Black-tailed Prairie Dog

Cynomys ludovicianus Order: Rodentia Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Diet Requirements Veterinary Concerns Notes on Enrichment & Training Prairie dogs, like all rodents, are chewers. Their almost constant chewing is what keeps their incisor teeth from growing too long. Lots of chewable enrichment items such as paper (phone books are great!), cardboard, wood, and hay should…

Kangaroo, Red

Macropus rufus Order: Diprodontia Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Open space without too many obstacles. Shelter from rain. They really like lying on heat pads in cold weather. Diet Requirements Hay, herbivore pellets, fresh produce such as lettuce, yams, apples. Veterinary Concerns Kangaroos in captivity are prone to tooth and mouth problems, often called lumpy jaw disease….

Ball Python

Python regius Order: Squamata Husbandry Information Housing Requirements While ball pythons can be kept in relatively small enclosures (3″l X 2″w X 2″h is sufficient for most) they need to be provided a temperature gradient and sufficient humidity to assist with shedding. They also need a water bowl large enough to submerge in but shallow enough…

African Pancake Tortoise

Malacochersus tornieri Order: Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Pancake tortoises can be housed indoors or outdoors. An indoor enclosure can be a 40-gallon terrarium or larger. Enclosure size needs to be at least 4 square feet for up to two tortoises. Add 2 square feet for every additional tortoise. Temperature, Humidity, & Lighting: Temperature: Basking 100 F; cooler…

Leopard Tortoise

Geochelone pardalis Order: Testudines Husbandry Information Housing Requirements A pair of leopard tortoises can be kept in a 10 foot by 10 foot pen. The walls should be at least 18 inches high and may be made of wood, block or other material that prevents the tortoise from seeing through the wall. Enclosure should have a…

Bullsnake

Pituophis catenifer sayi Order: Squamata Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Temperature, Humidity, & Lighting: Temperature: Humidity: Lighting: Substrate: Diet Requirements In the wild, bullsnakes eat rodents, other small mammals, birds, eggs, and frogs. In captivity, they are fed rodents. Veterinary Concerns Notes on Enrichment & Training Check out the Reptelligence Facebook page and Reptelligence website for enrichment and training inspiration. Advancing…

African Bullfrog

Pyxicephalus adspersus Order: Anura Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Diet Requirements In the wild, African bullfrogs will eat anything that fits into its mouth, including insects, rodents, reptiles, birds, and amphibians. In captivity, they are fed crickets and nightcrawlers. Veterinary Concerns Notes on Enrichment & Training Other Colony or Breeding Management Notes species is housed or…

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis Order: Carnivora Husbandry Information Housing Requirements It is important to have some sort of dig box and hide box. Many skunks can be litter box trained. Cincinnati Zoo: keeps their skunks outside year-round. They have a heated water bowl and heat shield for the winter, and misters, frozen granite blocks and fans in the…

Desert Tortoise

Gopherus agassizii Order: Testudines Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Temperature, Humidity, & Lighting: Temperature: Humidity: Lighting: Substrate: Diet Requirements Veterinary Concerns Zoo America: Upper respiratory infections tend to be a problem. Notes on Enrichment & Training Check out the Reptelligence Facebook page and Reptelligence website for enrichment and training inspiration. Advancing Herpetological Husbandry July 2018 Quarterly Newsletter- Article Environmental Enrichment for Reptiles By…

American Badger

Taxidea taxus Order: Carnivora   Husbandry Information Housing Requirements An enclosure with an impermeable floor, preferable with couple of feet of dirt on top, is important because badgers love to dig and burrow. Diet Requirements Veterinary Concerns Badgers can be susceptible to H1N1 influenza. Notes on Enrichment & Training Badgers should be trained from a…