| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Ectothermic | "Cold-blooded"- body temperature adjusts to that of surroundings |
| Thermoregulate | Regulation of own body temperature. |
| Vivarium | An indoor enclosure for keeping and observing living animals. Glass aquarium with wire lid, one with sliding door. |
| Thermal Gradient | Variation in temperature across the enclosure; do this by providing: ~a heat source(sunlamp) at one end and ~a cooling mechanism such as shade at the other end. |
| Substrate | The material used in the bottom of an aquarium; sand, soil, gravel. |
| Cage Furniture | Rocks, artificial plants, tree branches. Should be provided to; -Mimic the animals natural surroundings -Provide hiding places -Provide shade. |
| Stress | Excessive handling, Inadequate temperature or humidity, Improper lighting, Overcrowding, Damp or unsanitary conditions, Lack of a hiding place can all lead to this. |
| Snakes Diet | Strict carnivores, eat prey whole and often live, but it is recommended that they be killed for protection of the reptile. Commonly fed items include; Mice & pinkies, Chicks & chickens, Larger small mammals such as guinea pigs and rabbits as reptile gets larger. Commercial diets. |
| Shedding/ Sloughing of Skin | Usually done in one piece. If done in pieces, reptile may be ill, or have inadequate humidity. |
| Automotize | Shedding of the tail (done by snakes and some lizards) |
| Snake Hook | Used to pick up an unfamiliar or unfriendly snake. |
| Plexiglas Tube | Can be used for restraint and anesthesia. Should be sufficiently narrow to prevent snake from turning around. Should ot be used with elapid snakes (cobras, coral snakes, seasnakes) because they can turn around and injure you. |
| Mechanical Restraint Tools | Tongs, Canvas bags/drapes, Large heavy-duty plastic bags-Fill with isoflurane to anesthetize. |
| Manual Restraint | Immobilize snakes head and grasp it firmly at the base of the skull. Block its vision using drape, piece of paper, plexiglas shield. |
| Highly Venomous Snakes | Should be handled as little as possible. Label cages "Poisonous" or "Dangerous" and lock them. |
| Lizards Diet | Provide with a wide array of food. Supplement diet with vitamin and mineral powder. |
| Insectivorous Lizards | Most lizards. Crickets are most commonly fed to them. |
| Carnivorous Lizards | Large Lizards may be this. Eat eggs, chicks, rodents, and sometimes fish. Many will eat large crickets and giant meal worms. |
| Herbivorous Lizards | A few lizards. Lettuce should be limited because it provides limited nutritional value. |
| Restraint of Large Lizards | If restraint of the head is needed, be sure to support the hind limbs and body as lizard may thrash and cause injury to itself or you. Grasp lizard just behind the head with one hand, pinning front legs to its body. Grasp hind legs pinned against the tail with your other hand. |
| Restraint of Small Lizards | Should not be enclosed by the hand for more than a few seconds, since this may injure or kill them. Should not be picked up by the tail as this may damage the tail or cause it to be shed. Beware of escape; they move quickly. |
| Turtles Diet | Aquatic and amphibious ones are carnivorous. Terrestrial may be either omnivorous or herbivorous. Carnivorous that are fed boneless meat must be provided with calcium supplementation |
| Turtle Restraint | Can usually be picked up by the shell. Snapping and soft shell have sharp beaks and flexible necks and can inflict severe bite wounds, carry them by the tail away from your body. Best to wear protective gloves when handling them. To keep them from walking away, rest shell on an object that keeps their feet off the ground or wrap the shell in elastic bandage that holds the legs inside the shell. |
| Amphibians | Most begin their lives as aquatic, gill-breathing tad poles. Some remain in the water for their lifetimes, but most become partially air breathing terrestrial adults. TYPES: Frogs, toads, salamanders, newts. |
| Overcrowding of Amphibians | May cause cannibalism of smaller individuals by larger more mature ones. Providing adequate space and food helps diminish this. |
| Amphibian Tank/Aquarium | Stainless steel, plastic or glass. Wire screen or other cover on it. Hiding places and natural lighting should be provided. |
| Chloramine | Municipal water is sometimes treated with this, which cannot be removed from the water by letting it stand. This can kill the amphibians by absorption through skin. |
| Amphibian Diet | Most are omnivorous in the larval stage, fed boiled lettuce, canned low salt spinach, ground dog chow, and or ground rabbit pellets. Adults are carnivores and feed mostly on insects. Most need live prey (stimulates them to catch it) Aquatic salamanders will eat dead prey. Crickets, and meal worms are fed. |
| Sexing/Breeding Amphibians | Most can only be told apart during courtship. In males the vocal sacs and nuptial pads become more prominent in breeding season. |
| Neoteny | Occasionally a salamander does not undergo metamorphosis and remains in the aquatic larval stage throughout life. What is this condition? |
| Neotenic | The term for salamanders affected by Neoteny. |
| Frog Restraint | Can be picked up by placing the fingers on either side of the amphibian and behind the hind legs so that the head points towards the wrist. |
| Salamander Restraint | Should be lifted with both hands. |
| Marie Toad/ Tropical Frogs | Secrete toxic substances from skin glands thus protective gloves should be worn when handling them. |
Combine with other sets
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