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Reptiles
Iguana, Bearded Dragon, Leopard Gecko, Chameleon

Iguana

Basic Statistics:

• Lifespan 10-20 years.
• Age at puberty 2-3 years.
• Incubation 90 days.
• Adult weight 1.2-4 kg.
• Group vs. singly: juveniles and mating pairs kept together. Otherwise kept singly

General Facts

• Dietary Requirements
  - Mainly leafy greens (approx 85%) e.g.. dandelion, kale, figs.
  - Other vegetables ( approx 10%) e.g.. turnip, beet, radishes, carrots, parsnips.
  - Fruit ( approx 5%) e.g. grapes, melons, apples, pears.
  - Overall aim is a Ca:P ratio of 2:1.
  - Once daily feeding is adequate
  - Avoid excessive protein- no cheese, meat, insects, dog or cat food.
• Environmental Requirements
  - Vivarium- minimum 20-30 gallons with tightly fitting lid. Climbing branches and lots of different levels.
  - Heat source- usually infrared lamp 85-103 degrees Fahrenheit.
  - Light Source- full spectrum UV lights 1 2hours daily.
  - Humidity- humidifier recommended, otherwise regular misting. 60-80% recommended.
  - Water bowl- sturdy and large enough to soak in
  - Bedding- newspaper/ recycled paper.

Preventative Medicine

• Veterinary check soon after bringing home. Annual Veterinary checks- yearly faecal samples and blood work.

Common Ailments

• Tail loss- usually caused by being grabbed by the tail.
• Thermal burns.
• Bacterial pneumonia.
• Poor shedding- dysecdysis due to poor humidity levels.
• Metabolic bone disease (nutritional osteodystrophy) due to inadequate Ca:P ratio in diet.
• Egg binding in females. Coccidiosis, prolapse.

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Bearded Dragon

Basic Statistics:

• Lifespan 9-15 years.
• Age at puberty 8-18 months.
• Incubation 60-70 days.
• Adult weight 250-300g.
• Singly vs. groups: mating pairs kept together, otherwise kept singly

General Facts

• Dietary Requirements
  - Omnivorous
  - Crickets, mealworms and superworms- no bigger than ½ the space between bearded dragon’s eyes. Feed these 3-4 times weekly. These should be gut loaded or dusted with vitamin and mineral powders with a high Ca:P ratio.
  - Vegetables- A variety of vegetables should be fed daily eg red and green lettuce, dandelion, turnip and cabbage.
  - Sweet vegetables ( eg. carrot and squash) and fruit in small amounts.
  - Provide a sturdy water dish that can be used to soak in.
• Environmental Requirements
  - Vivarium 10-50 gallons depending on age/size with secure lid. It should be longer than high.
  - Basking logs and rocks.
  - Heat source- Usually infrared lamp- well protected with mesh etc.85-100 degrees Fahrenheit- main source at one end of the vivarium.
  - Light Source-Full spectrum UV lights left on 12 hours daily.
  - Humidity- mist every second day and wet down vegetables before feeding. 40% humidity essential.
  - Substrate- recycled paper or newspaper.

Preventative Medicine

• Veterinary check soon after bringing home. Annual Veterinary checks to include faecal samples and blood tests.

Common Ailments

• Tail loss- usually caused by being grabbed by the tail.
• Thermal burns.
• Bacterial pneumonia.
• Poor shedding- dysecdysis due to poor humidity levels.
• Metabolic bone disease (nutritional osteodystrophy) due to inadequate Ca:P ratio in diet.
• Egg binding in females. Coccidiosis, prolapse.
• Parasitism common- regular worming advised.

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Leopard Gecko

Basic Statistics:

• Average Lifespan 7-9 years.
• Age at puberty 10-15 months.
• Incubation 30-90 days.
• Adult weight 40-80g.
• Singly vs. groups: usually kept singly, unless juvenile or breeding pairs

General Facts

• Dietary Requirements
  - Waxworms or superworms either gut loaded or dusted with appropriate vitamin/ mineral supplement with high Ca:P ratio. 2 insects for every inch of the gecko’s length 3-4 times weekly is usually appropriate. - A sturdy shallow water dish should be provided.
   
• Environmental Requirements
  - 10-20 gallon vivarium including hardwood logs. Hidebox with moist moss and shedding.
  - Heat source- Infra red lamp well protected at one end of vivarium (86-90 degrees Fahrenheit).
  - Light source- Full spectrum UV lamp left on approximately 12 hours daily. Gekos are nocturnal.
  - Humidity- usually just require water in shallow dish as don’t require very high humidity, as long as damp moss provided.
  - Substrate- newspaper/ recycled paper

Preventative Medicine

• Veterinary check soon after purchase, yearly thereafter.

Common Ailments

• Tail loss- usually caused by being grabbed by the tail.
• Thermal burns.
• Bacterial pneumonia.
• Poor shedding- dysecdysis due to poor humidity levels.
• Metabolic bone disease (nutritional osteodystrophy) due to inadequate Ca:P ratio in diet.
• Egg binding in females. Coccidiosis, prolapse.

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Chameleon

Basic Statistics:

• Average Lifespan 2-5 years
• Age at puberty 6-7 months
• Incubation 5-14 months
• Adult weight 300-500 g
• Singly vs. Multiple: solitary

General Facts

• Dietary Requirements
  - Crickets, mealworms and superworms, either gut loaded or dusted using supplements with a high Ca:P ratio.
  - Occasionally nutritious leafy greens, vegetables and fruit.
  - Water should be provided, either via a drip system, regular mistingor manually, as chameleons would usually sip water from leaves in the wild.
• Environmental Requirements
  - Vivariums suitable for juveniles but larger, screened enclosures better for adults. These need to be well ventilated.
  - Lots of climbing branches and safe non-toxic plants eg. Hibiscus & certain fruit species.
  - Heat source- infra red basking lamp at one end of enclosure (80-95 degrees). This should be out of reach and well protected.
  - Light source- full spectrum UV lamp for 10-12 hours daily.
  - Humidity- approximately 20-40%. Good ventilation is more important.
  - Substrate: newspaper / recycled paper

Preventative Medicine

• Veterinary check up soon after bringing home, yearly thereafter.

Common Ailments

• Tail loss- usually caused by being grabbed by the tail.
• Thermal burns.
• Bacterial pneumonia.
• Poor shedding- dysecdysis due to poor humidity levels.
• Metabolic bone disease (nutritional osteodystrophy) due to inadequate Ca:P ratio in diet.
• Egg binding in females. Coccidiosis, prolapse.
• Dehydration and tongue injuries.

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