Is it safe to put a little snow into a reptile tank for the animal to play with?

Reptile enclosures need to be set up so that the animal  can regulate their body temperature effectively.   Based on the species, you will need to determine what temperature to keep the tank, the ambient air, and the basking areas.  Due to the need to keep this temperature fairly consistent, I would not consider adding a frozen substance, like snow, to the environment.  Also, there is a possibility that there could be substances in the snow that could be toxic to your reptile.

The content provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute veterinary advice.  The content is not be used for medical diagnosis, treatment, or any other veterinary service and should not be relied upon to guide the medical therapy of an animal.Further, the information transmitted does not constitute the establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship between you and Dr. Baker.  Always consult your family veterinarian in matters regarding the health of your pet.

Although everyone celebrates Christmas in their own special way, a recurring theme I see amongst many families is the giving of gifts to the pets on Christmas.  I think it is a fun and creative way to involve the pets in family celebrations.  At my Dad’s house this Christmas, we gave our dog several toys as Christmas presents, and my uncle gave his dog some presents too.  Sadly, at my mom’s house, neither the chickens nor Gonzo got Christmas presents.  So, I was thinking about whether or not it is actually worth getting your pet a present.

1. It really depends on the species of pet you have.  I’m pretty sure that every time the chickens get human food, they consider it a holiday.  Gonzo is in a similar situation.  Every time he is fed, he is probably happy, and adding a new fixture to his tank may freak him out just as much as it could make him happy.  On the other hand, smarter animals like cats and dogs are excited to get new things and may actually make a connection with the festivities and gifts.
2. It also depends on what they are getting.  If you decide you want to give your dog a sweater, he may not be overly pleased with the gift du jour.  At the same time, my dog was very excited to get new chew toys and a blanket (he piles the blankets in his bed and sleeps in them).
3. Be careful with the festivities.  I know many people who have dogs who can unwrap presents and get the gift out.  This is all fun and games, but be careful to make sure that Fido doesn’t ingest any of the wrapping paper or ribbon.  This could make him one very un-jolly pooch.

With this in mind, have some Happy Holidays!

Does a turtle need a UV light in its tank?

Ultraviolet (UV) light is critical for turtles to be able to produce Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is essential for proper absorption and metabolism of calcium, which is needed for growth and overall health.  Deficiencies in Vitamin D3 and calcium can cause problems with shell growth, bone density, and can even lead to death.

UV light is divided into two main types, UVA and UVB, which are both required for healthy turtles.  UVB light is especially crucial for vitamin D3 productions, but UVA is needed for normal activity and behaviors.  Sunlight is the best source for UV light and should be provided if possible.  Unfortunately, UVB cannot penetrate glass, plastic, or fine mesh, so animals that are housed indoors need additional lighting.  Special bulbs are available that can provide broad spectrum light and there are UVB bulbs manufactured that are able to pass through glass.  The distance away from the enclosure that the light is placed is also important.  Refer to the manufacturers recommendations for exact distances to use.  Based on the species of your turtle, you can determine the which bulb to use that emits the correct amount of UVB light and decide how many hours a day to keep the light on.  It is important to remember that these bulbs have a decreased output over time and need to be replaced on a regular basis.

The exact amount of vitamin D that is required varies by species, so you will want to research the exact requirements for the type of turtle you have.  The variations in vitamin D can stem from differences in the characteristics or the turtle and their normal environment.  Is it a land or water species?  Is it an herbivore or
carnivore?  What is the normal geographic range (temperature, climate, etc.)?  The age of your turtle and the diet you feed can also affect the requirements. Supplementation of vitamin D and calcium may still be required even with proper lighting and diet.

The content provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute veterinary advice.  The content is not be used for medical diagnosis, treatment, or any other veterinary service and should not be relied upon to guide the medical therapy of an animal.Further, the information transmitted does not constitute the establishment of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship between you and Dr. Baker.  Always consult your family veterinarian in matters regarding the health of your pet.

To clarify, when I am referring to large lizards, I am referring to roughly iguana-sized or larger lizards.  Larger geckos and skinks are not going to be discussed in this article.  Here are my thoughts on keeping  larger lizards:

• Large lizards are expensive.  As a general rule, the larger lizards will be more expensive than smaller or medium-sized lizards.  There are exceptions, like rare or exotic small lizards, but they are normally less expensive.
• Large lizards tend to be more energetic than small or medium lizards.  Due to their higher activity, they need considerably more space.  Instead of a 20 gallon tank, we are talking about a cage that is six feet by six feet by six feet with a built-in pond or tub.  The tank may even be multilevel.  Some people even build an entire room to house the lizard.  Also, if you live in a warmer area, they can be let outside or even have an outside cage for the warmer months, but that can be dangerous to the animal.
• Because they are more energetic, they may also need to be handled more.  I know that many people walk their iguanas with a leash, and the animals actually enjoy it.  It also depends on the species.  Iguanas tend to be calmer, while monitors are very hyper.
• They will also eat a considerable amount of food.  Iguanas will eat a ton of food, but they only eat vegetables (mainly greens).  Still, they will chow down a decent amount.  Monitors eat mainly mice and rats, and they will continue to eat as long as you feed them.  They are hungry lizards.
• Temperament is one of the toughest issues with these animals.  Although iguanas tend to be tame, males can be very aggressive.  Aggressive Iguanas will whip you with their tail and it will leave massive welts.   Monitors are generally vicious animals, and will attack you if they are not properly handled.  The same can be said about Water Dragons.

Although keeping large lizards is a tasking and expensive adventure, many people love their large lizards and treat them like members of their family.  In the end, it’s up to you.

In this case, we were able to place him a comfortable distance from the fireplace and leave him there for four long days.  He survived and was actually quite active while in the living room.  Sadly, when there is no way to heat the tank, the fix will not always be this easy.  Here, I am going to list several possible answers.

• If you have a friend or relative who is comfortable with reptiles, ask to bring the pet there.  Two yeas ago, during a massive ice storm, my aunt came by and took Gonzo to her house.  She saved him from the verge of death.  He was placed in front of her fireplace and fed fruit for several days.  When transporting the pet, be careful the the tank doesn’t slip.  Also, seal the lid tightly so the pet cannot escape.
• For shorter time periods, you can improvise heat.  Wrapping a blanket around the tank will help insulate it.  You can also place hot water bottles inside it, but wrap them in something so the reptile cannot burn itself.  This will only work for a short time span, depending upon the room temperature.
• Finally, you can place the tank near a heat source, like a fire place.  It is good to have a thermometer in the tank so you can determine how far away to place it so the pet is not over- or under-heated.  Be careful that the heat source doesn’t emit fumes, too.

If you are concerned about wild reptiles that you see outside your house during the colder months, do not worry.  According to the Thompson Rivers University:

“Some northern amphibians can survive freezing of a large part of their bodies, but this seems to be a less common strategy in reptiles.  There are a few exceptions. Hatchling painted turtles appear to survive winter through a combination of supercooling and freeze tolerance. Garter snakes also seem to have some tolerance for freezing.  Most of our reptiles though, including garter snakes, avoid winter weather (and freezing temperatures) by hibernating.  Except for hatchlings, painted turtles do this by going to the bottom of ponds or lakes that do not freeze solid. Even though the surface of the lake may be covered in ice, hibernating painted turtles survive by absorbing the small amount of oxygen they need from the water.  In comparison, lizards and snakes hibernate on land, using burrows and cavities to get underground and below the frost line (the depth that the surface freezes to).”

Hopefully, this will help you when the cold creeps up on your reptilian friend or the local reptiles.

The turtle is a fascinating creature because of its hard shell. Despite its reputation for being slow in fairy tales, it is actually quite surprising at how quickly it can actually move. It also can bite despite the fact that it has no teeth. There are a few things you should know before acquiring one as a pet.

In order to stay healthy, a turtle needs an environment much like the one outside. A little turtle will need plenty of room to roam around in such as 40 gallon aquarium. It will also need a shelter to hide in, a black light to simulate sunlight, and lots of water depending on the species of turtle you are thinking of buying. Some species of turtles require less swimming area than others.

Another important factor in the turtle’s environment is the water quality. The water will have to be regularly cleaned and tested to ensure proper water conditions are met for your little turtle.

Turtles love to eat fish, vegetables, and fruit. Their diet is important to their overall health. You can either provide them fresh food or buy turtle food. Consult your vet on the proper amounts to feed your turtle so they aren’t overeating.

There are a few rules to follow when taking your turtle outside of its habitat. The number one rule is to always wash your hands after handling a turtle. They can pass on certain bacteria such as salmonella.

Always supervise your turtle, especially when it is in a new environment. Even small things can pose a danger to small turtles. This way, you can keep them safe while they are exploring.

Avoid taking them through drastic temperature changes such as taking them from a cold room and putting them in the summer heat. They are cold-blooded animals and need some time to adapt to temperature changes.

Turtles are fun and unique pets to have around. They can be used as learning tools, from setting up their habitat to learning cool things about them.

In order for my son to have a reptile, his new pet had to meet the following conditions:

• It could not be a snake.  No matter how small or nonvenomous it was, this pet would not work in our house.
• The reptile he chose had to fit in my hand when fully grown.  The size of my hand was defined as the distance from the tip of my middle finger to the base of my palm.  The length of the animal included its tail.
• The reptile had to be within a certain price range.  There was no need to purchase a one of a kind, exotic reptile when other less expensive “models” were available.

My son found these rules to be fair and began considering his options.  For him, a turtle or tortoise was not an interesting pet, which led him to researching various lizards.  Even with my guidelines, he was able to find a variety of lizards that were interesting and would make a perfect pet for him.

Five years since this initial discussion, he has owned two geckos, due to the untimely death of his first gecko.  In those five years, I have learned the value of having a lizard as a pet.

• Lizards are fairly low maintenance.  They can be left home alone for several days without needing a petsitter.
• Lizards don’t destroy household items and need minimal cleaning of their tanks.
• Feeding a small lizard is inexpensive.  My son’s gecko typically eats one dollar’s worth of crickets every two weeks.
• Lizards provide companionship.  My son, who is now 15, still spends a few minutes each day handling his gecko.  Even I, the anti-reptilian, peek into his tank on a daily basis to see where the gecko is resting.

Although I never would have thought about having a lizard as a family pet, it has been more pleasurable an experience than I imagined. If you are seeking a pet that is hypoallergenic and low maintenance, a (small) lizard may be just the pet for you.

• Obesity is a major and very common problem with crested geckos.  Most inexperienced handlers overfeed geckos thinking that they should be plumper.  Like dogs, cresties will eat more than they need.  This is a survival instinct, because they may not get food everyday in the wild.  This also happens because the geckos prefer sugar (fruit), thus the owner feeds them more fruit than they need.  According to Ciliatus.com, “Obesity can cause poor egg production or no production at all in females, poor libido and/or sterility in males, not to mention many of the same life threatening health problems associated with obesity in humans.”
• Floppy Tail Syndrome is another very common health problem.  It occurs when the Gecko is living in an unnatural environment where it is spending extensive time upside.  This results in the tail pulling downwards and ending up being floppy and limp.  Most wild geckos lose their tails before adulthood, so their pelvises aren’t built to handle the weight.
• Loss of part or all of the tail can be found in many geckos.  Dropping the tail is a defensive instinct that protects the gecko from predators.  When frightened or attacked, the gecko may drop the tail to distract the predator.  So, handle the gecko gently so you don’t scare it into dropping the tail.  The tail tip may be lost too.  “Sometimes a gecko will have a hard time shedding the skin around the tip of the tail and if not caught in time, the unshed skin can constrict and cut off bloodflow, effectively killing the tip of the tail.  If you do catch it early enough, simply peel away the unshed skin and the tail should return to normal. However, if the tip has already turned black and hard, I’ve found it best to let nature take its course.  The tip will eventually fall off and the tail will look almost completely normal (albeit shorter) within just a couple months,” according to Ciliatus.com.
• Finally, impaction is a danger with all geckos.  When they are living in an enclosure, there is a chance they will eat the substrate.  This will block up their digestive tracts or become hung up on other organs (mainly genitals) in the cloaca.  This results in a variety of different deaths.  It can be noticed due to: bloating, feces stuck in the cloaca, lack of hunger, and no fecal movement.

Crested geckos are a unique animal and suffer from different ailments than other creatures.  If your gecko seems ill, please keep this list in mind.

Good beginner lizard:

• Leopard Geckos.  These pets are fun and easy to take care of.  For starters, they are docile and take handling well.  Mine was so docile, he could sit next to me on the couch and stay perfectly calm.  They are smallish (6 inches long, approx.) and colorful.  They have bands of yellow on their backs.  They can survive on a diet of only crickets and water.  They are easy to keep in groups.

Good beginner snake:

• I don’t know too much about snakes, but to the best of my knowledge, ball pythons are excellent pets.  The two people I know who own them love them.  So, I will refer you to a about.com piece on them.  “A small constricting snake (adults reach 3-5 feet) that is usually quite docile and easy to care for. They do have a reputation for refusing to feed, so potential owners should be persistent in finding a healthy captive bred ball python (you may even want to ask for a feeding demonstration to ensure the snake will readily take killed mice). Ball Pythons can be expected to live a long life (20-30 years).”

Good beginner amphibian:

• White’s Tree Frog.  Now, before I get into this, let me explain that frogs are horrible pets for kids.  All frogs do are sit around and sleep.  They make great display pets, but you have minimal handling when you own a frog.  But if owning a frog is a must, then White’s Tree Frogs are good.  They can be handled occasionally, if they are fed well.  They eat primarily insects, but will eat just about anything.  They can live in tanks as small as 25 gallons and are arboreal.  The tank must be kept warm.

If you or someone you know is interested in having a reptile or amphibian pet, please regard this list.  It could make your pet keeping experience a happy and fruitful one.

• For starters, the Crestie should be kept below 82 degrees Fahrenheit all the time.  Occasional heat spikes are okay, but nothing regular or long lasting.  So, if you can’t keep the room below 82 degrees Fahrenheit with something like an air conditioner, don’t own a Crested Gecko. You will only be hurting him.
• Now, if you do have air conditioning, get a thermometer for the tank.  The room thermometer is not nearly precise enough and does not account for the heat lamp.  I own a Zoo Med High Range Thermometer, although you can also obtain dual hydrometer and thermometers.
• This is good, but sometimes the heat will still spike occasionally.  First of all, stay calm.  Unless the tank goes over 90, it should be fine. Over course, if it goes over 82 for several days, that is also a problem.  If that happens, you have a few options.  First of all, you can take several water bottles, freeze them solid, and put them in the tank.  The gecko won’t touch them, but they cool the cage.  You can also put the gecko in a container filled with about an inch of cold water… but he may climb out or get angry.  Finally, if the heat is lasting more than a few days, move the gecko to somewhere with air conditioning. Those are only temporary fixes.

If the summer comes around and is too intense, remember to protect your gecko.  They are cold blooded, and can’t deal like we can.