Eared Slider

  11. Chelonian Taxonomy • Suborder Cryptodira • Chelonidae: marine turtles • Chelydridae: snapping turtles • Emydidae: pond & river turtles • Kinosternidae: mud & musk turtles • Testunidae: land/true tortoises • Trionychidae: soft-shelled turtles www.jamesriverpark.org Musk Turtle www.rfadventures.com Mud Turtle

  12. Chelonian Taxonomy • Suborder Cryptodira • Chelonidae: marine turtles • Chelydridae: snapping turtles • Emydidae: pond & river turtles • Kinosternidae: mud & musk turtles • Testunidae: land/true tortoises • Trionychidae: soft-shelled turtles animals.nationalgeographic.com Galapagos Tortoise ivorytortoise.com Leopard Tortoise

  13. Chelonian Taxonomy • Suborder Cryptodira • Chelonidae: marine turtles • Chelydridae: snapping turtles • Emydidae: pond & river turtles • Kinosternidae: mud & musk turtles • Testunidae: land/true tortoises • Trionychidae: soft-shelled turtles www.herpnet.net

  14. Chelonian Characteristics • Shell • 50 – 60 bones • Fused w/ ribs & vertebrae • Scutes • Shell variations • Trionyx spp. (softshells) • Pancake tortoise • Box and Mud turtles • African hingebacks www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

  15. Chelonian Characteristics • Shell • 50 – 60 bones • Fused w/ ribs & vertebrae • Scutes • Shell variations • Softshells • Pancake tortoise • Box and Mud turtles • African hingebacks www.herpnet.net

  16. Chelonian Characteristics • Shell • 50 – 60 bones • Fused w/ ribs & vertebrae • Scutes • Shell variations • Trionyx spp. (softshells) • Pancake tortoise • Box and Mud turtles • African hingebacks

  17. Chelonian Characteristics • Shell • 50 – 60 bones • Fused w/ ribs & vertebrae • Scutes • Shell variations • Trionyx spp. (softshells) • Pancake tortoise • Box and Mud turtles • African hingebacks www.birdwatchersdigest.com

  18. Chelonian Characteristics • Shell • 50 – 60 bones • Fused w/ ribs & vertebrae • Scutes • Shell variations • Trionyx spp. (softshells) • Pancake tortoise • Box and Mud turtles • African hingebacks www.americanheadhunters.com

  19. Chelonian Characteristics • Coelomic cavity • Respiration • Rhampotheca/Tomium • Skin • Scaled vs. scale-less • Uncoordinated shedding • No external ears • Oviparous turtlestuff.com

  20. Lizard basics • ~ 4,500 spp • Appeared ~ 200 mya • Life span • Smaller < Larger • 3-6 years, 10-15 years • Large size variations • Caribbean Gecko: 3-4 cm • Komodo Dragon: 3 m (10ft) mvhunt.net student.britannica.com

  21. Lizard Taxonomy • Order: Squamata • Suborder: Sauria/Lacertilia www.feenixx.com

  22. 5 Infraorders: • Iguania (10-14 families) • Gekkota (3 families) • Scincomorpha (11 families) • Diploglossa (3 families) • Platynota (4 families)

  23. 5 Infraorders: • Iguania (10-14 families) • Gekkota (3 families) • Scincomorpha (11 families) • Diploglossa (3 families) • Platynota (4 families) Green Iguana www.the-lizard-lounge.com Veiled chamaeleon

  24. 5 Infraorders: • Iguania (10-14 families) • Gekkota (3 families) • Scincomorpha (11 families) • Diploglossa (3 families) • Platynota (4 families) www.dkimages.com Leopard Gecko www.jaysanimalencounters.co.uk Tokay Gecko

  25. 5 Infraorders: • Iguania (10-14 families) • Gekkota (3 families) • Scincomorpha (11 families) • Diploglossa (3 families) • Platynota (4 families) www.indonesia.faithfreedom.org Blue-Tongued Skink www.montgomerycountymd.gov Five Lined Skink

  26. 5 Infraorders: • Iguania (10-14 families) • Gekkota (3 families) • Scincomorpha (11 families) • Diploglossa (3 families) • Platynota (4 families) coolsprings.org Eastern Glass Lizard www.curator.org Legless lizard

  27. 5 Infraorders: • Iguania (10-14 families) • Gekkota (3 families) • Scincomorpha (11 families) • Diploglossa (3 families) • Platynota (4 families) www.gotpetsonline.com Savannah Monitor Lizard www.britannica.com Gila Monster

  28. Lizard Characteristics • Epidermal scales • Vomeronasal (Jacobson’s) organ • Oviparous vs. Viviparous • Not shared by all: • External ear openings • Tail autonomy • Eyelids

  29. General Husbandry Considerations • Enclosures • Substrates • Temperature • Photoperiod • Light Quality • Humidity

  30. Chelonian Enclosures • Size • ~5L x 5L: length x width • Terrestrial • Plastic containers, aquariums, outdoor pins • Semi-aquatic & Aquatic • Aquariums, ponds • Haul out & basking areas • Hiding places www.ball-pythons.net advocacy.britannica.com

  31. Chelonian Enclosures • Size • ~5L x 5L: length x width • Terrestrial • Plastic containers, aquariums, outdoor pins • Semi-aquatic & Aquatic • Aquariums, ponds • Haul out & basking areas • Hiding places members.aol.com

  32. Chelonian Enclosures • Size • ~5L x 5L: length x width • Terrestrial • Plastic containers, aquariums, outdoor pins • Semi-aquatic & Aquatic • Aquariums, ponds • Haul out & basking areas • Hiding places www.unc.edu

  33. Lizard Enclosures • Size: 3L x 3L • glass, plastic, plexiglass, wood • Climbing spaces: branches, rocks, plants • Basking sites • Hiding places • Escape proof!!! • Tight lids w/ ventilation www.geocities.com www.herpcenter.com

  34. Lizard Enclosures • Size: 3L x 3L • glass, plastic, plexiglass, wood • Climbing spaces: branches, rocks, plants • Basking sites • Hiding places • Escape proof!!! • Tight lids w/ ventilation www.geocities.com

  35. Substrates • Can be artificial or natural • Should be: Inexpensive, easily cleaned, absorbent, digestible, physical support, psychological security • Should not: cause impaction, dermatological disease, respiratory disease

  36. Substrates:The Good • Newspaper • Cypress chips/mulch • Coconut Shells (shredded) • Large rocks • Astroturf • Clean Water

  37. Substrates:The (possibly) Bad • Gravel &small stones • Rabbit pellets • Sand • Dirty Water

  38. Substrates:The Ugly • Cedar shavings • Crushed corn cob • Pecan/walnut shells • Cat litter www.arcatapet.com www.canamindustries.com www.petzoo.co.uk

  39. Temperature • Provide temperature gradients! • Behavioral thermoregulators • Preferred Optimal Temperature Range (POTR) • Necessary for proper: • Metabolic rate • Digestion • Growth • CV function • Immune function • Reproductive performance

  40. Temperature • Diurnal spp - daytime temp • Ambient temp: 27-35oC • Basking area: 49-54oC • Nocturnal spp – daytime • Ambient temp: 21-27oC • Warmer area: 32-35oC • Water temp: 24-30oC • 5-7oC< for nighttime temp • Seasonal fluctuations may be necessary

  41. Temperature • Sources of Heat • Ambient heat • Central heat/AC • Basking area • Incandescent bulbs, Ceramic heaters, heating pads • NO Hot Rocks!!! • Water • Submersible aquarium heater

  42. Temperature * Always monitor heat with an in cage thermometer!

  43. Photoperiod • General rule: • 14 hrs during summer • 12 hrs during winter • Temperate zone reptiles: • 15 hrs – summer • 12 hrs – spring/fall • 9 hrs – winter • Tropical spp • 13 hrs – summer • 11 hrs – winter • Timers can make this very easy!!!

  44. Lighting • Quality very important • UVB – Vitamin D3 • UVA – Behavior • Natural vs. Artificial • Can also provide heat

  45. Humidity • In general: 35% – 70% • If too low: • Dysecdysis, Dehydration • If too high: • Respiratory infections, Dermatitis

  46. Humidity • Humidity boxes • Water bowls • Damp substrate • Humidifiers, Fogging devices • Misting • Monitor with gauges www.toppetshop.co.uk www.reptiles.swelluk.com

  47. Hibernation • May be required for temperate and sub-tropical species • General: • Lower temperatures gradually • 35 – 50oF for min. of 10 wks • Access to heat source for sub-tropicals • No feeding • Avoid false hibernation

  48. Nutrition: Water • Always provide fresh water! • Water bowls • Misting leaves and rocks • Soak terrestrial chelonians daily or EOD • Dehydration, gout, renal disease

  49. Nutrition: Feeding Herbivores • ~ 95% vegetables • Mustard & collard greens, dandelions, kale, parsley, watercress • ~ 5% fruit • Grapes, apples, tomatoes, mangos, stawberries • Need vitamin & mineral supplements • Blend together! www.sdturtle.org

  50. Nutrition: Feeding Omnivores • 50% animal/high protein foods • Earthworms, crickets, slugs, snails, pinkies • 50% plant material • 75% vegetables • 25% fruit www.the-lizard-lounge.com

More Related