Reptiles

Trying to decide on the ideal snake for a beginning hobbyist?  The two most important things to look for include ease of handling and difficulty in feeding.  One of the best, if not the best choice for a new handler is the corn snake, or Elaphe guttata, sometimes referred to as the red rat snake.  

The Green Anole, also known as the American chameleon or red-throated anole, (scientific name Anolis carolinensis) is a lizard with plenty of personality and is a good beginner reptile for enthusiasts. These 5-to 8-inch long lizards, of which most length is the tail, range from North Carolina to Florida and as far west as central Texas. The anole is also native to warm, moist climates throughout North and South America, and various additional varieties of the anole are found on certain Caribbean islands.

It was already late in the day and appointments at the clinic were winding down. The technician Debbie and I had just completed the evening treatments when the receptionist Rebecca burst forth through the swinging door to the treatment area: “Hey doc, will you see a dehydrated gecko?” she asked. “I have a client on the line who feels that they have a gecko emergency and would like you to see their pet this evening.”

In the 60’s and early 70’s turtles were the most popular reptile species kept by hobbyist. The red-eared slider, a native of the southern United States, was the most popular of all the turtles. Then infections with salmonella effectively shut down the pet trade. Even today the open sale of turtles 4 inches and under remains illegal in the US and Canada. It is believed that turtles 4 inches and under in size are the most likely to spread salmonella.

One of the easiest starter herps for beginning hobbyist is the Leopard gecko. One of the most primitive lizards alive today, the leopard geckos hails from western India, south-eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan. These lizards naturally inhabit deserts and arid grasslands of the region. These agile lizards often take shelter under rocks or in burrows that they dig or achieve second hand.

Bone is composed of a tough organic matrix that is greatly strengthened by deposits of calcium salts. The average compact bone contains approximately 30% matrix and 70% salts by weight. The crystalline salts are composed primarilly of calcium and phosphate.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing available biological and economic information on constrictor snakes in Python, Boa, and Eunectes (Latin for Anaconda) genera for possible addition to the list of injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. An injurious wildlife listing would prohibit the importation into, or transportation between, States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the Unites States by any means, without a permit.

The most common type of burns seen in captive reptiles are thermal and are usually attributed to an abnormally hot heat source, one from which the animal cannot escape. Captive reptiles should always be provided a basking spot, but the enclosure should be large enough that the reptile may retreat to cooler areas if and when the radiating heat becomes too intense. In the wild, thermal burns may be encountered when the reptile has survived a grass or forest fire.

What does a person’s pets say about them? If you can figure anything out about someone by the pets they keep, you may want to take a look at the pets of all the presidential candidates. It may help you decide on your way to the ballot box!

Inflammation of the tissues in the mouth is defined as infectious stomatitis, more commonly known as mouth rot. The initiating cause may be stress or trauma, both of which lead to an infection of the oral cavity by opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. Common types of bacteria isolated from this area include Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Klebsiella, and Salmonella. In some cases, mycobacteria, and some species of fungi, or some viruses may also become involved.