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Health |
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How
to keep your terrarium animals healthy
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| Introduction |
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Veterinary
care of terrarium animals has evolved tremendously in
the past few years. Numerous textbooks and a plethora
of publications have been recently published. Despite
these developments, many failures are still made in
the care of these animals that may lead to a variety
of diseases - especially by novice reptile and amphibian
keepers. Much of this suffering can be avoided. Factors
that come to mind are an incorrect temperature or relative
humidity inside the terrarium, crowding, or food that
lacks sufficient amounts of some essential ingredients
such as calcium or vitamins (especially vitamins A and
D3 ).
Proper education is thus essential before one decides
to purchase animals. It is better to prevent than to
treat! |
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| Housing |
It
speaks for itself that proper housing should be available
before one purchases the inhabitants of a terrarium. Despite
the logic of this statement, people often do not comply with
it. The animals are always the victims of such spur of the
moment purchases.
When building or buying a terrarium make sure that the spatial
requirements of adult animals are your guideline. Far too
often, a terrarium turns out to be too small for a fast-growing
species after a year.
Combinations of different species are rarely beneficial. Make
sure to seek professional advice before attempting this. In
the best case scenario, improper combinations lead to stress
(similar to crowding a terrarium). In the worst case, it may
lead to bite wounds or even predation between species.
The terrarium needs to provide sufficient hiding places for
all animals. In addition, each individual animal needs a place
to bask without stress (for example by providing several spotlights)
or a place to cool down. |
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| Quarantine |
After
purchasing the animals it is recommended to give them a quarantine
period of 6-8 weeks. The animals need to be housed (preferably
individually) in a very basic terrarium that can be easily
cleaned. However, this temporary terrarium should still provide
the species with the proper temperature, humidity, etc. Observe
the animals' behaviour during this quarantine period. Note
their eating pattern: do the animals refuse to eat, or are
they eating much but still losing weight? In addition, the
consistency of the faeces is important. Always collect some
faecal samples and have them tested for internal parasites.
This is especially important with (recently) imported animals,
but bear in mind that poor hygiene can also lead to infections
in captive-bred animals. The animals also need to be checked
for external parasites (ectoparasites) and general diseases.
Ectoparasites are often visible with the unaided eye as red
or black (sometimes moving) dots. Monitor the animal's skin
but also the inside of the terrarium for the presence of ectoparasites.
Ectoparasites invariably need to be treated.
Once placed in the actual terrarium, note how the animals
interact. Some individuals simply do not get along, and males
of the same species are rarely friendly towards each other
during the mating season. |
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| Food |
When choosing specific species you need to consider whether
you will be able to provide these animals with the proper
food. Vegetarian species are relatively easy, but in order
to keep insectivores you will need to breed or buy insects.
Large constricting snakes will eat mice, rats, guinea pigs,
or even rabbits. These will need to be bred or bought as well.
Furthermore it is vital to supplement the food with vitamins
and minerals for both vegetarian and insectivorous species.
Maintaining food
specialists such as snake-eating snakes, or termite-eating
lizards is better left to very experienced keepers. |
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| Diseases |
Of course it would be impossible to discuss every known
disease of terrarium animals in this article. Therefore
we will limit ourselves to diseases that are occur frequently,
especially with animals of inexperienced keepers.
Many species of chameleons
are among the harder to maintain lizards. Keeping these
animals is thus only justified if you are experienced in
keeping and maintaining reptiles.
Lizards and chameleons frequently display the same types
of infections, with internal and external parasites, as
described for both turtles and snakes. It is again very
important to conduct faecal examinations, especially in
imported animals. (see table).
Insectivorous and vegetarian lizards and chameleons often
develop calcium deficiencies, since insects and many vegetables
have a very poor calcium-phosphor ratio. Reptiles can only
produce vitamin D3 under the influence of UV-radiation.
The glass of a terrarium filters out the UV part of sunlight
so that this production does not occur. Therefore, vitamin
D3 needs to be present in the animal's food in sufficient
amounts. Vitamin D3 is important for the uptake of calcium
in the intestines, a lack of this vitamin will indirectly
lead to a lack of calcium. The symptoms of calcium deficiency
are numerous: deformations of the spinal column, osteoporosis
which may lead to fractured bones (for example the 'rubber
jaw', not uncommon in Phelsuma species), trouble with egg-laying,
low quality eggs, or a low hatching ratio. Breeding females
are especially susceptible to this problem because of their
increased calcium needs.
Calcium can be added to the animal's food as a powder. Prey
animals can be dusted with this powder. Another possibility
is to add a solution of four grams calciumlactate to every
litre of spraying and drinking water. Vitamin D3 aquosum
can be added to spraying and drinking water: 10.000 IE per
litre water (this is 250 mgram per litre). Note that an
excess of vitamin D3 will also cause problems.
Unfortunately,
once skeletal deformations caused by calcium deficiency
are formed, they cannot be undone. |
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| Problems |
If, in spite of all your precautions, you still experience
problems with maintaining the species of terrarium animals
that you keep, it is recommended that you contact an experienced
breeder, someone who keeps these animals, or a local terrarium
organisation. Many of these people's findings and experiences
can be found in articles in herpetological journals or magazines.
Furthermore, it is good to know that the library of the
Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht in Utrecht, The Netherlands,
maintains a very extensive collection of books on the terrarium.
Unfortunately not all veterinarians
are as experienced with treating reptiles and amphibians.
Apart from the general knowledge present with every veterinarian,
a large dose of interest is necessary. However, there are
quite a number of veterinarians present in The Netherlands
who have the specific skills and knowledge to deal with
terrarium animals. Please consult the list of herpetologically
experienced veterinarians on the Podarcis web site and do
not hesitate to call in their expert help when needed. |
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| Medication
for reptiles
·
1=turtle
· 2=snake
· 3=lizard
Note:
In The Netherlands (and probably world-wide) there
is no medication designed specifically for reptiles,
so the responsibility for using any human-designated
medication lies with the prescribing veterinarian
or the owner of the animal.
|
| Name |
Dosage
(per kg body weight) |
Administration* |
Remarks
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Antibiotics and sulphonamides
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| Amoxycillin
(1,2,3) |
10-40 mg |
i.m./s.c./p.o. |
|
| Ampicillin
(1,2,3) |
10-15 mg |
i.m./s.c./i.p. |
repeat every
12 hours |
| Doxycyclin
(1,2,3) |
10
mg
1.5 mg |
p.o.
i.m. |
daily
repeat after 48 hours |
| Enrofloxacin
(Baytril®) (1,2,3) |
10 mg |
i.m./i.p. |
first day
10 mg, after that 5 mg/kg |
| Oxytetracyclin
(1,2,3) |
10
mg
50 mg |
i.m.
p.o. |
bacterial
infections |
| Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine
(1,2,3) |
15-30 mg |
i.m. once
daily |
|
| Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
(1,2,3) |
15-30 mg |
p.o. once
daily |
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Antiprotozoics
|
| Carnidazol
(Spartrix®) (1,2,3) |
20 mg |
p.o. |
flagellates;
during 10-12 days |
| Metronidazol
(Flagyl®) (1,2,3) ** |
I: 75 mg/kg |
p.o./cloaca
|
every day
for 10 days; repeat after 2 weeks |
| Metronidazol
(Flagyl®) (1,2,3) ** |
II: 50-100
mg/kg |
p.o. |
once every
2-3 days |
| Metronidazol
(Flagyl®) (2) ** |
III: 250-275
mg/kg |
p.o. |
single dose |
| Ronidazol
(1,2,3) |
10 mg |
p.o. |
flagellates;
for 10-12 days |
| Sulfaclozine
(Esb3®)
(1,2,3) |
20 mg |
p.o. |
coccidiosis;
for 6 days |
Antiparasitics
|
| Fenbendazol
(Panacur®) (1,2,3) |
10-15 mg |
p.o. |
for 3 days;
if there is no improvement: 2x 40 mg every two weeks |
| Levamisol
(1,2,3) |
30 mg |
s.c./i.p. |
|
| Mebendazol
(Telmin-KH®) (1,2,3) |
2x 400 mg |
p.o. |
every two
weeks |
| Praziquantel+Pyrantelemboate
(Drontal® Dog) (1,2,3) |
1 tablet
per 10 kg body weight (20 mg Praz. + 230 mg Pyr. |
p.o. |
|
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Ectoparasitica
|
| Trichloorfon
(Neguvon®, Tugon®)(1,2,3) |
2 gram/l |
|
spray terrarium
and animals; repeat twice at 5 day intervals |
| Foxim (Sebacil®)
(2) |
0,5 ml/l
water |
|
spray terrarium
and animals; repeat after 8 days |
| Ivermectine
(Ivomec®) |
200 mgram |
i.m. |
NEVER use
with turtles! |
| Front-line
® (2,3) |
|
|
spray terrarium
and animals |
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Various
|
| Vitamin
A (1,2,3) |
10,000 i.u. |
i.m./i.p./s.c./p.o. |
|
| Vitamin
A (2) |
100,000
i.u. |
i.p. |
stimulates
skin shedding |
| Vitamin
D3 (1,2,3) |
1,000 i.u. |
i.m./i.p./s.c./p.o. |
|
| Oxytocin |
1-10 i.u. |
i.m./i.p. |
problematic
oviposition |
| Calcium
Sandoz® |
50-100 mg |
i.p. |
|
| Multivitamin
pro inj. |
0.2 ml |
|
1x |
| Saline
(4% NaCl) |
4% of body
weight |
p.o./s.c./i.p. |
dehydration |
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| *i.m.
= intramuscular = in a muscle |
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i.p.
= intra-peritoneal = in the body cavity
s.c.
= subcutaneous = below the skin
p.o.
= per os = orally |
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| **I-III
(metronidazol) = three different therapeutic protocols: |
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I-II
is used by for all reptiles (1, 2, 3) depending
on the circumstances;
III
mainly in snakes (2) to avoid daily handling which
can be very stressful to these reptiles and of
course with all poisonous snakes. |
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| Literature |
Beynon,
P.H., 1992. Manual of reptiles. Publication of the British
Small Animal Veterinary Association. Kingsley House, Church
Lane, Shurdington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 5TQ.
Gabrisch, K. & P. Zwart, 1995.
Krankheiten der Heimtieren. Schlütersche Verlagsanstalt,
Hannover.
Mader, D.R., 1996. Reptile medicine
and surgery. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia
Maas, M.F.P.M., E. van der Kamp
& P. Zwart, 1999. Reptielen.
Diergeneeskundig Memorandum 46(2): 3-56. (ISSN
0417-4631). |
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Written
by Erik van der Kamp & Marc Maas, source
Podarcis |
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