How to keep...
my terrarium animals healthy
Erik van der Kamp & Marc Maas
Animal clinic "De Langstraat"
Eerste Zeine 96
NL-5144 AL Waalwijk
INTRODUCTION
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!
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.
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.
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. Refer also to the article on food in this series "How do I..."
Maintaining food specialists such as snake-eating snakes, or termite-eating lizards is better left to very experienced keepers.
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.
Amphibians
At our clinic the most commonly seen problems with amphibians are bacterial and parasitic infections. It is crucial to catch such infections in time; take note of any changes in behaviour. Preventative faecal examinations may help avoid problems with parasitic infections.
Often infectious diseases in amphibians occur unnoticed and the animal may be dead before anything is diagnosed. A post-mortem examination is often extremely important to prevent a disease from spreading in the terrarium (and to the outside!).
The manner in which a bacterial infection manifests itself depends on the organ affected. An infamous example is the so-called 'Red-leg', a disease characterised by subcutaneous bleeding caused by blood poisoning.
Treatment of amphibians can take place through the regular ways (orally or by injection), or by adding medication to a bath or directly placing a drop of a liquid medicine on the animal's back, since these animals are capable of absorbing these medicines through their skin.
The antibiotic that will need to be administered in the case of a bacterial infection can only be determined after a sensitivity test with the infecting agent.
Turtles
Intestinal problems are common in tortoises. There can be numerous causes for this. For example, a blocked digestive tract after the tortoise eats some of the terrarium's bottom substratum, or diarrhoea caused by an infection with internal parasites. In order to treat the latter, a faecal examination is necessary. An infection with intestinal worms can be treated with products such as Panacur® or Drontal®. If protozoans (like amoebas or flagellates) are the cause of the problem, a treatment with Metronidazol or Ronidazol may offer relief. For the correct dosage of these (technically toxic) medicines you will need to carefully weigh your animals (see table at the end of this article). It is especially important to conduct a faecal examination prior to putting your turtles through hibernation, since they will use up all their reserves, and may emerge from hibernation weakened and ill.
Respiratory problems also occur frequently and are often caused by improper housing, transport, or temperature changes. Respiratory problems can sometimes be recognised by aberrant breathing or the presence of mucous in the nostrils, mouth, or trachea. However, occasionally the only symptom can be the refusal of food. In many cases virus or bacteria cause this. If the disease-causing agent is a bacterium, you can get respite from a treatment with antibiotics. To treat the bacteria you will need to culture the agent and determine its sensitivity pattern. This is clearly a job for a veterinarian.
Trachemys scripta elegans often suffer from vitamin A deficiency. The most prominent symptom is swollen, closed eyes in these turtles. Treatment consists of a vitamin A injection and application of a vitamin A-rich cream to the eyes. Another ailment sometimes seen in this species is the formation of an abscess inside the ear. The eardrum will curve conspicuously outwards. This can be treated by surgically opening the ear, removing the often relatively dry clump of pus, and filling the remaining opening with an antibiotic cream for several days.
Snakes
Snakes often develop bacterial pneumonia. Sometimes this is obvious because of aberrant or conspicuously noisy breathing. Occasionally mucous is present in the mouth or trachea, but often refusal to eat is the only symptom. Sometimes careless transport is at the root of this problem. Again, after determining the sensitivity of the causing agent, treatment with a specific antibiotic will relieve the symptoms. However, pneumonia can also be caused by other non-bacterial infections. For example, if the problems are caused by lungworms, treatment will need to consist of a de-worming medication such as Levamisol (see table).
The presence of lungworms can be determined by faecal examination. Snakes swallow the mucous that is exuded from their lungs, and the eggs of lungworms that are contained in this mucous will pass through the digestive tract and contaminate the environment. Since the larvae often hatch inside the snake's intestines, living larvae can be found in faecal samples.
As with turtles, snakes often suffer from infections by internal parasites. Random treatment with either a de-worming medication, an anti-protozoan medication, or even an antibiotic (or a combination of these three!) should not be attempted. It is much better to determine the cause of the problem first by performing a faecal examination and then develop a specific treatment. Before treating your animal it is important again to determine its exact body weight.
External parasites are also common, especially on recently imported animals. Numerous species of ticks and mites can be found. Many of these can be observed with the unaided eye. Repeated treatment of both the animals and their environment with an anti-parasite medication (Neguvon®, Tugon®, Frontline®) is necessary.
Lizards and chameleons
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.
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 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht, The Netherlands, maintains a very extensive collection of books on the terrarium hobby http://www.library.vet.uu.nl/
Another good source of information is Melissa Kaplan's website http://www.sonic.net/~melissk/
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 this 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.
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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. |
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Ampicillin (1,2,3) |
10-15 mg |
i.m./s.c./i.p. |
repeat every 12 hours |
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Doxycyclin (1,2,3) |
10 mg 1.5 mg |
p.o. i.m. |
daily repeat after 48 hours |
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Enrofloxacin (Baytril®) (1,2,3) |
10 mg |
i.m./i.p. |
first day 10 mg, after that 5 mg/kg |
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Oxytetracyclin (1,2,3) |
10 mg 50 mg |
i.m. p.o. |
bacterial infections |
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Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (1,2,3) |
15-30 mg |
i.m. once daily |
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Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (1,2,3) |
15-30 mg |
p.o. once daily |
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Antiprotozoics
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Carnidazol (Spartrix®) (1,2,3) |
20 mg |
p.o. |
flagellates; during 10-12 days |
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Metronidazol (Flagyl®) (1,2,3) ** |
I: 75 mg/kg |
p.o./cloaca |
every day for 10 days; repeat after 2 weeks |
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Metronidazol (Flagyl®) (1,2,3) ** |
II: 50-100 mg/kg |
p.o. |
once every 2-3 days |
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Metronidazol (Flagyl®) (2) ** |
III: 250-275 mg/kg |
p.o. |
single dose |
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Ronidazol (1,2,3) |
10 mg |
p.o. |
flagellates; for 10-12 days |
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Sulfaclozine (Esb3®) (1,2,3) |
20 mg |
p.o. |
coccidiosis; for 6 days |
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Antiparasitics
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Fenbendazol (Panacur®) (1,2,3) |
10-15 mg |
p.o. |
for 3 days; if there is no improvement: 2x 40 mg every two weeks |
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Levamisol (1,2,3) |
30 mg |
s.c./i.p. |
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Mebendazol (Telmin-KH®) (1,2,3) |
2x 400 mg |
p.o. |
every two weeks |
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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
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Trichloorfon (Neguvon®, Tugon®)(1,2,3) |
2 gram/l |
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spray terrarium and animals; repeat twice at 5 day intervals |
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Foxim (Sebacil®) (2) |
0,5 ml/l water |
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spray terrarium and animals; repeat after 8 days |
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Ivermectine (Ivomec®) |
200 mgram |
i.m. |
NEVER use with turtles! |
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Front-line ® (2,3) |
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spray terrarium and animals |
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Various
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Vitamin A (1,2,3) |
10,000 i.u. |
i.m./i.p./s.c./p.o. |
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Vitamin A (2) |
100,000 i.u. |
i.p. |
stimulates skin shedding |
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Vitamin D3 (1,2,3) |
1,000 i.u. |
i.m./i.p./s.c./p.o. |
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Oxytocin |
1-10 i.u. |
i.m./i.p. |
problematic oviposition |
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Calcium Sandoz® |
50-100 mg |
i.p. |
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Multivitamin pro inj. |
0.2 ml |
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1x |
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Saline (4% NaCl) |
4% of body weight |
p.o./s.c./i.p. |
dehydration |
1=turtle 2=snake 3=lizard
* i.m. = intramuscular = in a muscle
i.p. = intra-peritoneal = in the body cavity
s.c. = subcutaneous = below the skin
p.o. = per os = orally
** I-III (metronidazol) = three different therapeutic protocols:
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.
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).