Thursday, June 2, 2011

Squamata Exotic Pets ? The Scaly Lizards | Reviews, Guides, Tips ...

To many, the word ?reptile? means ?dangerous dinosaur throw back.? A general misunderstanding of these creatures has led to a common fear of them. Those in the reptile hobby know different. Hopefully, by reading this and taking the quiz afterwards, you will know differently too. So sit back, get comfortable and get set for the world of lizards.

There are about 4,890 species of lizards in the Squamata Order. Of all the reptiles, lizards have the most species with the most diverse type of specimens. Their bodies can be flat, squat, legless, thick or elongated. Their tails are whip-like, long, short, or even prehensile (tail capable of grasping). These unique tails are used to store body fat. All lizards have two things in common, their amazing adaptability and their amazing popularity as pets.

They are all ectothermic which simply means they require external heat to maintain their body temperatures. Most will need a day temperature between 85 and 90 degrees to keep their temperatures at the proper level. At night, try to keep their environment between 75 and 80 degrees. A desert animal requires a hotter temperature. Try to keep them at 94 to 100 degrees in the day and about 85 degrees at night. To achieve these temperatures, it will be necessary to use a full-spectrum (UVB) light and a basking lamp. Remember to keep the basking lamp off of any heat rocks or heat pads. This will literally cook your pet. Always keep a thermostat with your animal housing; even the smallest heater can overheat. One of the common mistakes of the new exotic pet owner is thinking ?heat? and ?light? are the same thing. Heat can help the pet regulate body temperature and digest food. A UV light will help them process their vitamins, stimulate mating, and increase appetite. If the UV rays pass through glass first, these benefits may be lost. Only diurnal species cannot live without a UV light but many species will benefit form having one. It is recommended that a photo-period (amount of time the light(s) should be on) of about 12 to 14 hours should be provided. Researchers have recently found evidence that reptiles can see UV light.

Each type of lizard has a different food preference. The key is to provide vitamin and calcium supplements in their diet. This will help them fight off diseases and keep your pet healthy. If your pet needs vegetables, make sure they have a type of green leaf vegetable and not just lettuce. Collard greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens provide the best protein for your pet. Lettuce is just water and will not keep him/her healthy. It is good to mix in a variety of fruits and vegetable with your greens. Make sure the type of food and amount of food is healthy for your pet. Radishes for example, can cause health problems in most reptiles and amphibians. Spinach, Swiss chard, beetroot, oats, and wheat bran should be given is small doses since they bind with calcium and prevent an animal from using it.

If your pet is an omnivore or carnivore, it has a wide variety of choices. Typically, a cricket dusted with a vitamin and calcium supplement is the best thing to feed them. Some species may also eat wax worms, earthworms, snails, mice, and cuttlefish bone.

Contrary to the belief of many exotic animal keepers, fresh water should be provided daily. Most of your pets will need a small bowl placed somewhere in their housing. However, some species will require special needs when it comes to their water. The chameleon will only drink water as it drops off of leaves. Some species will like to soak in their water dish before they shed. Pay careful attention to your pet before it does slough it?s skin. Your pet will have loose skin and a dull appearance just before it sheds. If it appears to have trouble shedding, spray your pet or soak it in water. If the skin turns a milky color but does not shed, this could indicate your pet is not feeling well.

Humidity is another issue you will need to address. If you have a tropical lizard like an iguana, mist the animal daily. If you have a desert animal, it will not be necessary to mist the animal at all.

To breed your pet lizards, you will need to properly sex your pets. The males are usually bigger with longer and larger tails. The skull size can be visibly larger. The body is a heavier build in comparison to the female?s plumper build. The males are more colorful than females with larger pre-anal scales and post-anal scales. Pre-anal scales are found just before the base of the tail region and may run along the inner thighs of the lizard. Post-anal scales are located at the base of the tail region. The males will have horns, crests (skin that resembles horns), nasal appendages, and various types of spurs. Note the spurs are ?claw-like? appendages that can be found in different regions of the body. Tarsal spurs are claw-like structures on the ?ankle? of some species. If the females have some of these features, the features are usually much smaller. Not all species will have these characteristics.

Tropical species may breed throughout the year. You can stimulate breeding by reintroducing sexes, extra spraying, increasing temperature, or by simulating rain. Temperate species will mate in the spring since they are more seasonal breeders. Your pets may be ready to mate if you observe restlessness, a loss of appetite (mostly in males), and an increase in color. Once they have mated and eggs are laid, keep the eggs in the same position they were found in. The eggs may not hatch if they are flipped over or rolled. After hatching do not clip off the yolk sac, it will be reabsorbed or detach on its own. Cutting this free can kill your new hatchling. Some species will absorb the sac over a few days but others will eat food on their first day of life. The temperature should be kept a little lower than the adults.

A sick lizard is usually due to poor hygiene. A poorly maintained housing can give your pet mites, bacterial diseases, and fungal diseases. Only mites are easy to diagnose, many other diseases have similar symptoms so seek professional help before treating your pet. You should find a good exotic veterinarian when you buy your pet. It is best to know who to call before you need help. It is very easy to make the wrong diagnosis when dealing with reptiles and amphibians. A bacterial infection will look very much like a severe burn. A broken leg can be the cause of a calcium deficiency instead of a territorial fight. Make sure the problem is an injury and not a vitamin/mineral deficiency or parasite.

The most common parasite are mites. These creatures can only be removed by completely sterilizing the housing. Change all substrates and toss out all wooden ornaments. Bleach the tank, water bowls and hide boxes. Mites can hide in any crack or crevice. Treat your pet with a medication recommended specifically for mites; don?t submerge your pet?s head in medication, use a cotton swab.

If poor hygiene is not making a lizard sick, then poor diet is probably the cause. The most common problem is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). It occurs mostly in herbivores like the Green Iguana. An animal with MBD will eat good but have a plump body, especially around the hind legs. Provide your pet with the proper calcium supplements and limit the amount of phosphorus. Do not load up on with extra vitamins; without calcium, vitamin D can aggravate and cause problems. Consult your vet as soon as possible if you suspect your pet has MBD.

If your pet has a ?runny nose?, this does not mean it?s sick. Reptiles are not like mammals; they are unable to rid themselves of salt. Reptiles will excrete undissolved salts through their nostrils; an iguana can literally cover the side of their tank with salt deposits.

The ?scaly ones? can be very beautiful and rewarding pets if properly cared for. Getting the proper information about your pet and its special needs will keep the experience rewarding. Only through education will these misunderstood creatures finally get out from under the shadow of the dinosaur.

Source: http://www.designaculture.com/squamata-exotic-pets-the-scaly-lizards/

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