Kagome100
03-14-2005, 04:49 PM
Reptiles 101
Updated: 1/10/2005 5:36 PM
By: News 10 Now Web Staff
This year lots of families added a reptile to their home. These animals are fascinating to watch, but they do need special care. In today's Pet Pointers we talk about the basics of caring for reptiles so they can live a long, happy, healthy life.
Make sure you keep your reptile in a tank with a secure lid! Some of these guys are very strong and they are all good climbers.
It's important to understand amphibians and reptiles are ectotherms. That means they don't generate enough heat on their own to raise their body temperatures above room temperature. Therefore you need to supply a heat source. An incandescent light or a ceramic heater is best. You need to be able to control the temperature and depending on the type of reptile you have this could be somewhere between 70-95 degrees.
They also need a light source with UVB rays and full spectrum fluorescent light for 10-12 hours each day.
Choose a substrate your reptile won't eat. There are lots of choices. Consult a book about the care of your species and a vet familiar with reptiles when making this choice.
They like a bit of furniture too! Reptiles will bask in the light, so give them a nice flat rock or log and some hiding places too, away from heaters. Non toxic plants and branches to climb are also nice.
They need drinking water. Some need a humid environment. You may need a mister and a shallow bowl of chlorine free water for drinking.
When it comes to food, most of them prefer live, juicy insects. Crickets and mealworms are favorites.
Remember to always wash your hands before and after touching any reptile to prevent catching salmonella or other diseases. And keep in mind, a healthy reptile is an active, full bodied reptile with a good appetite.
http://news10now.com/content/features/pet_pointers/?ArID=34639&SecID=119
Updated: 1/10/2005 5:36 PM
By: News 10 Now Web Staff
This year lots of families added a reptile to their home. These animals are fascinating to watch, but they do need special care. In today's Pet Pointers we talk about the basics of caring for reptiles so they can live a long, happy, healthy life.
Make sure you keep your reptile in a tank with a secure lid! Some of these guys are very strong and they are all good climbers.
It's important to understand amphibians and reptiles are ectotherms. That means they don't generate enough heat on their own to raise their body temperatures above room temperature. Therefore you need to supply a heat source. An incandescent light or a ceramic heater is best. You need to be able to control the temperature and depending on the type of reptile you have this could be somewhere between 70-95 degrees.
They also need a light source with UVB rays and full spectrum fluorescent light for 10-12 hours each day.
Choose a substrate your reptile won't eat. There are lots of choices. Consult a book about the care of your species and a vet familiar with reptiles when making this choice.
They like a bit of furniture too! Reptiles will bask in the light, so give them a nice flat rock or log and some hiding places too, away from heaters. Non toxic plants and branches to climb are also nice.
They need drinking water. Some need a humid environment. You may need a mister and a shallow bowl of chlorine free water for drinking.
When it comes to food, most of them prefer live, juicy insects. Crickets and mealworms are favorites.
Remember to always wash your hands before and after touching any reptile to prevent catching salmonella or other diseases. And keep in mind, a healthy reptile is an active, full bodied reptile with a good appetite.
http://news10now.com/content/features/pet_pointers/?ArID=34639&SecID=119