Reptile Clan Rescue

We rescue Reptiles of Concern, snakes, lizards, tortoises

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:10:56 -0400

At Reptile Clan Rescue of Florida, we have rescued reptiles, including reptiles of concern, from folks in Florida who are either unable to take care of their own reptiles any longer, or who have found abandoned reptiles---they keep us busy!

We are licensed by the state of Florida FWC as a Reptiles of Concern license holder for all ROCs. We currently work with Orange County Animal Services, the SPCA of Central Florida, as well as individuals who wish to turn their reptiles over to us.

We are not reptile dealers, we are reptile lovers. We created this site as a place to share pictures of our reptile friends, rescue animals, as well as provide news about reptiles.

Our adoptable reptiles will always be listed in our Petfinder Adoptable Pets page.

Please visit our other pages, and add us on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace:

Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reptile-Clan-Rescue-of-Florida/199595619701?ref=mf

MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/reptilerescueofflorida

Twitter page at https://twitter.com/FLReptileRescue

Reptile Clan Rescue News Release at http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reptile-clan-rescue-of-florida-to-work-with-fwc-to-help-control-python-problem-in-florida-80735652.html

Article in the Osecola News Gazette about us: http://www.aroundosceola.com/index.php?view=article&id=6436

Caging Requirements for Reptiles of Concern

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:29:09 -0500

A lot of folks are applying for their Reptiles of Concern (ROC) license from the FWC, and many other states are enacting regulations similar to those of Florida, so we figured it would be informative to detail the proper caging for such reptiles, which can include large pythons, anacondas, nile monitors and the like.

Construction Materials

This information is taken from a publication of the FWC entitled Possession, Transportation, Exhibition and Caging Venomous Reptiles and Reptiles of Concern.

Materials used may include plate glass of at least one-quarter inch thickness, break-resistant plastic of similar strength, concrete reinforced with wire, sheet metal, molded fiberglass, plywood or interlocking lumber that has been treated to be impervious to moisture and is not less than one-half inch in thickness, or other materials which provide equivalent stability and security against escape and unauthorized intrusion.

Essentially you need a strong enclosure that the reptile cannot escape from. Along with being a strong enclosure, it needs to be sealed--the doors of each cage shall be securely locked by a device operated by a key, combination, key card or other locking device that will prevent unauthorized intrusion or escape.

Outdoor Buildings

Let's say you want to house your reptiles of concern in an outdoor building, such as a shed. A room or out building may contain reptiles of concern in cages that are not locked if, and only if, that room or out building is locked by a device operated by a key, combination, key card or other locking device that will prevent unauthorized intrusion, is inaccessible to unauthorized personnel, is constructed and maintained as to be escape-proof, and has been inspected and approved as conforming to these rules by FWC personnel (if in Florida) prior to use. Any out building so used must be of strong construction with concrete or other suitable flooring and securely anchored to the ground. Such building shall be clearly posted at point of entry with a sign stating "Danger - Dangerous Reptiles."

Size of Cages for Snakes

Enclosure sizes for all snakes or lizards shall be based on the total length of the longest specimen in the enclosure. These requirements come from the FWC's document entitled Standard Caging Requirements for Captive Wildlife.

(A) Specimens up to 5 feet in length. For up to two specimens, a cage or enclosure 2.5 feet by 1 foot. For each additional specimen increase perimeter by 10 percent. Constrictors of this size possessed for exhibition or sale are exempt from this minimum cage requirement but shall meet the requirements as indicated for snakes and glass lizards.

(B) Specimens 5 feet to 12 feet in length. For up to two specimens, a cage or enclosure with a perimeter equal to 1.25 times the length of the longest specimen. The width of the cage shall not be less than 30 percent of the length of the longest specimen and shall not be required to exceed 3 feet. For each additional specimen, increase perimeter by 10 percent.

(C) Specimens greater than 12 feet in length. For up to two specimens, a cage or enclosure with a perimeter equal to the length of the longest specimen. The width of the cage shall not be required to exceed 3 feet. For each additional specimen, increase perimeter by 10 percent.

Size of Cages for Lizards

(I) Lizards up to 6 inches in length. For one or two lizards, a cage or enclosure 12 inches by 8 inches, 6 inches high. For each additional lizard, increase enclosure size by one inch in length and width.

(II) Lizards 7 to 12 inches in length. For one or two lizards, a cage or enclosure 20 inches by 10 inches, 12 inches high. For each additional lizard, increase size by two inches in length and width.

(III) Lizards 13 to 24 inches in length. For one or two lizards, a cage or enclosure 30 inches by 12 inches, 12 inches high. For each additional lizard, increase size by three inches in length and width.

(IV) Lizards 25 to 36 inches in length. For one or two lizards, a cage or enclosure 48 inches by 16 inches, 20 inches high. For each additional lizard, increase size by 10 inches or 25 percent in length and width.

(V) Lizards 37 inches to 6 feet in length. For one or two lizards, a cage or enclosure 6 feet by 3 feet, 4 feet high. For each additional lizard, increase size by 25 percent of the original floor area.

(VI) Lizards over 6 feet in length. For one or two lizards, a cage or enclosure 9 feet by 6 feet, 4.5 feet high. For each additional lizard, increase the size by 25 percent of original floor area.

Cage Accessories

Each enclosure shall be provided with an environment or devices that allow for temperature regulation necessary to ensure the well-being of the species. The environment or devices shall be non-injurious, and may include, but are not limited to ambient temperature, hot rocks, artificial lights, natural sunlight and heat strips. Each enclosure shall be provided with a non-injurious substrate, including but not limited to gravel, newspaper, processed wood shavings, rocks, sand, or indoor-outdoor carpet. Arboreal species of snakes or lizards shall be provided with a perch of sufficient height to allow for such specimen to perch or bask without any portion of its body or tail touching the floor, sides or roof of the enclosure.

Conclusion on Housing Requirements for Reptiles of Concern

The rules that must be followed are not hard to follow, and generally were created to ensure that the reptiles live in a comfortable environment that is safe for both the reptile, the owner and the public in general. Responsible pet ownership is a must--it's better for reptile owners, better for the press we get when a reptile escapes or is released, better for the environment, and much better for the owner of the reptile owner if he or she wishes to be able to keep their reptiles and stay out of trouble with the FWC and the law. Stay safe, and stay legal!

For additional information on getting your Reptiles of Concern license, check out our article entitled "Getting Your Reptiles of Concern License" here on ReptileClan.

Spider bites hurt more than snake bites!

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:53:02 -0500

I got bit by some sort of spider last week, and noticed a small bite area with a raised head, which looked to me like an ant bite. I treated it with a poltice to try to draw it out, but that just seemed to make it worse. Went to the doctor's office on Friday, and he gave me antibitoics (Cipro) and said if it didn't get better by Monday, go to the ER. Went to the ER this morning, they cut it open drained more pus out of it, and injected me with another antibiotic, and gave me an additional antibiotic to take.

Did I mention my hand is sore as hell and throbs when I type? At least you know what I've been dealing with for the last few days lol! The pics go from day 2 to day 10, which is today. Squeezed out at least a ketchup cup full of pus so far! I'd take a bite from my retic or burmese python ANY day over this...heck I'd take 10 python bites over this!

This type of wound is nothing to mess around with. It compares with the bite of a cottonmouth. Neurotoxic...just isn't neurologic like the cottonmouth is, thankfully. Which means it attacks the flesh, not the nervous system. Let me tell you, it's hard to clean snake cages and feed snakes and lizards with one hand! Anyway, just had to share my pain, so to speak.

Reptile Clan Rescue Releases Press Release

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:20:57 -0500

Today Reptile Clan Rescue of Florida released a press release through PRNewswire to let the world know about our service. It went out to hundreds of publications, and was picked up by over 20 publications, and will hopefully help to spread the word about what we do, and hopefully the end result will be to educate the public about the importance of reptiles, and how to find someone who can take their unwanted or overgrown reptiles and place them with proper, and if the reptiles are Reptiles of Concern, get them placed with properly licensed facilities and individuals, such as ourselves, through the efforts of the FWC. The title of the release was "Reptile Clan Rescue of Florida to Work With FWC to Help Control Python Problem in Florida". Thanks for PRNewswire for working with us, and those who have taken the time to read this news article!

The link to the news release is here.

Reptile Clan Rescue Accepted as a Drop of Point for Reptiles of Concern by FWC

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:44:41 -0500

Jenny Tinnel of Florida of the FWC has indicated that Reptile Clan Rescue of Florida will be listed as an official drop off point for Reptiles of Concern, including:

Burmese python (Python molurus)
African rock python (Python sebae)
Amethystine python (Morelia amethystinus)
Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)

If you have a reptile of concern (ROC), and are not licensed to possess it, you can legally drop it off with us, with no questions asked. Contact us at scott@reptilerescue.info, or call us at 407-374-8010 for drop off information.

Facts about Burmese Pythons and other Reptiles of Concern

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:57:52 -0500

Facts about Burmese Pythons
& other Reptiles of Concern (ROCs)
By Greg Graziani, Shawn Heflick and Michael Cole

Established Breeding Population of Burmese Pythons

- How many injuries or deaths to people have been attributed to the wild population of Burmese pythons in Florida?
Zero; there has not been one reported injury or death of a person attributed to any wild Burmese Python in Florida. All of the suspected human fatality victims by large constrictors in the United States were owners or family members of the owner. This is not a public safety issue!

- How did the problem start?
No one knows exactly, but there seem to be two theories. The first is that irresponsible pet owners are releasing their pets into the Everglades National Park (ENP). The second is that the pythons escaped from import facilities/zoos due to the devastation of hurricane Andrew in 1992.
As for the first theory, there is no evidence to support it. There has never been a documented case of an individual being caught releasing a Burmese Python into the wild. Employees of the ENP have admitted that they have never caught anyone releasing a python into the park, but they have observed individuals releasing other types of wildlife and said they were using the Burmese Python as an example to explain why exotics should not be released.
As for the second theory, the Hurricane Release, there is ample evidence to support it. We are aware of multiple facilities that were located in close proximity to ENP that were import facilities containing large quantities of Burmese Pythons. One facility in particular, located just outside the northwest corner of ENP housed over 900 Burmese Pythons the day before hurricane Andrew devastated the area. None of those animals were said to be recovered. Due to the fact that there have been few successful snake introductions anywhere in the world, this shows that a mass introduction would have better odds than a handful being released sporadically. There is a genetic study funded by South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) that revealed two facts that support a mass release of Burmese Pythons from a single event. The first is that all of the pythons captured and used in the study were very closely related and from one country of origin. Had they been products of pet releases the genetic diversity would have been greater. They were also able to demonstrate that none of the pythons captured were from Vietnam. This is important because Vietnam has been the sole source of imported Burmese Pythons into the United States since 1994. In 2002, 27 pythons were captured in South Florida and the numbers continued to increase until present. Had these animals been the product of irresponsible pet owners releasing their pets, we would have found some DNA that linked them to the Vietnam strain. There have also never been any mutations found in the wild population, which now make up the vast majority of what is in the pet trade. Granted albino babies would not survive, but the other mutations (granites, labrynths, greens, etc) would survive much like the wild type strain of Burmese Python currently in the ENP.

- How many are out there?
Again, no one knows not even biologists! The estimate by ENP of over 100,000 was the high end of a range estimate. The actual estimate was a range of approximately 3,000 to 115,000. After many months in the field, we can say with some confidence that the actual number of Burmese Pythons in the wild population of South Florida is closer to 3,000 than 115,000.

- What is being done to control the problem?
Both the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) and ENP have started python management programs. This consists of both government personnel, as well as, volunteers (these individuals may be law enforcement, biologists, herpetologists and conservationists). At this point, very little taxpayer dollars are being spent on these programs. The majority of the costs are being absorbed by the volunteers themselves. These volunteers are collecting wild Burmese Pythons, removing them from the environment and reporting the data collected back to FWC and ENP. This information will allow us to gather information on this wild population so that we can more efficiently manage the problem in the future.

- What has been done to prevent wild populations from becoming established in Florida's future with other species of ROCs?
FWC has begun to regulate Burmese Pythons, as well as other ROCs. No matter which of the two theories you support about the established breeding population of pythons in Florida, FWC has found a way to combat both problems. Pet owners must permanently identify, with a passive integrated transponder (PIT tag), each ROC python they possess. Breeding facilities, import facilities and pet owners must file a Disaster or Critical Incident Plan with FWC, which documents how the facility will secure or relocate all animals in the event of a disaster or critical incident and must be approved by FWC.

- Do Burmese pythons have predators in Florida?
Yes they do. As hatchlings they are at the bottom of the food chain and they have a distinct disadvantage to our native snakes. The Burmese Python is a much slower moving snake than the majority of our native snakes and this makes them easy prey for birds, mammals (raccoons, opossums, wild hogs, bobcats, foxes etc.) reptiles (crocodiles, alligators, turtles and other snakes) and large fish. Insects such as fire ants also are a contributing factor to egg mortality. As they mature, they have fewer predators. With over 200 million years of evolution as the apex predator in fresh water, the crocodiles and alligators are at the top of the food chain in Florida. Much like other vertebrate animals, the mortality rate for hatchlings before reaching maturity is estimated by biologists to be 95-98%.

- What is the ecological threat to Florida because of the established wild population of Burmese Pythons?
At this point biologists simply don't know, but we do know they do not belong in the wild in South Florida. It has been said that the ENP is the most polluted and the most disturbed ecosystem of any national park or preserve in the United States. South Florida is home to more exotic species of plants and animals than any other region of the United States. With so much current pollution, as well as, an overwhelming number of non-indigenous plants and animals in South Florida, it will take time and effort to determine if the wild Burmese Python population has a detrimental effect on Florida's ecosystem.

- What is the current predicted range of the Burmese python?
No other areas in the United States were predicted as suitable outside of southern Peninsular Florida and southern Texas. The alarmist claims made by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are based on the predictions of global warming. Peer reviewed climate change reports other than the USGS report indicate that the effects of global warming will result in a drastic decrease in suitable habitat for the Burmese Python, both in the United States and its native range.

To Regulate or Ban ROCs
Current regulations for monitoring Reptiles of Concern (ROCs) are far stricter than current firearm regulations. Firearm dealers are only required to keep records on firearms sold for 10 years. No records are turned into the government unless specifically requested by the government. Once the firearm has been transferred to the customer no further documentation is required for any future sales of that firearm. ROCs, on the other hand, require a license to possess. Both the originator and the recipient must keep records on all births, deaths, acquisitions, sales and transfers and these records must be filed with FWC every six months. Now that both the seller and the buyer must be licensed prior to purchase of ROCs, impulse buying has been eliminated in the pet trade for these animals.
Creating a ban of ROCs will have a number of negative effects on both the pet trade, as well as, the ecosystem. Not allowing interstate trade will trap all ROCs in Florida. A ban will create a black market, as well as, halt all self-policing of the reptile industry. It will alienate the government agencies from the professionals in the reptile industry whose assistance is required to find solutions regarding current, as well as, future situations. Perhaps most devastating of all is that a ban may create a mass release from breeders, dealers and pet owners whose animals would become worthless.
The current regulations listed below have only been in effect since January 2008. We need to give these regulations a chance to work. As of December 2009, FWC has reported 327 ROC licensees and done 407 inspections at ROC facilities in Florida. FWC has also written 80 citations, 123 warnings and seized 65 ROCs from non-permitted individuals. As a leader in wildlife conservation, FWC has created a Reptile of Concern Technical Assistance Group (ROC-TAG) that is currently meeting to address the concerns the public, government and special interest groups have in regulating ROCs.
FWC is considering allowing select ROC licensed facilities to become 24/7 amnesty points. This would alleviate the apprehension of individuals fearing prosecution for coming forward to turn over their unlicensed ROCs. This idea has been endorsed by the ROC-TAG.

Reptiles of Concern (ROC) List
- Indian or Burmese python (Python molurus)
- Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
- African rock python (Python sebae)
- Amethystine or Scrub python (Morelia amethystinus)
- Green anacondas (Eunectes murinus)
- Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)

Florida Regulations of ROCs by FWC
Current Regulations for Possession of ROCs
- ROC license issued by FWC
- You must be at least 18 years of age
- You must fill out and submit a Wildlife Personal Use Application/Questionnaire
- You must file a Disaster or Critical Incident Plan with FWC
- You must pay a $100.00 annual fee for the license
Once Licensed
- Your facility is subject to inspection by FWC.
- You are required to keep records on all births, deaths, acquisitions, sales and transfers.
- Records must be filed with FWC every six months.
- ROCs two inch or grater in diameter shall be permanently identified with a passive integrated transponder (PIT tag).

Find out how to get your ROC permit in our article, Getting Your Reptiles of Concern License.

Adoptable Reptiles From Reptile Clan Rescue

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:59:02 -0500

Reptiles of Concern Amnesty Program: Non-Licensees can Legally Turn Them Over to ROC License Holders

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:07:35 -0500

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) directed staff Thursday, December 10th, 2009, to implement an executive order immediately that will allow reptiles of concern to be turned over to authorized reptile of concern permit holders with no questions asked.

We must enact an amnesty program immediately, said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. Florida must be a leader and send the right message to our partners and to the reptile industry.

Barreto made his recommendation to the rest of the Commission after receiving reports by FWC division directors from Habitat and Species Conservation and Law Enforcement on reptiles of concern at the meeting in Clewiston on Thursday. The rest of the Commission unanimously endorsed his suggestion.

We must make the program easy for licensed folks to accept these snakes, said FWC Vice Chair Kathy Barco. It needs to be as easy for them to take the reptile of concern as it is for those with the reptiles to walk in and turn it over.

Barreto further said he would craft a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on behalf of the Commission requesting additional funds to help continue the state's effort to manage and control nonnatives in Florida.

The Burmese python has become the poster child for a much bigger issue, said Tim Breault, the FWC's director of Habitat and Species Conservation. Nonnatives are the real issue here, and it calls for full engagement with federal leadership.

During Breault's presentation, he broke the issue of nonnative species regulation and management into four major components: international movement and trade, captive breeding outside of native range, risk assessment and eradication or control. He suggested the Commission reach out to federal partners.

My biggest fear is what's going to be the next Burmese python if we don't do something now, Breault said.

Col. Jim Brown, director of the Division of Law Enforcement, told the Commission that sales of reptiles have decreased since 2008.

Sales have gone down to a trickle because of the regulations the FWC and the Florida legislature passed in 2008, Brown said. But it is still extremely important to prevent further release of these nonnative species into the wild.

Brown told the Commission a reptile of concern technical assistance group had been formed and will continue to meet. The group supports the idea of amnesty and supports further actions, such as continuing the hunting program on state-managed lands in South Florida. The Commission directed Brown to draft rules, with the assistance of the technical assistance group, to bring back to the February meeting in Apalachicola.

Eradication of reptiles of concern from the wild is prohibitively costly and ecologically impossible, Breault said. But unrelenting control is feasible.

Barreto directed staff to continue work with the reptile industry, zoos and all partners.

Do whatever it takes to control this problem, he said.

Anyone who holds a reptile of concern license will be eligible to be an amnesty facility such as the Reptile Clan Rescue of Florida without any legal issues. If you wish to do so, please call us at 407-374-8010 or email us at scott@reptilerescue.info

Getting Your Reptiles of Concern License

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:01:40 -0500

All About Reptiles of Concern and getting a permit

Reptiles of Concern (ROCs) are nonnative reptile species that have the potential to become established in Florida and can threaten native wildlife, cause economic damage or pose a threat to human safety. Rules for Reptiles of Concern (ROCs) go into effect on January 1, 2008. ROCs require a $100 annual permit for personal possession, and any ROC that is 2 inches or greater in diameter must be permanently identified by a microchip (also called a PIT tag). Microchips can be implanted by local veterinarians who work with nonnative species. Any person who possesses an ROC that is 2 inches or greater in diameter before January 1, 2008 will have until July 1, 2008 to get their animal microchipped. Any ROC greater than 2 inches in diameter purchased after January 1, 2008 will need to be microchipped immediately. The following are the Reptiles of Concern:

Burmese python (Python molurus)
African rock python (Python sebae)
Amethystine python (Morelia amethystinus)
Reticulated python (Python reticulatus)
Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) directed staff Thursday Dec 10th, 2009 to implement an executive order immediately that will allow reptiles of concern to be turned over to authorized reptile of concern permit holders with no questions asked. Reptile Clan Rescue holds an ROC license for all ROCs, so if you have one you wish to relinquish, please contact us at 407-374-8010 or scott@reptilerescue.info.

If you wish to get your own ROC license, you can do so by filling out the following forms:

Application to Possess Reptiles of Concern - http://myfwc.com/docs/Permits/Permits_VenRepApp0809.pdf
Personal Use Questionnaire - http://myfwc.com/docs/Permits/Permits_Class3Q.pdf
Captive Wildlife Critical Incident Disaster Plan - http://myfwc.com/docs/Permits/Permits_DisasterPlan.pdf

The fee for an ROC license is $100. Once you have filled out the forms, you must send them to:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
P.O. Box 6150
Tallahassee, FL
32314-6150

You must fill out a questionnaire for each Reptile of Concern you wish to possess. The fee is the same no matter how many ROCs you wish to own. The PIT tags can be inserted into your reptiles by a vet, or you can do it yourself. They are available from various reptile suppliers.

Caging and Other Requirements

The following information is from the FWC's document entitled "Possession, Transportation, Exhibition and Caging Venomous Reptiles and Reptiles of Concern" which can be downloaded at

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=7516353&type=1&file=68A-6.007.doc

Facility requirements: All persons licensed to keep, possess, or exhibit reptiles of concern shall provide safe, secure and proper housing for said reptiles in cases, cages, pits or enclosures. It shall be unlawful for any person whether licensed or not to keep, possess, or exhibit any venomous reptile or reptile of concern in any manner not approved as safe, secure and proper by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Reptiles of concern shall be kept in cages, cases, pits or enclosures of the following specifications:

Cage may be constructed of a variety of materials including: plate glass of at least one-quarter inch thickness, break-resistant plastic of similar strength, concrete reinforced with wire, sheet metal, molded fiberglass, plywood or interlocking lumber that has been treated to be impervious to moisture and is not less than one-half inch in thickness, or other materials which provide equivalent stability and security against escape and unauthorized intrusion. Cages and doors to cages shall be sealed. The doors of each cage shall be securely locked by a device operated by a key, combination, key card or other locking device approved by the commission to prevent unauthorized intrusion.

A room or out building may contain reptiles of concern in cages that are not locked provided that such a room or out building is locked by a device operated by a key, combination, key card or other locking device approved by the Commission to prevent unauthorized intrusion, is inaccessible to unauthorized personnel, is constructed and maintained as to be escape-proof, and has been inspected and approved as conforming to these rules by Commission personnel prior to use. Any out building so used must be of strong construction with concrete or other suitable flooring and securely anchored to the ground. Such building shall be clearly posted at point of entry with a sign stating "Danger - Dangerous Reptiles."

Inspection: Reptiles of concern held in captivity are subject to inspection by commission personnel. Commission personnel shall determine whether the said reptiles are securely, properly and safely housed. In the event that the reptiles are not safely housed, commission personnel shall report the situation in writing to the person possessing such reptiles. Failure of the possessor to correct the situation within 30 days after such written notice shall be grounds for revocation of the license or permit.

Disaster and Critical Incident Plans: Applicants for permits to possess reptiles of concern in captivity shall document in writing a course of action to be taken in preparation for disasters or critical incidents. Such course of action shall be documented on the Captive Wildlife Critical Incident/Disaster Plan form FWCDLE_619 mentioned above. This form shall consist of two parts. Part A of form FWCDLE_619 shall be submitted at the time of initial application or renewal; and Part B shall be retained on file at the facility location and be made available for inspection upon request of Commission personnel.

Additional information about Reptiles of Concern can be found at the FWC's Captive Wildlife page at http://myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Rules_CaptiveCategories.htm

Before You Adopt a Reptile: Reptiles as Pets

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:31:32 -0500

Reptiles as Pets

by Melissa Kaplan

Melissa Kaplan

America's newest pet craze leaves millions of animals misunderstood and mistreated-right from the gecko.

Reptiles! The very word conjures up a variety of responses, ranging from "Eeeeww, gross!" to "Way cool!" Fueled in part by changes in international wildlife importation laws, the resurgence of interest in dinosaurs and increasing numbers of two-paycheck families that have less time and live in smaller spaces, reptiles have been the fastest-growing segment of the pet market. But popularity has its price.

According to the World Wildlife Fund-US, imports of reptiles into the United States exceeded 2.5 million in 1996. Add to this the tens of thousands of captive-bred reptiles sold at reptile expos around the country and at local herpetological society meetings, and you begin to understand why this fast-growing market is not likely to dry up anytime soon.

What does this mean to the person who wanders into the pet store for another bag of dog food and comes out with a snake and 10-gallon tank?

Trouble.

The biggest problem with reptiles is that most people think of them as disposable. Sadly, being cheap only tends to reinforce the "disposable" misconception.

The Good

When it comes to reptiles, cold-blooded is a way of life, not a character trait. Reptiles are capable of recognizing people by voice, sight and smell; many are capable of learning. Some species actually benefit from interaction with humans. When cared for properly, all live as long or longer than mammalian pets of similar size.

There is no generic reptile. Reptiles have adapted over time to an amazing range of habitats and lifestyles, from underground to the tops of trees, from below sea level - and in the sea - to high up in the mountains. They are endlessly fascinating.

As the guardian of a reptile, you get to learn about everything from adaptation, behavior and the environment, to nutrition, camouflage and reproductive strategies. Learning about the natural history and proper captive care of these animals just might change your world outlook and get you thinking more about the environment as a whole.

The Bad

Most reptiles are inexpensive. Some are downright cheap. This is why many reptile owners are unwilling to spend the money necessary to properly house and feed their reptiles, or provide them with the veterinary care they require. Comments such as "I'm not spending $50 for a light and fixture!"; "Why spend any money at the vet? It's just a $10 turtle - if it dies, it dies!"; "I'm just a teenager. I don't have that kind of money"; and, "It's my kid's responsibility, not mine" are too often heard by those of us doing reptile rescue and education.

As with other pets, the cost of a reptile is usually the least expensive part of keeping one. The initial outlay includes an enclosure, special heating and lighting, substrate, essential furnishings, food and water supplies, nutritional supplements, housing and food for prey insects and veterinary visits with parasite testing and treatment. Ongoing monthly expenses include cleaning and disinfecting supplies, new substrate, food and electricity.

How does this affect your wallet? The initial habitat setup for a $10 green iguana hatchling will cost from $250 to $300, including an enclosure he will outgrow by the end of his first year. An anole, which retails for about $4, has less-extensive requirements than a green iguana. Nevertheless, a basic anole habitat setup includes a 20-gallon enclosure, a UVB-producing fluorescent Vita-Lite®, a basking light, a nocturnal heat light, an undertank heating pad, thermometers, soil and gravel, potted plants, a log or branch for basking and sundry other items such as crickets, a tank for the crickets and cricket calcium supplements and food. Total cost, exclusive of monthly expenses: $236.

The Not-So-Pleasant

What happens to reptiles when people realize they've made a horrendous mistake or simply get bored with them? Most get dumped on rescue organizations or animal shelters or are left to languish in substandard conditions. Intelligent but difficult iguanas end up in cold, dark enclosures in a back room or garage. Burmese pythons are crammed into tiny enclosures, fed barely enough to sustain life. Tortoises have their shell bones pierced to chain them to patios so they won't eat the garden. Iguanas, large monitor lizards and crocodilians are abandoned in alleys, parks, the outskirts of towns and at isolated lakes and creeks, often in climates where they will freeze to death in the winter. Fresh water turtles are "set free" in the ocean where they will die from exposure or salt water.

The most common reasons for getting rid of a reptile include not realizing how large or fast the species grows, nor how much work is involved in taming, feeding or overall maintenance. Many who do research after the fact are unwilling to commit the financial, time and space resources needed. The highly efficient metabolism of these animals means that they can conserve energy resources by staying cool and eating less food, which also means that it can take them a very long time to die. This misleads people into believing that they are providing adequate care. Unfortunately, treatment that would kill a mammal or bird in a matter of weeks or months may take years to kill a reptile.

Is a Reptile the Right Pet for You?

Are you looking for something out of the ordinary? Are you up to catering to dietary needs and thermal requirements that may be difficult or impossible to meet without significant financial resources? Buying prey in bulk when the size or type you need isn't available locally? Sacrificing an extraordinary amount of your living space to an appropriately sized enclosure?

Do you really want the reptile in question? If you are considering buying one because your children have been begging for one, keep in mind that you are ultimately responsible for the animal's daily care, including training, feeding, cleaning up, buying supplies and providing proper veterinary care. Even if your child is a teenager, all primary care and financial responsibilities are yours. Just saying "No, you can't have one" is not a bad thing. While we all want to indulge our children, teaching them why they can't have that reptile is just as important.

Can you feed one animal to another? Omnivores and carnivores need to be fed properly. That means you need to be able to feed out animals that many people consider too cute and cuddly to be food. Mammalian and avian prey should be pre-killed before feeding to your reptiles; it is more humane to the prey and protects your reptile from bite and scratch injuries. Can you humanely kill mice, rats, rabbits and chicks before feeding them to your pet? Fortunately, there are many sources of frozen prey that you can buy in bulk and store in your freezer and defrost as needed, assuming your family is up to having "mousicles" next to the Popsicles. Your prey-eating reptile won't be healthy as a vegetarian, nor can it be fed piecemeal - pieces of beef and chicken from the supermarket will cause malnutrition.

There are no herbivorous snakes and no small herbivorous lizards. Herbivorous tortoises require a great deal of indoor and outdoor space to move around in, as well as lots of grasses on which to forage. Herbivorous diets are more complicated and time-consuming to shop for and prepare than carnivorous diets. They are almost impossible to provide if you do not have access to markets with a wide and year-round selection of leafy greens and other nutrient-loaded vegetables. The pet store employee who told you to feed your herbivore just lettuce might as well have recommended styrofoam.

Giving away a reptile that doesn't suit you for whatever reason is still disposing of him or her. And disposing of reptiles, whether by letting them die from lack of proper care or giving them away to anyone who will take them, sends the same message to our children or students: it's okay to get rid of living things when they're inconvenient or unpleasant. Instead, we should be teaching that keeping a reptile is a lifelong commitment to a living, sentient being - a commitment that will last a long, long time. Depending on the species, lizards may live five to 20 years, snakes more than 40 years and turtles and tortoises 40 to 100 years or more.

Where to Learn About Reptiles

Pet stores are generally not the place to get accurate information on the care and temperament of reptiles. Most reptile pet care books at stores and libraries are outdated or contain a mixture of accurate and inaccurate information, enough to put a pet reptile at risk of injury or death.

There is a tremendous amount of reptile care information on the World Wide Web, ranging from comprehensive and accurate to dangerously inaccurate. You will need to evaluate the Web site material, as well as the author: that fancy site you found may have been written by a fourteen-year-old who knows more about computer graphics than she does about that iguana she's had for all of two weeks!

Another excellent place to learn about reptiles is through your local herpetological society. Reptile veterinarians, wildlife rescue organizations and animal shelters often know who the savvy "herpers" are in your community. The more you learn about the care of your selected species, the better you'll be able to sift through the available information and find that which is topical and accurate.

Where To Get Reptiles

Never catch a reptile from the wild, and whenever possible, adopt. Many herp societies do reptile rescue and adoptions, as do independent reptile rescuers. While many of the animals available for adoption were turned in sick and injured, the rescues adopt out only healthy and recovered animals, or ones that need special care, to those able to provide that care. Expect to be screened carefully by the folks handling the adoptions, keeping in mind that they have the reptiles' best interests at heart. It is worth waiting a while for the species you are interested in, because over time, most species sold in the pet trade to hobbyists and pet keepers end up in shelters or rescues. Reptile veterinarians and animal shelters may also be sources of animals needing homes, as reptiles are often abandoned at both places, and the people there often hear about reptiles needing placement.

Support responsible captive breeding by buying directly from private breeders. You can find them through local herp society meetings and newsletters, and on the Internet in herp newsgroups and email lists. Some can be found selling their stock at regional herp expos and bazaars. Herp societies can be found on the Internet, as well as through your local wildlife rehabilitation center, humane society or animal shelter, exotics veterinarian, university biology department or the research librarian at your public library.

Caveat emptor applies to buying at expos; as many sellers and show organizers push quantity over quality and frequently sell sick imported animals. If you don't personally know the breeder or vendor, ask around before you buy. Some have been known to sell reptiles they know are sick, such as boas and pythons carrying fatal inclusion body disease. Others try to pass off imports as captive-bred.

Wherever you buy, learn first how to pick out healthy animals and resist impulse buys of species about which you have not done sufficient research. If a store or reseller tells you the animal is captive-bred- as opposed to wild-caught- ask for documentation in the form of sales receipts. Wholesalers and importers do not buy captive-bred animals from domestic breeders. If you aren't familiar with the name, ask the local herp people or Internet herp groups, or check the ads in herp magazines first.

It is your responsibility to make sure that keeping a reptile, or the type of reptile you want, is legal. Many cities and counties do not permit certain species or sizes. This doesn't mean stores can't sell them, so just because you see them for sale doesn't mean it's legal where you live. Go to the source: contact the department of animal regulation to find out what restrictions, if any, exist. If you rent an apartment or live in a dorm, check your lease and housing agreement: being caught with a reptile by your landlord or residential advisor could result in a quick eviction.

Finally, before bringing your new reptile home, be sure that you have already set up an enclosure for it, complete with appropriate substrate, lighting, heating and furnishings. Don't make your reptile wait until you have time to get everything together or can afford to get what he needs.

Keeping Reptiles Healthy and Happy

A frequently overlooked part of proper reptile care is good veterinary care. Very little time is spent in vet school learning about reptiles- and with more than 4,000 species, there is a lot to learn! Reptile veterinarians generally seek additional education, regularly attend reptile vet conferences, read specialist journals and online forums and cultivate a reptilian clientele. As with an enclosure, you should also have a good reptile veterinarian lined up before you bring the animal home. Make an appointment for an examination and fecal test within the Þrst week or so.

Providing thorough reptile care information is outside the scope of this article. What follows is some basic information on common pet species:

Temperate species are easier than tropical or montane species.

Terrestrial and burrowing species are easier than arboreal.

Carnivores are easier than omnivores, and both are easier than herbivores. Dried insects and powdered/pelleted/canned foods are not appropriate for lizards, snakes and tortoises.

Nighttime heating cannot be provided by white light sources.

Ultraviolet B (UVB) wavelengths, required by most omnivore and all herbivore species, do not sufficiently pass through glass or plastic enclosures or window glass.

Some species require overhead radiant heat (RH) sources, as well as under-tank heating (UTH).

Snakes and lizards are tenacious when it comes to escaping. Buy an enclosure with a built-in locking top; boards, books and aftermarket snap/clamp tops are not escape-proof.

The Future of Reptiles as Pets

Like it or not, reptiles are pets. With bargain basement wholesale prices there is no incentive for exporters, importers, wholesalers or pet stores to provide proper care and information. The welfare of reptiles is simply not cost effective.

But rather than ignore them, animal regulatory agencies, humane organizations and the Secretary of Agriculture, who is responsible for the Animal Welfare Act and the exclusion of reptile pets from this act, must begin to accord reptiles (and amphibians) the same protection under the local, state and federal laws granted to avian and mammalian pets. As long as "herps" are not afforded these protections, those individuals and organizations will be fighting an uphill battle to change the public's consciousness and moral response to the often horrendous conditions that these animals encounter in stores, warehouses, expos and homes.

Although no animal is truly easy to care for, few are so hard to find good information on or require as much work as reptiles. But keeping them properly opens the door to a whole new world. If that's what you are looking for in a pet, you won't be disappointed.

Melissa Kaplan is a reptile expert and rescuer who maintains an encyclopedic Web site on their care and other issues related to reptiles at www.anapsid.org.