Reptiles are not great to manifest being poorly or unwell. In the wild, some of them are predators but can become prey too, so they developed certain mechanisms that help them survive. Our pet reptiles are not domesticated, so their behaviour is the same as their wild ancestors.

Reptiles are ectothermic animals, which means their internal temperature is controlled by external sources of heat. That’s why they can be called cold-blooded too. Temperature has an impact on day and night activity like: searching for food or sleeping, controls physiological processes like heart beating or breathing and reproductive cycle. That is why many reptiles seem to be slow and lethargic first thing in the morning, but along with the increase of the environmental temperature their activity rises. 

 

Husbandry

 

Husbandry is a very important factor in keeping reptiles healthy. House and enclosure conditions (temperature, humidity, UV exposure) should be similar to the one naturally occurring in the wild and match the area of origin. Unfortunately, there is no unified system that can be applied to all species, so it is extremely important to check specimen requirements when setting up the enclosure.

 

Feeding and supplementation

 

Diet is strictly correlated with the specimen. There are strict herbivore (plant-based diet) and carnivore (animal-based diet) reptiles, but some of them are omnivore too, which means they eat both plant- and animal-origin food. Food should be served on flat bowls or bedding free areas, so that it avoids contamination and reduces the change of substrate ingestion.No matter what food it is, calcium supplementation is very important and needs to be given with every single meal. Some species are more resistant to calcium deficiency, some will develop problems much faster. 

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Ecdysis

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Means shedding. It is a physiological, periodical process that results in replacing old skin layers with a new one. Usually the first sign of an upcoming moult is the change of the colour: skin becomes dull, grey, white or light blue. Skin peeling takes from a couple hours to a couple days and as a result all skin should be replaced. Some animals may change their normal behaviour during the moult: may hide more, look anxious, itchy and lose appetite. This is absolutely normal and there is no need to be worried if that happens.Dysecdysis (shedding pathology) usually appears as a result of incorrect husbandry or health problems. Leftover skin should never be peeled off by the owner, as it may be painful and cause damage to the underlying tissue.
 

Bathing:

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Most reptiles are not great drinkers, but really good at preventing water loss from the body. Most reptiles will drink only when in the bath, so when the body is soaked in water. This is also when they like to defecate too. Reptiles can drink via mouth and cloaca, for that reason it is important to bath them regularly.
 

Symptoms of illness:

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• lethargy, decrease mobility even in basking spot

• laying flat

• poor reaction to stimuli like touching/handling

• bleeding

• closed eyes

• open mouth breathing

• weight loss

• change in colour

• prolonged lack of appetite

• changes to faecal output frequency, colour or consistency

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If you see any of those symptoms or you are unsure about your reptile condition, please book an appointment with your exotic vet.