Are you really ready to raise a dragon in the Year of the Dragon?

Dragons are animals from mythology, and it is probably impossible to raise them in reality, but it is still possible to find a substitute for a dragon. For example, the bearded dragon , also known as the "bearded dragon", not only has the word "dragon" in its name, but also belongs to the same reptile family as possible prototypes of dragons (such as crocodiles and monitor lizards). As one of the most popular exotic pets, how can the bearded dragon not be considered a dragon that can be raised in reality?

Bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is also a dragon | Photo provided by the author

Pets other than cats and dogs are usually collectively referred to as exotic pets. In recent years, reptiles including lizards, turtles, and snakes have become increasingly popular in the pet market, not just bearded dragons. It is not difficult to keep them alive, but it is not easy to keep them well.

Is the "dragon" you raise legal?

In addition to bearded dragons, common reptiles include leopard geckos, corn snakes, red-eared sliders, tortoises (Chinese soft-shelled turtles), and spotted turtles. However, being able to buy them on the market does not mean that they can be legally kept. It depends on whether the species is on the " National Key Protected Wildlife List " and the " Convention on International Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora " (CITES).

The veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) is listed in Appendix II of CITES. It is not allowed to be bought, sold or kept without a license. | Norbert Sdunzik / Wikimedia Commons

For example, the Burmese tortoise, concave-shelled tortoise and four-clawed tortoise are all first-class national protected animals, the red-tailed tube snake, red sand boa, long iguana and python are second-class national protected animals, and the veiled chameleon, red-tailed boa constrictor and ball python are listed in Appendix II of CITES and are approved as second-class protected animals. According to regulations, it is prohibited to sell, buy or keep these protected animals without the corresponding license .

The wild populations of grass turtles and flower turtles are national second-class protected animals. Before raising them, in addition to obtaining a license, you must also confirm whether the source of the turtles is legal . It is best to do your homework before raising them. If the law prohibits raising them, don't raise them. If you need to apply for a license, go through the procedures before raising them. If you raise them illegally on a whim, it will not be worth it.

The wild population of the Chinese tortoise (Mauremys reevesii, also known as the Chinese grass tortoise or grass tortoise) is a national second-class protected animal｜Σ64 / Wikimedia Commons

In addition, although red-eared sliders (also known as Brazilian sliders) can be kept, they are invasive alien species. In order not to damage the local ecological environment, they must not be released at will. However, whether they are alien species or not, if you choose to keep them as pets, you must be responsible for them and not abandon them at will .

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is an introduced species. Releasing it into the wild will damage the native ecological environment.｜Materialscientist / Wikimedia Common

How can we raise a dragon well?

When you bring a pet home, you should not only feed it, but also try to keep it well. Generally speaking, reptiles have a very slow metabolism, only about 1/6 of that of mammals. They are cold-blooded animals and are very dependent on their living environment . Many diseases are also caused by poor breeding environment and poor nutritional intake.

The most important thing to keep a reptile well is to simulate its living environment in the wild as much as possible , which includes controlling multiple factors such as temperature, light, humidity, breeding container and bedding, diet, etc. In addition, enriching the environment, encouraging foraging and natural behavior, and reducing life stress also have a positive impact on the health of small animals.

temperature

As cold-blooded animals, reptiles not only have a large body temperature change, but also cannot regulate their body temperature by themselves, and must rely on the temperature of the external environment. In order to meet their own metabolic needs, reptiles have their own favorite temperature zones .

Different species have different suitable zones, but they generally include cool zones (20-25°C), hot zones (35-40°C) and sun zones. The owner can use different heat materials (such as heating lamps, heating plates, water heaters, hot stones, etc.) to reasonably create a temperature gradient according to the size of the container.

Creating temperature gradients using different materials | References

Sun exposure (including UVB rays)

In addition to temperature, light is also very important for the health of reptiles. The best situation is to mimic the species' wild environment and provide 10-14 hours of light per day , depending on the season and the latitude of life.

UVB rays in light are very important for calcium metabolism in reptiles. Without sufficient UVB rays and heat, small animals may not be able to complete effective vitamin D3 synthesis and calcium metabolism, and eventually suffer from metabolic bone disease.

humidity

Different species have different requirements for humidity - animals from tropical rainforests prefer high humidity environments, while animals from desert areas prefer low humidity environments. However, even for animals from low humidity areas, the lower the humidity, the better. They also need some local microenvironments with higher humidity for drinking water and molting .

There are many ways to increase the humidity of the environment, such as spraying water mist into the environment, or creating a local humid micro-environment by wetting the bedding or moss. In addition, using a humidity monitor can help us better control the humidity of the environment.

Litter

The choice of bedding also depends on the reptile's native environment. Low-absorbent mineral bedding is generally recommended for desert species, while more moisturizing soil, wood, or plant bedding may be used for tropical species.

Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) living in desert areas can use mineral bedding that does not absorb much water. Cherrybomb / Wikimedia Commons

The litter should be kept clean to prevent bacterial growth. Do not feed on the litter when feeding to prevent reptiles from accidentally eating the litter and causing intestinal blockage.

diet

Among common reptiles, snakes are carnivores, geckos/house geckos, chameleons, and young bearded dragons are insectivores, adult bearded dragons and tortoises are herbivores, and red-eared sliders are omnivores. Only by feeding them according to their diet can we ensure their nutritional intake and health.

Their gastrointestinal systems also vary according to their diets - herbivorous reptiles have longer gastrointestinal tracts to better utilize the nutrients in their food; carnivores have shorter intestinal systems. Most unprocessed insects and vegetables have a problem of low calcium and high phosphorus. Long-term intake can easily lead to nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can be solved by feeding insects high calcium supplements.

Bearded dragons are insectivorous when young, but should switch to being herbivorous when they grow up, otherwise they may become too fat｜Pixabay

Incidentally, reptiles also have a cloaca like birds, and excretion, urination, and reproduction are all combined in this one mouth. Unlike the urinary system of mammals, the urine of reptiles is not concentrated, and some reptiles, such as snakes, do not have a bladder.

All things are susceptible to diseases, and dragons are no exception

Many non-infectious diseases of reptiles are caused by poor breeding environment and nutrition. These diseases can be prevented or improved by optimizing the environment and nutrition. Of course, if reptiles show abnormalities, they must be taken to a professional exotic pet doctor for treatment .

Vitamin A deficiency

Carnivores and insectivores cannot convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, so vitamin A deficiency may occur. The most common clinical manifestation is eyelid edema, and other symptoms may include enlarged tear glands and periocular glands. Treatment can be achieved by supplementing the diet with vitamin A or by a one-time injection of vitamin A, but it is important to be careful about excess vitamin A to prevent hypervitaminosis A.

Vitamin A Deficiency in Turtles | davidlwilliams.org.uk

Metabolic bone disease

If there is a lack of adequate UVB exposure, an improper calcium-phosphorus ratio in the diet, or calcium deficiency, reptiles may suffer from metabolic bone disease , the main manifestations of which include skeletal deformities, osteomalacia, pathological fractures, developmental delay, neurological symptoms, or muscle weakness.

After the cause is identified, the condition can be improved by increasing UVB exposure and supplementing calcium in the diet. If the condition of turtles is particularly serious and the blood calcium is very low, calcium injections can also be used to quickly relieve neurological symptoms such as convulsions. If it is metabolic bone disease caused by renal secondary hyperparathyroidism, they also need to be provided with a high humidity environment and increase their water intake.

Fatty liver

Fatty liver disease is common in reptiles, especially bearded dragons. Fatty liver disease is caused by excessive accumulation of triglycerides in the liver, most likely due to improper diet. Female reptiles are also more susceptible to fatty liver disease because estrogen can cause the liver to produce fat.

Bro, you should lose some weight | https://reptilestime.com/

Fatty liver can be diagnosed through color Doppler ultrasound, CT scan, liver biopsy, etc. The treatment method is mainly to improve diet (feed low-fat insects, eat more vegetables), and in severe cases, lipid-lowering drugs can also be taken. As a high-risk group for fatty liver disease, bearded dragons should be raised as herbivores after adulthood to reduce the intake of high-fat insects to avoid excessive obesity, which is detrimental to health.

Peeling Disorders

Most reptiles need to shed their skin regularly . Lizards and turtles shed their skin piece by piece, while snakes shed their skin in one piece. For snakes, the scales on their eyes (the transparent keratin covering the eyeball) also need to be shed, and the eyes are mostly blue during this process.

Slide to see the snake's eye scales｜thetyedyediguana.com

The main causes of peeling disorder are inappropriate environmental humidity and lack of stones in the environment that can rub the body to help peeling. In addition, neurological diseases, skin diseases or trauma may also cause peeling disorder.

When reptiles have trouble shedding, try giving them a warm bath. When lizards shed their skin, they may develop constriction bands around their toes and tails, which can cause poor blood circulation, and can be gently peeled off with small clips and lubricant.

Poisoning

Reptile poisoning is mostly caused by improper breeding environment, improper diet and improper medication, such as excessive supplementation of vitamins A and D, excessive heavy metals in the breeding environment, excessive use of antifungal drugs, intramuscular injection of drugs that should be taken orally, etc. Ivermectin, a commonly used anthelmintic for cats and dogs, is toxic to all turtles, some chameleons and some snakes. When purchasing anthelmintics, be sure to confirm the applicable species.

Mauremys sinensis, no matter what kind of turtle it is, you cannot use ivermectin｜Holly Cheng / Wikimedia Commons

Infectious Diseases

In addition to non-infectious diseases, reptiles can also suffer from infectious diseases due to bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. For example, inclusion body disease is caused by arenavirus and spread among snakes.

In addition, there is the most familiar Salmonella. If infected by it, you may experience abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms. In severe cases, it may also lead to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. Many reptiles are asymptomatic carriers of Salmonella and may infect humans. Therefore, from the perspective of personal health, you must wash your hands well after playing with reptiles (especially the elderly, children and other people with low immunity).

It is not difficult to keep reptiles alive, but it is not easy to keep reptiles well! If you want to bring these "little dragons" home, I hope everyone can do their homework first, make sure you have the ability to provide them with a good living environment, and accompany them through a wonderful childhood, youth, middle age and old age.

References

Amphibian & Reptile Medicine by Drs. Hugues Beaufrère and Chris Dutton, 2020-2021

Author: Hazel Heart Animal Doctor

Editor: Mai Mai