Husbandry and Nutrition of Chelonians and Lizards

July 24, 2008Ryan Thames

NCSU-CVM Class of 2010

Basic Reptile TaxonomyClass

Reptilia

Subclass

Anapsida

Diapsida

OrderChelonia/Testudines•Turtles and Tortoises

Squamata•Snakes and Lizards

Crocodylia•Crocodiles, Alligators, Caimans

Rhynchocephalia•Tuatara

Reptiles: General Characteristics

• 6000 – 7000 species• Ectothermic• Pulmonary respiration• Amniotes• Epidermal scales

www.ashtonbiodiversity.org

Reptiles: General Characteristics

• 3 – 4 chambered hearts• Tetropods• Internal fertilization• No sweat glands• All continents except

Antarctica coolsprings.org

Turtle Tidbits

• 250 – 300 species• Appeared 215 million

years ago• Long lived• Varied habitats• Turtle vs Tortoise vs

Terrapin www.oceansofkansas.com

Chelonian Taxonomy

• Order: Chelonia/Testudines• 2 Suborders:

1. Pleurodira ( 2 families, approx. 75 spp.)• Side-neck turtles: unable to retract neck• Aquatic – semi aquatic

2. Cryptodira ( 11 families, approx. 200 spp.)• Able to retract neck straight back into shell• Terrestrial, aquatic, and semi-aquatic

Chelonian Taxonomy

• Suborder Pleurodira• Pelomedusidae• Chelidae

Mata Mata

Snake Neck Turtle

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

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

www.kbs.msu.edu

Alligator Snapping Turtle

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

student.britannica.com

Eastern Box Turtle

Red Eared Slider

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

www.rfadventures.com

Musk Turtle

Mud Turtle

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

ivorytortoise.com

Galapagos Tortoise

Leopard Tortoise

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

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

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

Chelonian Characteristics

• Shell• 50 – 60 bones• Fused w/ ribs & vertebrae• Scutes

• Shell variations• Trionyx spp. (softshells)• Pancake tortoise• Box and Mud turtles• African hingebacks

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

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

Chelonian Characteristics

• Coelomic cavity• Respiration• Rhampotheca/Tomium• Skin• Scaled vs. scale-less

• Uncoordinated shedding• No external ears• Oviparous

turtlestuff.com

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

Lizard Taxonomy

• Order: Squamata

• Suborder: Sauria/Lacertilia

www.feenixx.com

• 5 Infraorders:1. Iguania (10-14 families)2. Gekkota (3 families)3. Scincomorpha (11

families)4. Diploglossa (3 families)5. Platynota (4 families)

• 5 Infraorders:

1. Iguania (10-14 families)2. Gekkota (3 families)3. Scincomorpha (11

families)4. Diploglossa (3 families)5. Platynota (4 families)

Green Iguana

Veiled chamaeleon

www.the-lizard-lounge.com

• 5 Infraorders:1. Iguania (10-14 families)

2. Gekkota (3 families)3. Scincomorpha (11

families)4. Diploglossa (3 families)5. Platynota (4 families)

www.dkimages.com

Leopard Gecko

Tokay Gecko

www.jaysanimalencounters.co.uk

• 5 Infraorders:1. Iguania (10-14 families)2. Gekkota (3 families)

3. Scincomorpha (11 families)

4. Diploglossa (3 families)5. Platynota (4 families)

Blue-Tongued Skink

www.indonesia.faithfreedom.org

www.montgomerycountymd.gov

Five Lined Skink

• 5 Infraorders:1. Iguania (10-14 families)2. Gekkota (3 families)3. Scincomorpha (11

families)

4. Diploglossa (3 families)5. Platynota (4 families)

Eastern Glass Lizard

coolsprings.org

Legless lizard

www.curator.org

• 5 Infraorders:1. Iguania (10-14 families)2. Gekkota (3 families)3. Scincomorpha (11

families)4. Diploglossa (3 families)

5. Platynota (4 families)

Savannah Monitor Lizard

www.gotpetsonline.com

Gila Monster

www.britannica.com

Lizard Characteristics

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

General Husbandry Considerations

• Enclosures • Substrates• Temperature• Photoperiod • Light Quality• Humidity

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

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

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

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.herpcenter.com

www.geocities.com

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

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

Substrates:The Good

• Newspaper• Cypress chips/mulch• Coconut Shells (shredded)

• Large rocks • Astroturf• Clean Water

Substrates:The (possibly) Bad

• Gravel &small stones• Rabbit pellets• Sand• Dirty Water

Substrates:The Ugly

• Cedar shavings• Crushed corn cob• Pecan/walnut shells• Cat litter

www.arcatapet.com

www.canamindustries.com www.petzoo.co.uk

Temperature• Provide temperature gradients!• Behavioral thermoregulators

• Preferred Optimal Temperature Range (POTR)• Necessary for proper:• Metabolic rate• Digestion• Growth• CV function• Immune function• Reproductive performance

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

Temperature

• Sources of Heat• Ambient heat• Central heat/AC

• Basking area• Incandescent bulbs, Ceramic

heaters, heating pads • NO Hot Rocks!!!

• Water • Submersible aquarium heater

Temperature

* Always monitor heat with an in cage thermometer!

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!!!

Lighting

• Quality very important• UVB – Vitamin D3

• UVA – Behavior

• Natural vs. Artificial• Can also provide heat

Humidity

• In general: 35% – 70%• If too low:• Dysecdysis, Dehydration

• If too high:• Respiratory infections, Dermatitis

Humidity

• Humidity boxes• Water bowls• Damp substrate• Humidifiers, Fogging devices• Misting• Monitor with gauges

www.toppetshop.co.uk

www.reptiles.swelluk.com

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

Nutrition: Water

• Always provide fresh water!• Water bowls• Misting leaves and rocks

• Soak terrestrial chelonians daily or EOD• Dehydration, gout, renal disease

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

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

Nutrition: Feeding Carnivores

• Turtles: • Whole fish, skinned mice &

pinkies, shrimp (w/shells)• Insects in moderation• Many omnivorous w/ age

• Lizards: pre-killed whole prey• Rodents > chicks > fish

• Ca supplement?

Nutrition: Feeding Insectivores

• Most Lizard species!• Common types:• Crickets, meal worms, wax worms, earthworms,

grasshoppers

• Captive raised - low Ca• Dusting or “Gut loading”

Nutrition: Feeding Frequencies

• Most tortoises and lizards: Daily

• Aquatic/Semi-Aquatic chelonians: 2-3x a week

• Large carnivorous lizards: 2-3x a week

Cleaning

• Daily/EOD: • Remove feces and wash bowls

• Monthly: • Disinfect entire cage and furnishings• Clean or change substrate

• Bleach (1:30 dilution)• Roccal-D (1:200 dilution)

Take Home Message

• Provide proper thermal gradient and photoperiod

• Provide a variety of foods and clean water!• Clean regularly• Be familiar with your species!!!

References• Ackerman L (1997). The Biology, Husbandry, and Health Care of Reptiles. Volume I:

Biology of Reptiles. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.• Ackerman L (1997). The Biology, Husbandry, and Health Care of Reptiles. Volume

II: Husbandry of Reptiles. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.• Barnard SM (1996). Reptile Keeper’s Handbook. Malabar, FL: Krieger Publishing• Ernst CH, Barbour RW (1989). Turtles of the World. Washington, DC: Smithsonian

Institution Press• Flank L (1998). Herp Help. New York: Howell Book House• Madar DR (2006). Reptile Medicine and Surgery, Second Edition. St. Louis,

Missouri: Elsevier Inc.• Mattison C (1992). The Care of Reptiles and Amphibians in Captivity, Revised Third

Edition. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing• McArthur S, Wilkinson R, Meyer J (2004). Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and

Turtles. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing