- Webinar recorded on Thu 16th June, 2016
- 1 hours 10 mins
- No Comments
In this webinar, we delve in to the basic principles of captive reptile husbandry in order to understand common mistakes and advise owners on how to make beneficial changes on a case by case basis. Husbandry and nutrition of reptiles account in a large part for the vast majority of conditions in reptiles presenting to the veterinary clinic. The importance of housing design, enclosure furnishing, heating, lighting, humidity, ventilation, social considerations, water provision and handling all contribute to the likelihood of successful reptile ownership, or to the development of disease. Successful reptile husbandry depends on an understanding of natural behaviour and environmental conditions in the wild, and the ability of the reptile keeper to adapt this knowledge and replicate such conditions in captivity.
Practical tips on husbandry and housing will be given to equip veterinary staff with a deeper understanding of common styles of husbandry and the equipment available to provide correct care. Reptile owners are all too frequently presenting their animals to vet clinic in an advanced disease state which would have been entirely preventable had the correct research been carried out before acquiring the animal. Unfortunately, the cost of providing an appropriate environment for a pet reptile often exceeds the cost of the animal itself by a large margin. Sadly, there is an abundance of incorrect information available online and from less knowledgeable reptile vendors which means husbandry and housing represent a minefield of confusion especially for beginning reptile keepers.
The role of the vet in treating reptiles is not only to cure clinical disease, but to educate owners on the complex needs of these animals thus improving welfare and building trust amongst the reptile keeping community and the veterinary profession. As well as the benefits of educating new or beginner reptile keepers on captive care, improving vet knowledge on captive husbandry will also help build trust amongst the many expert reptile keepers in the community thus improving the reputation of the profession amongst the growing numbers of exotic pet owners.