Reptiles are not for everyone. Most people don't realize how long they live and the specialized care that most require. This is why The Reptile Guy has set up his rescue/adoption program.
Reptiles are not for everyone. Most people don't realize how long they live and the specialized care that most require. This is why The Reptile Guy has set up his rescue/adoption program. .
How do I clip my lizards claws?
I am new to the hobby, what are some good beginner reptiles?
How often should my snake be shedding?
How often should I be feeding my snake?
How large of food item can my snake eat?
Why is my lizard not eating?
Do all lizards need a UV bulb?
Do I have to worry about catching salmonella from my reptile?
Do I have to feed my snake live rats?
When should I take my reptile to a vet?
Can a turtle leave it's shell?
If my reptile escapes, how do I find it?
If I catch a reptile or amphibian outside, can I keep it?
What do I do when my reptile is not shedding properly?
What do I do if my reptile isn't pooping every day?
What is the white stuff in my reptiles feces?
Are snakes slimy?
Should I be bathing my reptile?
Nail Care For Your Lizards
This is a small album showing how to properly clip a lizards claws. This demonstration is on a bearded dragon. Some larger lizards may require and extra set of hands to restrain the animal while clipping. If you have any questions, feel free to email me!
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I am new to the hobby, what are some good beginner reptiles?
The best beginner lizards are either crested geckos or leopard geckos. The reason for this is their small size, ease of care and their lack of aggression. Bearded dragons are also a good choice but they do grow larger (16-20 inches) and eat a lot of food! The best starter snakes is either a corn snake or a ball python. Although these snakes can both grow up to 4 or 5 feet long, they are very easy to look after and usually don't show much aggression. They are also relatively cheap and easy to care for.
Remember to always do your research before purchasing any type of exotic pet as they all have unique requirements.
How often should my snake be shedding?
There is no set schedule for how often a snake should be shedding. Snakes usually shed 4-8 times per year but the amount they shed depends on the rate that they are growing. The rate they grow depends on the temperature of their enclosure, how often they eat, the size of food they eat and even how active the snake is. Younger snakes shed more often as they are growing at a faster rate than an adult.
If your snake is shedding too often (one right after the other) there is a chance it may some type of bacterial infection or external parasite.
How often should I be feeding my snake?
If a snake is in optimal conditions it should take food on a regular schedule. Younger snakes will take food more often than older snakes as they are growing fast. Baby snakes should eat about every 5 to 7 days and as they get older it you can change it to once every 10-14 days. It is important not to "Power feed" your snake. This is when some breeders feed them too often in order to make them grow to breeding size faster. This can cause serious medical conditions for your snake. It is best to just let them grow at a natural rate.
Often times a snake will skip a meal, especially ball pythons, but this is nothing to worry about unless your snake is losing weight.
How large of food item can my snake eat?
The general rule for choosing an appropriate size of food for your snake is that the food item should be about 1.5 times the size of the girth of the snake. For example, a snake with a girth the size of a penny (Canadian) could eat a mouse with the girth of a nickel. If you feed a snake a food item that is too large there is a good chance it will regurgitate.
Remember to limit the handling of your snake after feeding as it increases the chance of regurgitation. It is best to leave them in the enclosure for a couple of days for the food to digest.
Why is my lizard/snake not eating?
There are two main reasons that a lizard, or any reptile, will stop eating. The first is stress that can be caused by a number of factors such as temperature, humidity, size of enclosure and even the placement of the enclosure in the house. If you reptile is in a high traffic area of the house it may be stressed out due to all of the movement. Also, a new reptile will likely need a few days to settle into its new enclosure before it begins to eat. Don't be worried if your new pet doesn't eat right away.
Do all reptiles need an ultraviolet bulb?
Ultraviolet bulbs are important for all daytime basking lizards as they provide your reptile with vitamin D which helps the body metabolize calcium. Some examples of daytime basking lizards are iguanas, bearded dragons, water dragons and basilisks. Lizards such as leopard geckos, crested geckos and other nocturnal lizards do not require a UV bulb as they naturally avoid the sun. Most snakes do not require uv bulbs as they naturally get their heat from rocks that have been baking in the sun all day. Snakes, especially albinos, do not actually like bright lights and will usually go and hide instead of bask under a lamp.
All turtles and tortoises should have a UV bulb in their enclosure.
Do your research before purchasing a UV bulb for your reptile as there are different strengths of bulbs for different reptiles. Be sure to the one that is appropriate for your pet.
Do I have to worry about catching salmonella from my reptile?
Salmonella is found in the digestive tract of most animals and reptiles. Transmission to humans may be direct contact with the animals feces or by indirect contact by touching skin that has feces on it. Touching feces in the enclosure can also transmit the bacteria but if general sanitation steps are taken there is little concern. Just remember to always wash your hands after handling your reptile or cleaning any enclosures. Avoid letting young children touch animals as they tend to put their hands right into their mouth after.
Turtles are the most common carriers of salmonella on their body as they are constantly swimming in the same water in which they defecate. A strong filter and regular water changes are recommended to avoid any chance of contracting the bacteria.
Do I have to feed my snake live rats?
Snakes will eat live or frozen/thawed (f/t)rats. Most people today only feed f/t as it is easier and cheaper to keep large numbers of rats stored a freezer than to keep them alive in cages. Feeding them f/t also eliminates the chances of your snake getting bitten by the rat during constriction. There are many snakes that are either scarred and/or even killed by a rat biting back during a feeding. If feeding live, it is sometime a good idea to stun the rat before offering it to your snake.
The same rules apply when offering rats and mice to lizards such as monitors and tegus.
Frozen rats are usually available at your local pet store or if you are in the lower mainland (BC) you can contact "Reptile Rations" by emailing mike@reptileguy.ca
When should I take my reptile to a vet?
Reptiles are a pretty easy animal to figure out when it comes to something being wrong. Basically, if it stops eating and is losing weight, there is usually some form of stress or medical condition that needs to be addressed. First, make sure that your reptile is living in an adequate enclosure with optimal conditions. Things to check are temperature (both ambient and basking), humidity and size of the enclosure. If everything looks good and your reptile is still not improving it is probably a good time to consult your vet. Keep in mind though that some reptiles such as leopard geckos and ball pythons are known for their "hunger strikes". Luckily, they are able to go for long periods without feeding. This is nothing to worry about until you are noticing a loss of weight and mass.
Other indications that a vet examination may be required are abscesses, lumps, broken limbs (not torn claws), wheezing, bubbles coming from the mouth, constant open mouth breathing and rotten looking scales. Those are of course just a few of the problems that can happen to a reptile.
If your lizard drops its tail, it is not necessary to consult a vet. Just make sure that the end of the tail is clean and not getting infected. No, the tail cannot be re-attached.
If you are not sure if your reptile requires a trip to the vet feel free to email The Reptile Guy at mike@reptileguy.ca
Can a turtle/tortoise leave it's shell?
A turtle/tortoise cannot come out of its shell like a hermit crab or snail. The inner structure of the shell is made up of backbone and ribs. This means that the shell is part of the body and unable to separate. Often times turtles shells are cracked or broken after being dropped or run over by a car. These injuries need to be repaired as soon as possible as it can lead to serious infection and/or death.
A turtle/tortoises shell is made up of living tissue. This means it has nerve endings and can feel everything. It is strongly not advised to drill holes into the shell to attach a "leash" as this can harm your animal and may even cause an infection. It is a VERY uncomfortable and unnecessary process to put your pet through.
If my reptile escapes, how do I find it?
First off, if a reptile escapes from its enclosure, this means that you did not do your job as a responsible owner to provide a safe and secure enclosure for your pet. Accidents do happen though and when they do, there are steps to take to help find your lost pet. First, think of how your pet would act in the wild. Do you have a leopard gecko that will want to find a low, dark place to hide or do you have a carpet python that is going to want to climb? This will help determine where to start looking. If your pet is nocturnal, it is probably pointless to look for it during the day. Wait until the lights have been off for a while at night and then slowly walk around turning on the light in each room. There is a good chance you will see your lizard run away once the light is on and you can then follow it and catch it.
Look EVERYWHERE! Your reptile could literally be anywhere in your house. Check piles of laundry, behind and under the fridge, washer dryer and anywhere else that may be dark and warm. Sometimes putting food out will lure a hungry lizard or snake out of hiding but you have to make sure you have time to sit and watch for any signs that the animals is coming out to eat otherwise you will come back to an empty plate of food and no animal. Some people have also been known to sprinkle flour in a line on the floor in all doorways. If they see a disturbance or tracks in the flour, they know the reptile has been there.
The most important thing is to stay calm. There have been stories of reptiles missing in a house for months, even years and then one day, they appear on a wall or in the middle of the kitchen floor. Lizards will usually always find bugs crawling around the house and usually wont starve to death. It is however, important to find your pet as soon as possible to avoid it from getting into any chemicals or cleaners that may be around your house.
If I catch a reptile or amphibian outside, can I keep it?
The short answer to this is NO. It is illegal to capture and keep any species native to British Columbia without a permit. Most provinces/states have the same laws. Many native species are endangered and need to be left in the wild so that they may reproduce in order to increase their numbers. If you do happen to have one in captivity, it is not a good idea to release it as it may have picked up parasites or diseases that can be transmitted to wild populations causing even more problems. If you do happen to find one that is in need of medical attention, it is best to contact your local vet, zoo or wildlife shelter as they will be able to acquire the proper permits to legally help the animal and them possibly release it back into the wild.
What do I do when my reptile is not shedding properly?
If your snake is not shedding properly it is important to make sure your enclosure is providing the required amount of humidity to your pet. A snakes shedding should come off in one long piece. Sometimes, larger snakes will shed in multiple pieces as the shedding is too long and will tear off during the shedding process. If you have a snake that is in the middle of a very bad shed you can put him into a Rubbermaid container with a warm moist towel on the bottom of it. Put the lid on it and leave it for about 20-30 minutes and then see if you can peel the unshed parts off. If they do not come off easily you will need to leave him in the tub longer. You can leave the snake in the tub for a few hours as long as there are holes for ventilation. You may have to do this a few times but it usually works. Do not force the shedding to come off as it may not be ready to come off and can hurt the snake if taken off before it is ready.
Always check to make sure the eye caps have shed properly. The eye cap is the protective scale that covers a snakes eye. If this does not come off properly it can start to constrict the snakes eye and can cause infection and/or blindness. Signs of this are a wrinkled, dry looking eye. The first and most common remedy for this is to use a q-tip and put a drop of mineral oil on each retained eye cap (after the Rubbermaid trick) and this may dissolve the eye cap within 24-48 hours. If not, they may have to be manually removed but this should only be done by someone with experience as it can cause serious damage to the eye if not done properly.
There are good examples of this on a video by The Reptile Guy on YOUTUBE
What do I do if my reptile isn't pooping every day?
Not all lizards go the bathroom every day. A lot of times this is because they are not getting enough food. Make sure you are feeding your reptile the proper amount of food it requires and has adequate temperatures to be digesting food. However, if they go for a few days without a bowel movement there are some things to be watching for. If you notice it's rear legs are not moving or seem a bit lethargic there is a good chance it is suffering from impaction. This is when there is a blockage in the digestive tract of a reptile which can result in death if not treated. There are many causes for impaction but the most common are the ingestion of loose substrate and being fed items that are too large.
If you feel that your reptile may be suffering from impaction contact your local veterinarian or email The Reptile Guy at mike@reptileguy.ca
What is the white stuff in my reptiles feces?
The white parts of a reptiles feces are called urates which are basically a reptiles form of urin and is perfectly normal and natural. Instead of impurities coming out diluted with water (urine) it comes out as a solid. These impurities include nitrates, urea and calcium from the bones of its prey. They are usually accompanied by feces but do sometimes come out on their own.
Are snakes slimy?
This is a common misconception. Snakes often appear to be slimy due to the shiny look of their skin. They are however, completely dry. even when a snake gets when, the water usually beads right off due to the smoothness of the scales.
Should I be bathing my reptile?
All too often we hear stories of people bathing bearded dragons because the lizards love it and are constantly swimming around. The reality however, is that bearded dragons are a desert lizard and don't actually know how to swim. That splashing around you see is them struggling trying to find a safe and secure spot to get out of the water. There are lizards that like baths such as water dragons, basilisks and even iguanas will like a nice soak once and a while but desert lizards should be kept out of the tub unless soaking them for medical reasons.
You should always provide your reptile with a large enough water dish so that it can soak when it wants to. They will often lay in a water dish when they are ready to shed as the moisture helps the old skin come off.
There is usually no need to give your reptile a bath and often times when people think they are happy and swimming, they are actually scared and struggling.
