Husbandry Manual for Fijian Crested Iguana Brachylophus vitiensis Compiled by: Deirdre Reidpath February – August 2006 Ultimo TAFE, Sydney Captive Animal Management Certificate III, 1068 Graeme Phipps & Terry Ly, Lecturers Cover photograph by Deirdre Reidpath (2006) 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................................. 6 2 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 7 3 TAXONOMY ...................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 NOMENCLATURE .......................................................................................................................... 8 3.2 SUBSPECIES .................................................................................................................................. 8 3.3 RECENT SYNONYMS ..................................................................................................................... 8 3.4 OTHER COMMON NAMES ............................................................................................................. 8 4 NATURAL HISTORY ....................................................................................................................... 9 4.1 MORPHOMETRICS ......................................................................................................................... 9 4.1.1 Mass And Basic Body Measurements ..................................................................................... 9 4.1.2 Sexual Dimorphism ................................................................................................................. 9 4.1.3 Distinguishing Features.........................................................................................................10 4.2 DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT ......................................................................................................11 3.3 CONSERVATION STATUS .............................................................................................................12 3.4 DIET IN THE WILD .......................................................................................................................13 3.5 LONGEVITY .................................................................................................................................13 4.5.1 In the Wild .............................................................................................................................13 4.5.2 In Captivity ............................................................................................................................13 4.5.3 Techniques Used to Determine Age in Adults ........................................................................13 5 HOUSING REQUIREMENTS .........................................................................................................14 5.1 EXHIBIT/ENCLOSURE DESIGN .....................................................................................................14 5.2 HOLDING AREA DESIGN ..............................................................................................................14 5.3 SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................15 5.4 POSITION OF ENCLOSURES ..........................................................................................................15 5.5 WEATHER PROTECTION...............................................................................................................15 5.6 TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................15 5.7 SUBSTRATE .................................................................................................................................16 5.8 NESTBOXES AND/OR BEDDING MATERIAL ..................................................................................16 5.9 ENCLOSURE FURNISHINGS ..........................................................................................................16 6 GENERAL HUSBANDRY................................................................................................................18 6.1 HYGIENE AND CLEANING ............................................................................................................18 6.2 RECORD KEEPING .......................................................................................................................18 6.3 METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION ....................................................................................................19 6.4 ROUTINE DATA COLLECTION ......................................................................................................19 7 FEEDING REQUIREMENTS ..........................................................................................................20 7.1 CAPTIVE DIET .............................................................................................................................20 7.2 SUPPLEMENTS .............................................................................................................................20 7.3 PRESENTATION OF FOOD .............................................................................................................20 8 HANDLING AND TRANSPORT ....................................................................................................22 8.1 TIMING OF CAPTURE AND HANDLING .........................................................................................22 8.2 CATCHING BAGS .........................................................................................................................22 8.3 CAPTURE AND RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES .....................................................................................22 8.4 WEIGHING AND EXAMINATION ...................................................................................................22 8.5 RELEASE .....................................................................................................................................22 8.6 TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................22 8.6.1 Box Design .............................................................................................................................22 3 8.6.2 Furnishings ............................................................................................................................23 8.6.3 Water and Food .....................................................................................................................23 8.6.4 Animals per Box.....................................................................................................................23 8.6.5 Timing of Transportation .......................................................................................................23 8.6.6 Release from Box ...................................................................................................................23 9 HEALTH REQUIREMENTS ...........................................................................................................24 9.1 DAILY HEALTH CHECKS .............................................................................................................24 9.2 DETAILED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION ...........................................................................................24 9.2.1 Chemical Restraint ................................................................................................................24 9.2.2 Physical Examination ............................................................................................................24 9.3 ROUTINE TREATMENTS ...............................................................................................................24 9.4 KNOWN HEALTH PROBLEMS .......................................................................................................24 9.5 QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS.....................................................................................................25 10 BEHAVIOUR .....................................................................................................................................26 10.1 ACTIVITY ....................................................................................................................................26 10.2 SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ....................................................................................................................26 10.3 REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR .......................................................................................................26 10.4 BATHING .....................................................................................................................................26 10.5 BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS ..........................................................................................................26 10.6 SIGNS OF STRESS .........................................................................................................................27 10.7 BEHAVIOURAL ENRICHMENT ......................................................................................................27 10.8 INTRODUCTIONS AND REMOVALS ...............................................................................................27