Chapter 13: Reptile and Amphibian Breed Identification and Production
Management
1. Snakes have long, thin bodies and tails, but no legs, ears or eyelids. They
have a smooth skin texture, not slimy as many people think. Most lizards
2. Reptiles are animals with dry, scaly skin who use the outside temperature and
environment to adjust their body temperature. Examples are snakes, lizards
3. Snakes are sexed by the probe method. A small metal probe is inserted into
the hemipenis (male reproductive organ) area on the edge of the cloaca, or
4. Gestation is the length of pregnancy of an animal that bears live young.
5. Snakes will go through a skin shed cycle known as ecdysis. When a snake
begins the shedding cycle, the eyes will appear cloudy and the skin may
6. Reptiles and amphibians should not be fed live food because the rodents and
fish that are alive tend to bite and cause injuries and wounds that may become
infected. It is safer for the animal to be fed dead food to prevent such injuries.
7. Common iguana foods that are nutritionally balanced:
8. Ideal substrates for cages include: newspaper, wood or pine shavings,
synthetic bedding, branches, sand, and lab animal bedding pellets
9. Temperature is important to reptiles and amphibians. Most species of
Clinical Situation