|
          
|
|
Reptiles
and Amphibians |
| Reptiles and amphibians are some of the most
unique and interesting groups of animals on earth. Unlike
mammals and birds, they are unable to maintain a constant
internal body temperature simply by metabolism. They use
behavioral means to regulate their temperature - basking in
the sun, retreating to the shade, climbing higher or lower in
the rainforest canopy, or retreating to water or caves. Some reptiles
come from the rainforest and require very high humidity, while
others are desert dwellers. All amphibians come from
moist locations, or areas near water. |
 |
Unfortunately, the same traits that make reptiles and
amphibians so
fascinating are also traits that make many of these animals very
difficult to keep properly in our homes. For many commonly kept
species, little information is known about what constitutes an
appropriate diet or the animal's normal diet in the wild is
impossible to duplicate in captivity in North America. Many
species of reptiles require strong unfiltered sunlight, which makes
keeping them appropriately in our homes, especially in
northern climates, an uphill battle to say the least.
Reptile and amphibian
owners owe it
to their animals to keep current on all available information
related to diet and husbandry. They should maintain a library
of reference material, or ally themselves with an experienced
reptile keeper. These are not animals that one can learn
everything about from the teenager down at the local pet
store! If a person is not willing to do lots of reading before,
during, and after the acquisition of a pet reptile or
amphibian, he/she should consider a more appropriate pet. The information below
is only a starting point for a prospective reptile or
amphibian owner.
|
| Basic
care of the green iguana
Red-eared Slider
Husbandry
Bearded Dragon Husbandry
Reptile and amphibian reading material
|
|
