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Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua Rugosa

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Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua Rugosa Husbandry Manual for The Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua rugosa GRAY, 1825 Reptilia:Scincidae Compiler: Andrew Titmuss Date of Preparation: 2007 University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury © Andrew Titmuss 2007 1 A Husbandry Manual template has been developed to standardise information on captive management needs in a concise, accessible and usable form. Currently there is no Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard. As these lizards are commonly kept in zoological and private collections in Australia and internationally, a Husbandry Manual could be widely used. This Husbandry Manual is set out as per the husbandry manual template designed by Stephen Jackson and Graeme Phipps. The template is a document that was created to maintain husbandry manual uniformity and thus its effectiveness and ease of use. It is intended as a working document. It is designed to be used by any institution, as well as private collections, holding this species. Although these lizards are easy to keep in captivity they do have some special requirements. The aim of the Husbandry Manual is to summarise and consolidate information regarding OHS, natural history, captive management and ethical husbandry techniques and conservation from a variety of sources. It should provide information on appropriate husbandry with scope for improved health and welfare and captive breeding if required. The University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury Campus, is planning on keeping Shingleback Lizards amongst other species in their reptile unit. This manual can be used by the University of Western Sydney staff and students in this facility. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................11 2 TAXONOMY .....................................................................................................................................15 2.1 NOMENCLATURE .........................................................................................................................18 2.2 SUBSPECIES .................................................................................................................................18 2.3 RECENT SYNONYMS ....................................................................................................................28 2.4 OTHER COMMON NAMES ............................................................................................................28 3 NATURAL HISTORY ......................................................................................................................29 3.1 MORPHOMETRICS ........................................................................................................................30 3.1.1 Mass And Basic Body Measurements ....................................................................................30 3.1.2 Sexual Dimorphism ................................................................................................................30 3.1.3 Distinguishing Features.........................................................................................................32 3.2 DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT ......................................................................................................34 3.3 CONSERVATION STATUS .............................................................................................................37 3.4 DIET IN THE WILD .......................................................................................................................38 3.5 LONGEVITY .................................................................................................................................38 3.5.1 In the Wild .............................................................................................................................38 3.5.2 In Captivity ............................................................................................................................39 3.5.3 Techniques Used to Determine Age in Adults ........................................................................39 4 HOUSING REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................................40 4.1 EXHIBIT/ENCLOSURE DESIGN .....................................................................................................42 4.2 HOLDING AREA DESIGN ..............................................................................................................45 4.3 SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................46 4.4 POSITION OF ENCLOSURES ..........................................................................................................46 4.5 WEATHER PROTECTION...............................................................................................................46 4.6 TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................46 4.7 SUBSTRATE .................................................................................................................................47 4.8 NESTBOXES AND/OR BEDDING MATERIAL ..................................................................................47 4.9 ENCLOSURE FURNISHINGS ..........................................................................................................47 5 GENERAL HUSBANDRY................................................................................................................48 5.1 HYGIENE AND CLEANING ............................................................................................................48 5.2 RECORD KEEPING .......................................................................................................................50 5.3 METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION ....................................................................................................50 5.4 ROUTINE DATA COLLECTION ......................................................................................................50 6 FEEDING REQUIREMENTS ..........................................................................................................51 6.1 CAPTIVE DIET .............................................................................................................................51 6.2 SUPPLEMENTS .............................................................................................................................55 6.3 PRESENTATION OF FOOD .............................................................................................................55 7 HANDLING AND TRANSPORT ....................................................................................................58 7.1 TIMING OF CAPTURE AND HANDLING .........................................................................................58 7.2 CATCHING BAGS .........................................................................................................................58 7.3 CAPTURE AND RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES .....................................................................................58 7.4 WEIGHING AND EXAMINATION ...................................................................................................60 7.5 RELEASE .....................................................................................................................................60 7.6 TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................60 7.6.1 Box Design .............................................................................................................................60 7.6.2 Furnishings ............................................................................................................................63 3 7.6.3 Water and Food .....................................................................................................................63 7.6.4 Animals per Box.....................................................................................................................63 7.6.5 Timing of Transportation .......................................................................................................65 7.6.6 Release from Box ...................................................................................................................65 8 HEALTH REQUIREMENTS ...........................................................................................................66 8.1 DAILY HEALTH CHECKS .............................................................................................................66 8.2 DETAILED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION ...........................................................................................67 8.2.1 Chemical Restraint ................................................................................................................67 8.2.2 Physical Examination ............................................................................................................67 8.3 ROUTINE TREATMENTS ...............................................................................................................75 8.4 KNOWN HEALTH PROBLEMS .......................................................................................................79 8.5 QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS.....................................................................................................82 9 BEHAVIOUR .....................................................................................................................................83
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