Lizard Turtle Present

Husbandry and Nutrition of
Chelonians and Lizards
July 24, 2008

Ryan Thames
NCSU-CVM Class of 2010
Basic Reptile Taxonomy
Class Subclass Order
Chelonia/Testudines
Anapsida •Turtles and Tortoises
Reptilia Squamata
•Snakes and Lizards
Diapsida Crocodylia
•Crocodiles, Alligators, Caimans
Rhynchocephalia
•Tuatara
Reptiles: General Characteristics
• 6000 – 7000 species

• Ectothermic
• Pulmonary respiration
• Amniotes
• Epidermal scales
www.ashtonbiodiversity.org
Reptiles: General Characteristics
• 3 – 4 chambered hearts
• Tetropods
• Internal fertilization
• No sweat glands
• All continents except coolsprings.org
Antarctica
Turtle Tidbits
• 250 – 300 species
• Appeared 215 million
years ago
• Long lived
• Varied habitats
• Turtle vs Tortoise vs
Terrapin www.oceansofkansas.com
Chelonian Taxonomy
• Order: Chelonia/Testudines
• 2 Suborders:
1. Pleurodira ( 2 families, approx. 75 spp.)
• Side-neck turtles: unable to retract neck
• Aquatic – semi aquatic
2. Cryptodira ( 11 families, approx. 200 spp.)
• Able to retract neck straight back into shell
• Terrestrial, aquatic, and semi-aquatic
Chelonian Taxonomy
• Suborder Pleurodira
• Pelomedusidae
• Chelidae
Mata Mata
Snake Neck Turtle

Chelonian Taxonomy
• Suborder Cryptodira
• Chelonidae: marine turtles
• Chelydridae: snapping turtles
• Emydidae: pond & river turtles
• Kinosternidae: mud & musk
turtles www.answersingenesis.org
• Testunidae: land/true tortoises

• Trionychidae: soft-shelled turtles
Chelonian Taxonomy
• Chelydridae: snapping turtles www.commons.wikimedia.org
Alligator Snapping Turtle

turtles
• Trionychidae: soft-shelled turtles www.kbs.msu.edu
Chelonian Taxonomy
• Chelydridae: snapping turtles garyshey.blogspot.com
Eastern Box Turtle

turtles
student.britannica.com
Red Eared Slider
Chelonian Taxonomy
• Chelydridae: snapping turtles www.jamesriverpark.org
• Emydidae: pond & river turtles Musk Turtle

turtles
www.rfadventures.com
Mud Turtle
Chelonian Taxonomy
• Chelydridae: snapping turtles animals.nationalgeographic.com
• Emydidae: pond & river turtles Galapagos Tortoise

turtles
ivorytortoise.com
Leopard Tortoise
Chelonian Taxonomy
• Chelydridae: snapping turtles
turtles www.herpnet.net

Chelonian Characteristics
• Shell
• 50 – 60 bones
• Fused w/ ribs & vertebrae
• Scutes
• Shell variations
• Trionyx spp. (softshells)
• Pancake tortoise
• Box and Mud turtles www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• African hingebacks
• Shell
• 50 – 60 bones
• Scutes
• Softshells
www.herpnet.net
• Box and Mud turtles
• Shell
• 50 – 60 bones
• Scutes
• Shell
• 50 – 60 bones
• Scutes
• Box and Mud turtles www.birdwatchersdigest.com
• Shell
• 50 – 60 bones
• Scutes
• Pancake tortoise www.americanheadhunters.com

• Coelomic cavity
• Respiration
• Rhampotheca/Tomium
• Skin
• Scaled vs. scale-less
• Uncoordinated shedding
• No external ears turtlestuff.com
• Oviparous
Lizard basics
• ~ 4,500 spp
• Appeared ~ 200 mya
• Life span
• Smaller < Larger mvhunt.net
• 3-6 years, 10-15 years

• Large size variations
• Caribbean Gecko: 3-4 cm
• Komodo Dragon: 3 m (10ft)
student.britannica.com
Lizard Taxonomy
• Order: Squamata
• Suborder: Sauria/Lacertilia
www.feenixx.com
• 5 Infraorders:
1. Iguania (10-14 families)
2. Gekkota (3 families)
3. Scincomorpha (11
families)
4. Diploglossa (3 families)
5. Platynota (4 families)
• 5 Infraorders:
3. Scincomorpha (11
families) Green Iguana
www.the-lizard-lounge.com
Veiled chamaeleon
• 5 Infraorders:
3. Scincomorpha (11
www.dkimages.com
families) Leopard Gecko
www.jaysanimalencounters.co.uk
Tokay Gecko
• 5 Infraorders:
3. Scincomorpha (11
www.indonesia.faithfreedom.org
families)
Blue-Tongued Skink
www.montgomerycountymd
.gov
Five Lined Skink
• 5 Infraorders:
3. Scincomorpha (11
families) coolsprings.org
Eastern Glass Lizard
www.curator.org
Legless lizard
• 5 Infraorders:
3. Scincomorpha (11
families)
www.gotpetsonline.com
4. Diploglossa (3 families) Savannah Monitor Lizard
www.britannica.com
Gila Monster
Lizard Characteristics
• Epidermal scales
• Vomeronasal (Jacobson’s) organ
• Oviparous vs. Viviparous
• Not shared by all:
• External ear openings
• Tail autonomy
• Eyelids
General Husbandry
Considerations
• Enclosures
• Substrates
• Temperature
• Photoperiod
• Light Quality
• Humidity
Chelonian Enclosures
• Size
• ~5L x 5L: length x width
• Terrestrial
• Plastic containers, www.ball-pythons.net
aquariums, outdoor pins

• Semi-aquatic & Aquatic
• Aquariums, ponds
• Haul out & basking areas
• Hiding places advocacy.britannica.com
• Size
• Terrestrial
• Plastic containers,
aquariums, outdoor pins members.aol.com

• Hiding places
• Size
• Terrestrial
• Plastic containers,
aquariums, outdoor pins
www.unc.edu
• Hiding places
Lizard Enclosures
• Size: 3L x 3L
• glass, plastic, plexiglass,
wood
• Climbing spaces: branches,
rocks, plants www.geocities.com
• Basking sites
• Hiding places
• Escape proof!!!
• Tight lids w/ ventilation
www.herpcenter.com
Lizard Enclosures
• Size: 3L x 3L
• glass, plastic, plexiglass,
wood
• Climbing spaces: branches,
rocks, plants www.geocities.com
• Basking sites
• Hiding places
• Escape proof!!!
• Tight lids w/ ventilation
Substrates
• Can be artificial or natural
• Should be: Inexpensive, easily cleaned,
absorbent, digestible, physical support,
psychological security
• Should not: cause impaction, dermatological
disease, respiratory disease
Substrates:
The Good
• Newspaper
• Cypress chips/mulch
• Coconut Shells (shredded)
• Large rocks
• Astroturf
• Clean Water
Substrates:
The (possibly) Bad
• Gravel &small stones
• Rabbit pellets
• Sand
• Dirty Water
Substrates:
The Ugly
• Cedar shavings
• Crushed corn cob
• Pecan/walnut shells
• Cat litter
www.arcatapet.com
www.canamindustries.com
www.petzoo.co.uk
Temperature
• Provide temperature gradients!
• Behavioral thermoregulators
• Preferred Optimal Temperature Range (POTR)
• Necessary for proper:
• Metabolic rate
• Digestion
• Growth
• CV function
• Immune function
• Reproductive performance
Temperature
• Diurnal spp - daytime temp
• Ambient temp: 27-35oC
• Basking area: 49-54oC
• Nocturnal spp – daytime
• Ambient temp: 21-27oC
• Warmer area: 32-35oC
• Water temp: 24-30oC
• 5-7oC< for nighttime temp
• Seasonal fluctuations may be necessary
Temperature
• Sources of Heat
• Ambient heat
• Central heat/AC
• Basking area
• Incandescent bulbs, Ceramic
heaters, heating pads
• NO Hot Rocks!!!
• Water
• Submersible aquarium heater
Temperature
* Always monitor heat with an in cage

thermometer!
Photoperiod
• General rule:
• 14 hrs during summer
• 12 hrs during winter
• Temperate zone reptiles: •Timers can make
• 15 hrs – summer
this very easy!!!
• 12 hrs – spring/fall
• 9 hrs – winter
• Tropical spp
• 13 hrs – summer
• 11 hrs – winter
Lighting
• Quality very important
• UVB – Vitamin D3
• UVA – Behavior
• Natural vs. Artificial
• Can also provide heat
Humidity
• In general: 35% – 70%
• If too low:
• Dysecdysis, Dehydration
• If too high:
• Respiratory infections, Dermatitis
Humidity
• Humidity boxes
• Water bowls
• Damp substrate
• Humidifiers, Fogging devices www.toppetshop.co.uk
• Misting
• Monitor with gauges
www.reptiles.swelluk.com
Hibernation
• May be required for temperate and sub-
tropical species
• General:
• Lower temperatures gradually
• 35 – 50oF for min. of 10 wks
• Access to heat source for sub-tropicals
• No feeding
• Avoid false hibernation
Nutrition: Water
• Always provide fresh water!
• Water bowls
• Misting leaves and rocks
• Soak terrestrial chelonians daily or EOD
• Dehydration, gout, renal disease
Nutrition: Feeding Herbivores
• ~ 95% vegetables
• Mustard & collard
greens, dandelions, kale,
parsley, watercress
• ~ 5% fruit
• Grapes, apples,
tomatoes, mangos,
stawberries
• Need vitamin & mineral
supplements
• Blend together!
www.sdturtle.org
Nutrition: Feeding Omnivores
• 50% animal/high
protein foods
• Earthworms, crickets,
slugs, snails, pinkies
• 50% plant material
• 75% vegetables
• 25% fruit
www.the-lizard-lounge.com
Nutrition: Feeding Carnivores
• Turtles:
• Whole fish, skinned mice &
pinkies, shrimp (w/shells)
• Insects in moderation
• Many omnivorous w/ age
• Lizards: pre-killed whole
prey
• Rodents > chicks > fish
• Ca supplement?
Nutrition: Feeding Insectivores
• Most Lizard species!
• Common types:
• Crickets, meal worms, wax worms, earthworms,
grasshoppers
• Captive raised - low Ca
• Dusting or “Gut loading”
Nutrition: Feeding Frequencies
• Most tortoises and lizards: Daily
• Aquatic/Semi-Aquatic chelonians: 2-3x a week
• Large carnivorous lizards: 2-3x a week

Cleaning
• Daily/EOD:
• Remove feces and wash bowls
• Monthly:
• Disinfect entire cage and furnishings
• Clean or change substrate
• Bleach (1:30 dilution)
• Roccal-D (1:200 dilution)
Take Home Message
• Provide proper thermal gradient and
photoperiod
• Provide a variety of foods and clean water!
• Clean regularly
• Be familiar with your species!!!
References
• Ackerman L (1997). The Biology, Husbandry, and Health Care of Reptiles. Volume I:
Biology of Reptiles. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
• Ackerman L (1997). The Biology, Husbandry, and Health Care of Reptiles. Volume
II: Husbandry of Reptiles. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
• Barnard SM (1996). Reptile Keeper’s Handbook. Malabar, FL: Krieger Publishing
• Ernst CH, Barbour RW (1989). Turtles of the World. Washington, DC: Smithsonian
Institution Press
• Flank L (1998). Herp Help. New York: Howell Book House
• Madar DR (2006). Reptile Medicine and Surgery, Second Edition. St. Louis,
Missouri: Elsevier Inc.
• Mattison C (1992). The Care of Reptiles and Amphibians in Captivity, Revised Third
Edition. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing
• McArthur S, Wilkinson R, Meyer J (2004). Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and
Turtles. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing

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Husbandry and Nutrition of

Chelonians and Lizards

July 24, 2008

• 6000 – 7000 species

Snake Neck Turtle

• Testunidae: land/true tortoises

• Emydidae: pond & river turtles

Eastern Box Turtle

• Emydidae: pond & river turtles Musk Turtle

• Kinosternidae: mud & musk

• Emydidae: pond & river turtles Galapagos Tortoise

• Kinosternidae: mud & musk

• Testunidae: land/true tortoises

• Box and Mud turtles

• 3-6 years, 10-15 years

aquariums, outdoor pins

• Semi-aquatic & Aquatic

* Always monitor heat with an in cage

• Aquatic/Semi-Aquatic chelonians: 2-3x a week

• Large carnivorous lizards: 2-3x a week

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