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Emergency Info
Contact California Animal Hospital at 310-479-3336
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Pet Portal
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News & Alerts
Check Here for Periodic Updates
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13 Tips on Owning a Reptile
| Thirteen Tips To Successfully Owning a Pet Reptile |
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1 |
Don't buy your reptile until you learn as much as you
can about the species and its natural history. |
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2 |
Think about what the reptile will eat; i.e. vegetation,
insects, small mammals, and birds. (Will you be comfortable feeding live
creatures?) |
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3 |
Make sure you know how large the reptile will be when it
is full-grown. (That cute, little green iguana can grow to 5' in length
within 3 years.) |
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4 |
Buy from a breeder or a reputable pet store that
specializes in exotic animals. Your chances of receiving informed advice
are better there. |
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5 |
Set up the cage/vivarium PRIOR to obtaining your pet:
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Decide the size and shape of cage. |
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Heat and light sources (spotlight, natural spectrum
fluorescent) with timer. |
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Water delivery system; i.e. bowl, spray, or drip.
Substrate; i.e. indoor/outdoor carpeting, soil, etc. |
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Have your pet's food on hand. |
YOU MUST TRY TO DUPLICATE THE REPTILE'S NATURAL CONDITIONS.
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6 |
Avoid stressing your pet (excessive handling and noise),
especially in the first two weeks. |
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7 |
Almost all reptiles require natural, unfiltered
sunlight; both direct and shade. |
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8 |
Radiant heat is the best source of warmth. This can be
accomplished by the use of 50 to 100 watt spotlights, ceramic fixtures,
and to a lesser extent, under cage heating pads. Do not use hot rocks as
a sole heat source…they are potentially dangerous. |
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9 |
P.O.T.Z. (Preferred Optimum Temperature Zone). You must
know the correct temperature range for your herp (usually between 70 to
90 degrees Fahrenheit). |
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10 |
Always wear gloves when cleaning the cage. The most
economical disinfectant is a dilute solution of bleach (1/2 cup of
bleach to 1 gallon of water). |
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11 |
Never allow reptiles where food is prepared. (They can
shed organisms contagious to people, such as Salmonella.) |
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12 |
Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling
reptiles. Use an antibacterial soap. |
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13 |
REMEMBER: THESE ARE WILD ANIMALS, AND THEY REQUIRE VERY
SPECIFIC HABITATS. MOST HERPS ARE NOT WARM AND CUDDLY CREATURES.
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