Reptilian Medicine and Surgery

- introduction
univ. prof. Zdenek Knotek, DVM, PhD.
Avian and !otic Ani"al #linic
$aculty of Veterinary Medicine %rno
#&ech Repu'lic knotek&(vfu.c&

Reptile) in captivity
Su'cla)) Chelonia Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Dermatemydae, Chelydridae,
Kinosternidae,Platysternidae, Emydidae,
Testudinidae, Cheloniidae, Dermochelydidae,
Trionychidae,
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Pelomedusidae, Chelidae

Reptile) in captivity
Su'cla)) Archosauria
Order: Crocodylia
Family: Alligatoridae, Crocodylidae, Gavialidae
Su'cla)) Lepidosauria
Order: Rhynchocephalia
Family: Sphenodontidae

Reptile) in captivity
Su'cla)) Lepidosauria
Order: Squamata Suborder: Sauria
Family: Gekkonidae, Cordylidae, Lacertidae,
guanidae, Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae, Teiidae,
!elodermatidae,
"aranidae,
Suborder: Ophidia
Family: #oidae,Colu$ridae, Elapidae, "iperidae,
Crotalidae

*urtle), tortoi)e), terrapin)
Testudo hermanni
Testudo graeca
Testudo marginata
Trachemys scripta elegans
Chelydra serpentina

Testudo hermanni Testudo graeca Testudo marginata
SCL: 20 - 30 - 40 cm
Type of terarium: dry, flat bi! e"ou!# for $al%i"!&
'"ter"al co"(tructio": $ater, refu!e, (ub(trat material
)ir temperature: 20 * 2+ 40& ,C #ibera"tio" - - .0 ,C&
Li!#ti"!: #eati"! lamp, biolo!ical /0 1&
2utritio": #ay, lea3e(, fruit(, 3e!etable(
)"imal protei"( 4 $orm(, c#ee(e, e!!(, i"t5 or!a"(&

Testudo hermanni Testudo graeca Testudo marginata
1reedi"!: i"ter"al fertili6atio"
3 - .0 e!!(
i"cubatio" 27 - 3. ,C& i"flue"ce (e8999
:0 * .00 day(
Se8ual maturity: 4 - + year(
depe"d( o" body $ei!#t&

Trachemys scripta elegans
SCL: 20 - 30 cm
Type of terarium :
a;uaterarium, a;uarium filtratio" 999&
'"ter"al co"(tructio" : $ater 3<-&, la"d . - <-&
Temperature: $ater 2- * 2+ ,C
#iber"atio" .0 - .- ,C&
Li!#ti"!: day-li!#t, #eati"! lamp 40 ,C&,
biol5 /01&

Trachemys scripta elegans
2utritio": lea3e(, $ater pla"t(, 3e!etable(
)"imal protei"(: $orm(, fi(# (alt$ater999&,
(mall mammal(
1reedi"!: copulatio" i" $ater 999&
2 - .0 e!!(
i"cubatio" 2+ - 30 ,C& * (e8 9999
:0 * =0 day(
Se8ual maturity: 4 - : year(
depe"d( o" body $ei!#t&

#rocodile)
Su'cla)) Archosauria
Order: Crocodylia
family: Alligatoridae
Caiman crocodylus
Melanosuchus niger
Paleosuchus palpebrosus
Paleosuchus trigonatus

Caiman crocodylus Melanosuchus niger
Paleosuchus palpebrosus Paleosuchus trigonatus
SCL: .7- cm - 2 m
1>: 20 * 3- %!
Type of terarium : a;uaterarium, a;uarium filtratio" 999&
'"ter"al co"(tructio" : $ater 3 - 4<-&, la"d .<-&
Temperature: $ater 2+ * 3- ,C .: ,C&
Li!#ti"!: #eati"! lamp 40 ,C&, biol5 /01&
2utritio" - you"!: i"(ect(, $orm(, fi(#, (mall mammal(
2utritio" - adult: fi(#, (mall mammal(, (mall bird(

Caiman crocodylus Melanosuchus niger
Paleosuchus palpebrosus Paleosuchus trigonatus
1reedi"!: copulatio" i" $ater 999&
.0 - 30 40& e!!(
.0 $ee%( after mati"!
i"cubatio" 2= - 3. ,C&
temperature (e8 differ 9
+0 * ..0 day(
Se8ual maturity: 4 - 7 year(
depe"d( o" body $ei!#t&


+i&ard)
Su'cla)) Lepidosauria
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Sauria
Family: Gekkonidae, guanidae, Chamaeleonidae,
"aranidae

Gekko gecko
guana iguana
Chamaeleo calyptratus
!aranus e"anthematicus

Gekko gecko
SCL: 20 * 30 cm
Type of terarium: dry
'"ter"a co"(tructio": bra"c#e(, $all(
)ir temperature: 20 * 32 ,C .: ,C&
Li!#ti"!: li!#t, #eati"! lamp 40 ,C&, biol5 /01&
2utritio" - you"!: i"(ect(, $orm(
2utritio" - adult: i"(ect(, $orm(, (mall mammal(

Gekko gecko
1reedi"!: 2 e!!( - 30 day( after mati"!
i"cubatio" 2- - 30 ,C& temperature (e8 differ
.00 * .20 day(
Se8ual maturity: .- 2 year(

Chamaeleo calyptratus
SCL: -0 cm
Type of terarium : dry, cube
'"ter"al co"(tructio": bra"c#e(
)ir temperature: 20 * 30 ,C
Li!#ti"!: li!#t, #eati"! lamp 40 ,C&, /01&
2utritio"- you"!: i"(ect(, $orm(, fruit(
2utritio"-adult: i"(ect(, (mall mammal(
?la"t( @ fruit(: lea3e(, letucce, da"delio", !rape(

Chamaeleo calyptratus
1reedi"!: .- - 30 40& e!!(
.0 $ee%( after mati"!
i"cubatio" 27 - 3. ,C&
.:: * 200 day(
Se8ual maturity: 2 * 3 year( .,-999&
Life: male( - - 7 year(
female( 2 - 3 year( 999

guana iguana
STL: .7- cm - 2 m
1>: 3 - 7 %!
Type of terarium:
bi! 3ertical& @ ca!e i" !arde" (ummer&
'"ter"al co"(tructio": bra"c#e(, ba(i" .<3& , refu!e
)ir temperature: 2- * 3- ,C
Li!#ti"!: li!#t, #eati"! lamp 40 ,C&, /0 1&
"atural (u"li!#t

guana iguana
2utritio" - you"!: i"3ertebrate( $orm(, i"(ect(,
pla"t(, flo$er(&
2utritio" - adult(: lea3e(, #ay, 3e!etable(,
fruit(, i"(ect(
1reedi"!: 20 - -0 :0& e!!(
+ $ee%( after mati"!
i"cubatio" 27 - 3. ,C&
7- * ..3 day(
Se8ual maturity: 4 - : year(

Python molurus bi#ittatus
SCL: 4 - : m
1>: 2- - -0 %!
Type of terarium: bi!, (tro"! co"(tructio"
'"ter"al co"(tructio": bra"c#e( bi!, (tro"!&,
$ater .<3&
)ir temperature: 2- * 3- ,C
before mati"! .+ - 20 ,C&
)ir #umidity: :0 - +0 A 4444
Li!#ti"!: li!#t, #eati"! lamp 40 ,C&,
biolo!ical /0 1&

Python molurus bi#ittatus
2utritio"-you"!: (mall mammal(
"utritio"-adult: (mall mammal(, rabbit(,
bird(
1reedi"!: .2 * 3+ e!!(
+ $e%%( after mati"!
i"cubatio" 2= - 32 ,C&
-- * 72 day(
Se8ual maturity: 3 - 4 year(

$laphe guttata
SCL: .30 * .:0 cm
1>: . - 2 %!
Type of terarium: dry, (pace 444
'"ter"al co"(tructio": bra"c#e(, (#el3e(,
$ater .<-&
)ir temperature: 20 * 32 ,C
#ibera"tio" - * .- ,C &
Li!#ti"!: li!#t, #eati"! lamp 40 ,C&, biol5 /01&

$laphe guttata
2utritio"-you"!: (mall mammal(
2utritio"-adult: (mall mammal(, bird(
1reedi"!: + - 30 e!!(
:0 * .00 day( after mati"!
i"cubatio" 2- - 2= ,C&
-- * =0 day(
Se8ual maturity: 2 year(

Type( of teraria

Clinical examination
Physical examination crocodilians
juveniles manual restraint, gloves
adult crocodiles - small instrument
adult crocodiles - big sedation, anesthesia

Clinical examination
Examination of the oral cavity lizards
Examination has to be safe
for the patient
for the clinician
for the assistant
Open the mouth for examination
2-handed grip upper ja! and de!lap"

Clinical examination
Examination of the oral cavity lizards
#ontrol the !hole animal
$% #ontrol the head externaly
&% #ontrol the oral cavity indirectly
'% (o not use any sharp)hard instruments
*% +e prepared for the lizard,s response

Clinical examination
Physical examination lizards
iguanas
agamid lizards
chamaeleons
gec-os
s-in-s

Clinical examination
Examination of the oral cavity sna-es
2% #ontrol the !hole animal
$% #ontrol the head externaly
$% Open the mouth for examination
strong but safe instrument
(o not open the mouth opent the
instument.