Tag Archives: reptiles

The Pets Blog Week in Review for November 19-25

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving weekend? In case you were busy shopping till you dropped at the after Thanksgiving Day sales, stuffing yourself on turkey leftovers, or in general enjoying time with your family and didn’t have time to stay up on the Pets Blog, here’s a recap of what Aimee and I wrote on: Monday, November 19 Murphy’s Fan Club He’s no TV or movie star, but that dog of mine has developed a fan club nonetheless. Green Anole This is one pet Murphy would like to have! Aimee detailed why this type of lizard makes a good … Continue reading →

Symptoms of Metabolic Bone Disease in Reptiles

Metabolic bone disease is an unfortunately common disease in reptiles. Though it is most often seen in iguanas, it can arise in any pet reptile. The disease is most often caused by poor care and diet, and can be easily corrected in the early stages. The symptoms of metabolic bone disease can vary depending on the severity of the case and the length of time over which the disease developed. Most of the symptoms are related to bone and muscle effects, as calcium is key for bone formation and muscle function. You may see a reptile with metabolic bone disease … Continue reading →

Metabolic Bone Disease in Reptiles

Metabolic bone disease is a common but preventable disease seen in pet reptiles. There is no one cause for this disease — the primary problem is a disruption of calcium metabolism that leads to many related problems. Most often, metabolic bone disease is caused by poor diet and care. Iguanas are very susceptible to metabolic bone disease thanks to their specific light, diet, and environmental needs, but the disease can appear in any reptile. Without getting too technical, metabolic bone disease results from an improper ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the body. In a normal, healthy reptile, the ratio … Continue reading →

Vitamin A Deficiency in Reptiles

A vitamin A deficiency can be a serious illness for reptiles. In severe cases, a vitamin A deficiency can be fatal. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that is essential to the functioning of the skin, mucous membranes, muscles, immune system, reproductive systems, eyes, and more! A reptile with a vitamin A deficiency may demonstrate symptoms like: Swelling around the eyes and mouth, especially the eyelids. The swelling may be so pronounced that the reptile cannot open its eyes! Nasal discharge. Inflammation of the lining of the mouth, known as stomatitis. Weakness. Loss of appetite and weight loss. Decreased … Continue reading →

Green Anole

If you are looking for a beginner lizard, take a good look at the green anole. This brightly colored lizard is easy to feed and care for. The green anole is a member of the iguana family, and shares some common features with the green iguana. And I’m not just talking about color! Green anoles reach approximately eight inches in length when full grown. They are generally a bright green color, but may be darker or brownish depending on mood and surroundings. Females are generally smaller than males, reaching approximately five inches in length when fully grown. Males have a … Continue reading →

Reptile Awareness: Did You Know…?

Special note: gator photo by Elvis Santana For starters, did you know that today is Reptile Awareness Day? Did you know there even was such a day? (I only recently learned about it myself.) I admit I don’t know much about reptiles. I’ve never had one as a pet. About all I know is that frogs, snakes, lizards, turtles, gators and crocs are all part of the reptilian family and are cold-blooded. (And that Murph takes delight in chasing lizards and frogs whenever possible.) Well, since I don’t know much I had to do some research. Here’s some things I … Continue reading →

Iguana Care: Light, Heat, and More

In the wild, reptiles tend to spend a lot of time basking in the sun. Iguanas (and other reptiles) are cold-blooded or ectothermic, meaning they depend on an outside source of heat to regulate body temperature. Why is light important? Sunlight and/or UV lights allow your iguana’s body to create vitamin D — just like sunlight helps a human body produce vitamin D. Natural sun exposure and a basking light will help ensure good health for your green iguana. Not enough D puts your green iguana at higher risk for certain types of metabolic bone disease. Natural sunlight is great, … Continue reading →

A Look At Iguana Health Issues

Like any pet, your iguana should see a veterinarian at least once a year for a general check-up and any vaccinations he may need. Try to choose a veterinarian that specializes in reptile care so your iguana is seen by an expert. Many health issues that require a vet visit are caused by two things: poor care and poor feeding. If your green iguana isn’t being fed the right foods, he’s going to get sick. If his tank doesn’t provide the right light and heat, he’s going to get sick. Make sure your iguana is well cared for at home … Continue reading →

Green Iguana Feeding Tips

Many problems that could send your iguana to the veterinarian are caused by poor nutrition. Giving your green iguana the right diet is important to keeping him healthy and happy. First and foremost, green iguanas are herbivores. That means they eat ONLY plant material. Don’t try to feed them insects or small animals like mice. Your iguana will get all the protein he needs from plants; the bulk of the diet is plant fiber and is very low in fat. Experts suggest feeding your iguana mainly fresh vegetables, with no more than a quarter of the diet made up of … Continue reading →

Different Kinds of Box Turtles

There are several different species of box turtle available in the pet trade. Four species come from North America: the eastern box turtle, the three-toed box turtle, the Gulf Coast box turtle, and the ornate box turtle. Chinese box turtles and Malayan box turtles are imported for the U.S. turtle trade. American Box Turtles American box turtles are partially aquatic — they spend most of their time on dry land within range of shallow, fresh water. All four of the American box turtle species are usually wild-caught. Box turtles are relatively easy to find throughout the eastern, central, and southwestern … Continue reading →