Author: BackwaterReptiles

Do Pet Snakes Require UV Lighting?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Do pet snakes kept in captivity require UV lighting in order to be healthy?

It’s been debated in recent times whether or not snakes should be given full-spectrum UV lighting. It’s been widely accepted for a long time that most species do not require lighting, however research suggests there might be other benefits to using UV lights. At least at the moment, there’s no right or wrong answer and owners should make their own choice.

At Backwater Reptiles, for most species we typically don’t provide UV lights. The video below details our snake rack system (which is also used by many snake breeders), and as you can see, we don’t include lights, but we do have an efficient heat source.

Why do some feel snakes don’t require UV lighting?

The commonly accepted method to raising and keeping snakes in captivity typically does not require providing UV lighting. Most breeders do not usually use UV lights and if you visit a pet store, their snakes are usually also not provided with UV lights.

The reason many reptile species require UV lights in captivity is because they need it to help their bodies process and synthesize vitamin D3. This is important because it allows them to maintain healthy calcium levels throughout their bodies and avoid issues such as metabolic bone disease.

It has long been accepted that snakes don’t require lighting, or supplements for that matter, because they get all the nutrients they need from their food. Unlike most pet reptiles and amphibians that eat insects, snakes consume other mammals who possess adequate calcium and mineral supplies of their own which are then passed along to the snake.

Certain breeders assert that there are more benefits to UV lighting than just avoiding metabolic bone disease. It has been suggested by some that UV rays also support a healthy immune system, color vision and healthy skin and scales.

Because there is a lot of information out there and not all of it is accurate, our recommendation is to ask your veterinarian or herpetologist. Some species will thrive without UV lighting, while others might do better with a bit of assistance. Where you live and your home’s ambient temperatures could also play into the decision.

anaconda hognose snake
Some snake species such as this Anaconda Hognose Snake are burrowers and do not require a UV light set up.

What is the difference between heat lamps and UV lights?

Depending on what species of snake you own, you might need to provide UV lighting, heat lamps or both. It’s important therefore to understand the difference between these items as they are not one and the same.

Heat lamps might look very similar to a UV light depending upon the model you purchase, but they are made for one very specific purpose – raising the temperature in your pet’s enclosure. Because heat rocks are unsafe sources of heat and heat mats are often not enough heat for a single enclosure, most herp owners, including snake owners, opt for a heat lamp that sits atop the cage. These are especially useful if your home’s normal room temperature is lower than the comfort level of your reptile.

Often times, your herp’s set up will include a full spectrum UV light as well. These lights can generate a little warmth, just like any lightbulb, but that is not their main function. Instead, UV lights are meant to mimic the rays of the sun that a snake or any other reptile would normally absorb while outdoors. UV lights are available in specific types such as UVB or you can opt for full-spectrum lights which replicate the sun’s rays as closely as possible indoors.

ball python uv lights
Ball Pythons are another snake species commonly kept as pets that do not require UV lighting.

Again, please keep in mind that what lights and lamps you choose for your pet’s setup will vary. A lot of factors come into play when choosing the appropriate lighting including the species the light is for, the temperature in your home, the humidity levels you need to maintain, and whether or not you have other sources of heat.

What lighting does my pet snake need?

Many of the most commonly kept species of pet snake actually don’t require UV lighting including: ball pythons, corn snakes, king snakes, and hognose snakes. However, it will not harm your snake if you choose to provide a UV light. In fact, it might just make their scales shinier and give them an immune system boost.

Our advice is to do what feels best to you as a reptile owner. Consult with your veterinarian or resident herpetologist if you have serious concerns about your pet’s health due to lighting. Research and apply what you learn to your specific situation.

We’d also advise paying close attention to how your snake responds to a UV light or the lack thereof. For instance, if you happen acquire an older snake that is accustomed to having UV lighting in its previous home, it might be best to continue that trend. What’s most important in the long run is of course your snake’s health, so you’d want to make sure you’re not unintentionally doing something that will affect it adversely.

red tail boa uv lights
Friendly Red Tail Boas such as the ones pictured are another species that are typically kept in captivity without UV lighting.

Conclusion

Typically, in most situations and with most species of snake, UV lighting is not a necessity. This is not true of all snakes however, so we advise doing your research and being knowledgable about the species you decide to purchase.

If you have specific lighting or set up questions about any given species of snake, we always welcome questions. Simply email our customer service team at sales@backwaterreptiles.com and they’ll reply in a speedy manner.

The Best Calcium Powder For Reptiles (Results revealed)

~ BackwaterReptiles

Over the last three decades, we’ve used every reptile calcium powder on the market, with really mixed results. Since this is a question we’re asked frequently, we wanted to write a definitive blog article on which supplement performs the best with our reptiles.

Side note: When we say “reptiles” in this article, it also encompasses amphibians.

Let’s start by explaining why using the right calcium powder is so important, and why some powders are better than others.

Calcium is a mineral that’s vitally important for reptiles and amphibians of all ages, but it’s most important for babies and juveniles that are still growing because their bones are increasing in size and density at a faster rate than adults.

Fun fact: Reptiles never stop growing–the rate of growth just slows considerably once they reach adulthood.

Sure, calcium is required for strong bones, we all know that. But, it also helps the heart, nervous system, and muscles perform correctly. It’s of extraordinary importance.

Vitamin D3 Supplementation

Before we get into  more detail on calcium, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Vitamin D3 and it’s role in a reptile’s body. You’ve probably heard of it, but what exactly does it do? Don’t worry, it’s not complicated.

Vitamin D3 helps your reptile absorb the vitamins and minerals it consumes–it effectively “pushes” these vitamins and minerals throughout the body. Without D3, you can supplement your pet reptile’s diet all you want, but it won’t be able to absorb enough vitamins and minerals to thrive and grow with vigor.

Reptile skin synthesizes vitamin D3 from the Sun naturally. But when reptiles are kept indoors without access to natural sunlight, which is almost always the case, vitamin D3 supplementation becomes necessary.

Vitamin D3 for reptiles

Too little vitamin D3 can lead to what’s called MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease). This generally results in a reptile that has malformed bones, body shakes, and imbalance. It’s unnecessarily common, and almost always lethal.

You can sometimes remedy MBD it if you take quick action with a quality calcium supplement or with injections of calcium gluconate, but you can’t reverse the bone malformation or stunted growth.

Too much vitamin D3 can basically coat your pet’s muscle and/or cartilage with bone–it’s called ossification. Not good, it’s also lethal. Don’t worry, our top choice revealed in this article has an ideal amount of vitamin D3.

In summary, vitamin D3 allows your reptile to absorb and utilize far more calcium and vitamins than would otherwise be possible without vitamin D3.

Calcium quality is key

So, back to calcium. Quality is paramount. You definitely don’t want calcium derived from oyster shells. Why? Because oysters are the filters of the Ocean–they absorb heavy metals and other toxic substances, including lead, mercury, and arsenic.

This information is based upon scientific articles. Same for cuttlefish bone calcium supplements. Avoid them at all costs.

Rep-Cal and ReptoCal both use ground oyster shell for their calcium powder, according to their website. Why? Because it’s cheap, and they’re either ignorant, or they don’t care. Don’t poison your pet reptiles and amphibians with oyster shell calcium–they deserve better.

You get what you pay for. Don’t buy cheap reptile/amphibian calcium powder.

Calcium mined from the earth is better than anything from the Ocean, but you can take it a step further with regard to purity. Remember, dietary supplements (even for humans) aren’t regulated by the FDA.

In other words, no one’s monitoring the quality of supplement ingredients. This just means you need to do your homework. (Which you’re doing right now by reading this article).

So, how pure is the calcium powder you’re using in your reptiles diet? It’s an important question to answer.

Mixing calcium and vitamins (a big no-no)

One thing you should absolutely avoid is using a reptile supplement powder that includes both calcium and vitamins. The same goes for using them separately, but in the same feeding–don’t do it. It might sound like a good idea, like killing two birds with one stone, but you’re doing your pet a great disservice.

When you combine calcium and vitamins in the same powder, they degrade each other. In fact, calcium can alter how a reptile’s body absorbs magnesium, iron, zinc, and overall mineral metabolism. It’s really that simple.

So, the answer is to use calcium powder at one feeding, and multivitamins at another. Don’t use them in the same feeding or on the same day.

The best calcium powder (winner!)

Talk is cheap. One of the best ways to “test” a calcium powder is to do side-by-side comparisons. The experiment we’ve done over the years is to split a clutch of hatchlings (in our case, often chameleons or leopard geckos) into two groups, and use a different calcium supplement with each group as they hatch and grow.

We could then monitor which groups thrived, grew the fastest, were most active, became the best breeders, etc.

The consistent top performer for us is always Miner-All from Sticky Tongue Farms. We’ll keep an open mind, but the results we’ve seen have been definitive and impressive.Calcium powder for reptilesMiner-All is the only human grade calcium powder for reptiles. Think about that for a minute.

Miner-All is ground to what’s called a “micro-fine powder” so that it sticks to any feeder, including tiny fruit flies.

I can attest that it sticks to crickets, waxworms, superworms, mealworms, roaches, and rodents, but I’ve also discovered it even sticks to feeder fish once they’re put back into the water! Generally with feeder fish the powder will stay on for a half-day to 24 hours.

You might be wondering, “How do I get the calcium powder to stick to the reptile food?” Just put the feeder insects in a small plastic container, add some Miner-All powder, and shake. Just like shake-n-bake. The insects will all be completely covered in a fine calcium powder in a matter of seconds. Now they’re ready to be fed to your reptiles and amphibians.

I mentioned before that we’ve done many side-by-side experiments using different calcium powder products, and Miner-All has consistently outperformed everything else we’ve used–and we’ve used everything on the market.

What does “outperformed” mean? For example, we saw babies supplemented with Miner-All grow the fastest, time after time. This tells us that as a product, it’s an extremely efficient calcium-delivery system.

The moderate levels of vitamin D3 mean that over-supplementing is nearly impossible.

On the flip-side of the coin, we’ve also never had a reptile or amphibian suffer from MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) while using Miner-All, so it clearly has plenty of vitamin D3 in the powder.

The product has been refined for around 27 years, so it’s no surprise that it’s premium grade.

I hope we’ve been able to convince you that reptile calcium powders are not all the same. Available products vary greatly on the quality spectrum.

How long does reptile calcium powder last?

Most calcium powders won’t expire for 2-3 years. The expiration date stamped on cans of Miner-All is three years from the date of production.

Should I use calcium sand as a substrate?

No, definitely not. Calcium sand, also known as “calci-sand,” is a gimmick, and it’s dangerous for your pet reptile. It’s made of calcium carbonate, which is the same ingredient used for antacid tablets.

Calcium sand would likely be ingested far too often by your reptile, it reduces the stomach’s ability to digest food efficiently (by diluting the acid), and can lead to constipation. It’s also super dusty, which is probably annoying for your pet.

The companies offer different colored calcium sand as well, even purple! I wish I was joking, but I’m not. Ingesting purple dye on a regular basis is probably not the best idea.

Conclusion

The bottom-line is that you need to use a calcium powder that works for your animals, whether they’re snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, frogs, toads, newts, or salamanders. Talk is cheap, and advertising is fluff. We trust results that we see with our eyes. You should too.

Quite a few large scale breeders we partner with use Miner-All exclusively, so it’s not exactly a secret we’re divulging, but we did want to pass along our findings to you, our readers.

What Are Reptile Expos Like?

~ BackwaterReptiles

What’s it like at a reptile expo or reptile show?

Reptile expos can be overwhelming if you’ve never been to one before. Generally, they are held in large convention halls or rooms and they are filled with vendors selling all types of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and supplies. Often you can hold the animals and get to know them before you purchase. Reptile expos are heaven for reptile and amphibian enthusiasts.

what to expect at a reptile expo
Vendors will be selling all kinds of critters at reptile shows. Often you will see morphs of common animals you might not be familiar with.

What will I see at a reptile show?

Vendors take up the most space at reptile shows. As soon as you walk in the door, you will see animals. Tons and tons of them! Most vendors will specialize in a certain type of animal or a particular breed. For example, there can be vendors who sell a variety of snake species such as corn snakes, king snakes and ball pythons. Other times you might find a vendor who only sells rare and expensive reticulated python morphs. But depending on the size of the venue and the location, you can find plenty of unique creatures of all shapes, sizes and colors. Usually, for most people, this is the best part of a reptile show and the main attraction at the expos.

caiman lizard
One of the best things about reptile expos is seeing rare animals. Pictured is a Caiman Lizard which are pretty hard to come by in the state of California.

Typically, if the venue allows for it, there will be a stage area where educational programs take place throughout the day. Often times these presentations are put on by rescue organizations that have animals that are illegal to keep as pets without proper permitting. We’ve seen large crocodilians, snakes and lizards that have been surrendered due to their large size.

burmese python
Not all large animals at reptile expos are surrenders. Some make excellent “ambassadors” for their species.

Another thing that is commonly seen at reptile shows is reptile, amphibian and invertebrate related merchandise. It’s not uncommon to see stuffed animals, appropriately-themed clothing items and even accessories for your pet herp. Many vendors will have feeder insects, leashes for your bearded dragons and monitor lizards, vivarium equipment and accessories, and products to keep your pet in peak condition such as vitamins, minerals and supplements.

Finally, if you go to a reptile show, you will see people of all kinds. If you thought you were the only one in your city that liked herpetology, think again! We are constantly amazed by the crowds that reptile expos draw. Sometimes, during peak hours, it can even get tough to walk through the aisles. It warms our reptile-loving hearts to know that our favorite critters are beloved by so many others.

tarantula
Many vendors will allow you to hold and handle the animals, even if you do not intend to purchase.

What’s an example of a reptile expo?

We recently attended the Reptiles and Oddities Expo in Vallejo, California as it is close to our headquarters in Northern California. We thought we’d use this expo as an example of what a reptile show can be, although it is actually on the smaller side as far as reptile shows are concerned.

As we’ve established, the main attraction at reptile expos are the critters. Vallejo’s show seemed to spotlight mostly lizards and snakes with a smattering of tarantulas. We did not see many frogs or other types of amphibians.

male panther chameleon at expo
The Vallejo Expo had some friendly Panther Chameleons out of their cages that guests could interact with.

We were lucky enough to see some very colorful Panther Chameleons. Although chameleons can be very finicky when it comes to their habitat, all the chameleons at the expo seemed calm and comfortable. Some were even out of their enclosures and allowed to interact with patrons.

panther chameleons at reptile expo
One of the more colorful animals to see at the Vallejo Reptile Expo were the Panther Chameleons.

The Vallejo expo also had a few rescue organizations on hand. The Bay Area Amphibian and Reptile Society had some lovely creatures on display including a White Lipped Python. This group works to conserve herps and foster understanding on how to care for them. They also adopt animals that need to be re-homed.

Another example of a rescue group was Safari Encounters, an educational group that brings exotic animals to schools, events and fundraisers. At the expo, they had some time to give a presentation on stage and show off an alligator.

holding leopard gecko at expo
Leopard Geckos are always friendly and typically available to interact with.

The Vallejo expo had an abundance of snake breeders. We saw many ball pythons in all different colors and sizes. The morphs on the market can get quite complicated and pricey, but they are certainly all lovely. We also gushed over baby reticulated pythons and baby corn snakes.

One thing that the Vallejo reptile show had that not all shows feature were vendors selling oddities. Some had taxidermy mammals and others had wet specimens. There was a particularly fascinating vendor selling diaphonized animals, which are creatures who are transparent with skeletons that are died purple.

diaphonization
The Vallejo expo had some interesting oddities including these diaphonized specimens with purple skeletons.

Is it safe to purchase an animal from a reptile expo?

In reality, reptile shows are a very safe place to purchase animals. Vendors will typically allow you to handle the animal so you can get a feel for its temperament prior to purchasing. You can also get a closer look and make a thorough examination of the animal to ensure it seems healthy.

reptiles at expo
Keep in mind that the cages holding the animals at reptile shows are not permanent homes. The boxes and enclosures you will see animals in at the expos are just meant for display purposes. The breeders house their animals in larger enclosures when they are not on display at an expo.

Truthfully, nearly all the vendors at reptile shows have good reputations amongst reptile hobbyists. They can also prove that their animals are healthy and well-cared for since people can see for themselves.

We advocate purchasing from reptile expos when you can. You’re usually helping support someone who sells reptiles for a living because they are passionate about them. We fully support that. We also support adopting from conservation groups that show up to reptile shows with animals that need good homes.

How can I find a reptile show near me?

If you live in a small city, it’s likely you will have to travel to find a reptile expo near you. Typically, most larger cities will have at least one per year.

We’re lucky enough to be located in California which has several throughout the state all year long. San Diego, Sacramento and Los Angeles all have rather large expos and we highly recommend visiting one of those if you are able.

If all else fails, keep in mind that Google is your friend! We’ve also found Facebook search tools to be a good resource for reptile related events.

cherry red centipede
Not all the animals at the expos should be held. For instance, this Cherry Red Centipede and some species of spider have aggressive temperaments and are best left alone.

Conclusion

If you are at all interested in reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, reptile expos are fantastic resources for you to get your herp fix. While we work with these types of creatures on a regular basis, we still never get tired of seeing new ones and all the gorgeous morphs that breeders create.

There is so much to see at any given reptile show. We guarantee that there is something to make everyone smile whether you’re a fan of snakes, leopard geckos, tarantulas, or iguanas!

How Do I Order Feeder Insects?

~ BackwaterReptiles

How do I order feeder insects for my pet reptile, amphibian or invertebrate?

While pet stores are great places to purchase feeder insects when you’re on a time crunch, it’s very easy to order live insects to feed your herp. Backwater Reptiles sells a variety of feeder insects in larger quantities and at better prices than you’ll find at your local pet store. The only potential catch is waiting a day or two for them to be delivered.

ordering feeder insects online
Did you know that it’s more cost effective and convenient to order your pet’s feeder insects online?

What kind of feeder insects can be ordered online?

Just about any type of insect you would want to feed to your pet lizard, frog, toad, spider, scorpion, et cetera can be purchased online. You can even buy pet insects such as walking sticks and praying mantids, although that’s a completely separate topic.

The most common feeder insects ordered are crickets followed by meal worms/super worms and dubia roaches.

Backwater Reptiles has a large selection of feeder insects available for purchase including the most popular ones mentioned above. However, we also sell horn worms which are juicy and help hydrate reptiles to wax worms, which are fatty and help make sure your pet receives enough calories.

If you wish to see all the available feeder insects that you can order from Backwater Reptiles, feel free to visit our feeder insects for sale page.

feeder crickets
Crickets are the most common feeder insect ordered online. Nearly all insectivorous pets will eagerly consume crickets.

How do I place an order for feeder insects?

Thankfully, it’s very simple to order feeder insects from Backwater Reptiles. It’s as easy as adding them to your cart and checking out.

In fact, it’s very likely that the hardest step of ordering feeder insects is choosing the quantity you want as well as the actual type of insect. We really do have that many to choose from!

If you’re ever concerned about what size of insect to order, there is a general rule of thumb that most herp owners adhere to: the insect should not be bigger than the space between the animal’s eyes.

Not to worry. If you ever have any concerns about what type of feeder insect is right for your pet’s particular dietary needs, our helpful customer service team would be happy to assist you with ordering the insect that is best for your pet. All you have to do is send a quick email to sales@backwaterreptiles.com and someone will get back to you as soon as they are able.

fruit flies as feeder insects
Most pet stores don’t carry fruit flies, so if you have a small pet that needs small food, your best bet is to order online.

Why should I order my feeder insects online?

Of course many people simply run out to their closest pet store and purchase feeder insects in person. We think that this is a fantastic method when you need something to feed your pet in a hurry. But overall, we think ordering them online is a much better option.

First of all, when you purchase online, you get a much better price for your feeder insects. Because we sell them in larger quantities, or in bulk, the pricing is more competitive than your average brick and mortar pet store.

The other reason we encourage online purchasing of feeder insects is convenience. Clicking a button on a screen means that you don’t have to get dressed, buckle the kids in the car and make a trip to the pet store. Your insects will arrive to your doorstep in no time when you order online. It’s such a streamlined process and we think it’s highly efficient in a world where everyone is constantly busy.

mealworms
Mealworms are another very common feeder insect. They do have harder exoskeletons, so we do recommend a varied diet when offering your pet mealworms.

When should I not order feeder insects?

Ordering feeder insects online is not the best option for everyone all the time. Sometimes there are reasons why someone might choose to purchase locally in person rather than through a website.

The main reason we would advise purchasing feeder insects at your local store rather than online is when you simply cannot wait a day or two to feed your pet. If you’ve suddenly run out of crickets and your Bearded Dragon is hungry, we definitely don’t advise ordering online. We recommend that you head to your nearest store and pick up a small supply until your online order arrives to your doorstep.

Another time when it might be wise to purchase a smaller supply from a pet store would be if you are trying a new type of food for your pet. It’s highly unlikely, but there could be the chance you have a picky eater. It could be a smart move to grab a few super worms at your local store rather than ordering in bulk if you are unsure that your pet will eat them.

Finally, it might be easiest and safest to grab feeder insects at your local pet store if you are experiencing extreme cold or hot weather where you live. Sometimes we have to delay shipment of feeder insect orders or have them held at a post office or other shipping facility when the weather is too dangerous for the insects. Dead insects are no good to pets who want to catch and eat their prey.

What happens once I place an order for feeder insects?

After your order has been processed, our insect team packages your bugs up safe and sound with supplies to last them through their journey. This typically means a water source, although some feeder insects do actually come with a built in food source, such as fruit flies and horn worms.

Please be aware that if you order insects at the same time that you order your live animal/pet from us, the feeder insects will be delivered separately from the animal. The time frame for arrival will vary based on the insect you order and the carrier who is delivering it.

BONUS: All feeder insects ship for free!

How should I care for my feeder insects prior to giving them to my pet?

Depending on the type of insect you order, you may or may not have just a tiny bit of maintenance to perform in order to keep the insects that your pet isn’t ready to eat yet healthy.

For instance, our most popular feeder insect ordered is crickets. We often get asked the question of how to care for the remainder of the crickets that the pet will eat throughout the week. With crickets, we recommend housing the extras in a bin or bucket with slick, tall sides. You can put some type of disposable hiding area (i.e. some egg crate pieces or toilet paper rolls) inside the enclosure. You can provide a combo water/food source if you put a piece of potato or carrot inside the tub for the crickets to munch on.

Because crickets are our most popular feeder insect ordered, we’re including a link to an article we wrote on how to care for them. Feel free to check it out if you plan to order a large quantity of crickets.

Some of the insects we sell actually come with everything you need to care for them. Horn worms are packaged in a container with food supplies and so are fruit flies and Dubia roaches.

If you want to know more about Dubia Roaches as feeder insects, Mealworms as feeder insects, hornworms as feeder insects and how to dust feeder insects with vitamin supplements, we’ve written articles on all of those topics!

If you have specific questions about caring for an excess of feeder insects, our customer service team is happy to assist. Please email them at sales@backwaterreptiles.com with any questions.

antilles pink toe tarantula
Even invertebrates such as this Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula eat feeder insects.

Conclusion

It is safe and cost-effective to order feeder insects for your pet reptile, amphibian or invertebrate online. We highly recommend it!

Backwater Reptiles even offers live arrival guarantees on our feeder insects, just as we do with the pets we sell. If you ever encounter any issues, our customer service team is happy to assist.

If you have any specific questions about caring for your feeder insects, feel free to ask in the comments section!

Reptile and Amphibian Awareness Day at the Sacramento Zoo

~ BackwaterReptiles

What is Reptile and Amphibian Awareness Day at the Sacramento Zoo?

The Sacramento Zoo’s Reptile and Amphibian Awareness Day is an event hosted by the zoo and the Greater Sacramento chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers. This event educates the public about herps and encourages people to do their part to help conserve these wonderful creatures.

What reptiles reside at the Sacramento Zoo?

Because Backwater Reptiles is based out of Northern California, the Sacramento Zoo is just a short drive away from us. And wouldn’t you know it, the zoo has a really cool dedicated reptile house where lizards, frogs, snakes, turtles, tortoises, salamanders and even some invertebrates reside.

We could definitely visit the zoo any day of the week, given that it’s so close to us, but it certainly was refreshing to see our favorite critters get some of the spotlight. Not only was there plenty of opportunity to learn about herps at the reptile awareness booth, there were also lots of fun activities to get children involved and excited about our scaly friends.

Our favorite herps within the reptile house were probably the rhinoceros iguana and the prehensile tailed skinks. But the zoo also has a rattlesnake, Western pond turtles, a few crocodilians, tiger salamanders, White’s tree frogs, and ball pythons to name just a few.

reptile and amphibian awareness day
Meet Timbuktu, the Sacramento Zoo’s resident ambassador Uromastyx. Timbuktu was out and about for Reptile and Amphibian Awareness Day and his handler was happy to introduce him to new human friends.

Interview with Jasmine Rosario, a zoo keeper at the Sacramento Zoo and a member of the Greater Sacramento chapter of AAZK

Backwater Reptiles was lucky enough to get the opportunity to meet with Jasmine Rosario, a zoo keeper who works with herps and a member of the Greater Sacramento chapter of AAZK. Rosario discussed everything from her favorite herps to the work that the zoo does in order to help conserve reptile populations.

Keep reading to see what Rosario had to say.

Backwater Reptiles: Do you have any particular animal you work in? Do you specialize in reptiles?

Jasmine Rosario: I do work in the reptile department. I also work in the hoof stock which includes giraffes and wallabies and kangaroos too. I am currently being trained in the carnivore section which includes big cats and otters and other cool animals.

BR: How do you get into a job like yours?

Rosario: It is a very competitive field. There are only so many zoos and therefore only so many zookeepers. You have to have a four year animal science degree background and experience. The way that I started was going through their volunteer program as a keeper aide and then when positions opened up, they saw my potential and let me work in the lower ranking or beginning position which is commissary. In commissary you do diet prepping for all the animals in the zoo and from there they train you in other areas to help out. So that’s my beginning as a zoo keeper.

BR: Where did your personal interest in reptiles start?

Rosario: It actually started when I started working here. Bill Bennett, who is on the board of directors for NCHS got me into it. He took me under his wing and had me doing exhibit projects. He got me involved in NCHS and I ended up adopting three snakes. I have two ball pythons and a corn snake.

BR: What exactly do you do on a day to day basis to care for the animals here?

Rosario: It’s a lot of cleaning exhibits and making sure things are sanitary. There’s a lot of feeding and putting out enrichment to make sure your animals are entertained and kept busy. You have to keep a good eye on them and make sure they’re healthy. That means alerting a vet or vet tech if there are any problems that you notice.

BR: How do you do enrichment for a reptile?

Rosario: It’s pretty difficult. For dart frogs, we have the kid camp do little paper tubes. They cut holes in the tubes and we shove fruit flies in it so the flies burst out. We have sulcata tortoises and we’ll give them balls to roll around with dandelion greens sticking out. Sometimes they’ll get different diet items like pumpkins during the fall. Even just switching around their exhibit can be enrichment enough since they’re in a new environment.

BR: What do you think is the most challenging reptile or amphibian to care for?

Rosario: I think all the amphibians are the hardest. There’s a lot that goes into their care that people don’t think about. Water quality is a big one. You don’t want nitrates or nitrites or ammonia in their water, so you have to constantly test for that. We also won’t put them in tap water. They have a special reverse osmosis system, so they do need special water. Diet is another big factor. With reptiles and amphibians you have to make sure you’re providing a variety of items. UVB lighting is a big factor as well to prevent bone disease. You also have to make sure they get enough calcium and vitamins. It’s a balance.

BR: Do you have a favorite herp that you work with?

Rosario: They’re all pretty cool, but I think I like the common chuckwallas the best because they’re really cool. Our giant garter snake, Cleo, is also really cool. We’re the only institution that has a California giant garter snake. She was injured and brought to us.

giant garter snake
The Sacramento Zoo has a giant garter snake named Cleo.

BR: What is a reptile or amphibian that you wish the Sacramento Zoo could get?

Rosario: A lot of the keepers really want to get in some more crocodilians. A gharial would be cool, but we don’t really have space for that in our reptile house. Some giant snakes would be awesome too, like a reticulated python.

BR: You mentioned you’re involved with the Greater Sacramento chapter of the AAZK. What is the goal of that organization?

Rosario: The AAZK is basically a group that helps to advance zoo keepers in their career, but our chapter here is more of a conservation based effort. It’s welcoming to the public and we have a lot of docents and volunteers that join too, not just our staff and zoo keepers. Our focus is to raise money and do awareness events like this so that people get thinking about some of the animals that need our help out there in the wild. We do a lot of fund raising events too. Later in the year we’ll have a giraffe day and a primate day where we’ll be raising money for organizations that cover those animals. We’ve donated a lot of money to organizations that help out animals.

BR: Is the zoo currently involved in any conservation or breeding efforts?

Rosario: In the past we’ve been involved in the Western pond turtle project. It’s on hold right now because they are doing genetic testing because it turns out that our turtles are from different regions and they want to figure out what turtles are from where. That’s the biggest project we’re involved with as far as reptiles and amphibians are concerned.

BR: What do you think about keeping reptiles as pets?

Rosario: It depends. They’re pretty tough to take care of. You have to create the full environment for them. It’s cool to have them if they have proper husbandry and if they’re bred or not fit to be in the wild. I don’t agree with taking them out of the wild. I would recommend the ones that are most often bred in captivity – ball pythons, corn snakes, leopard geckos, etcetera – as pets. They’re almost domesticated because we breed them so much. Nothing exotic or endangered or crazy where they are plucked out of their environment.

BR: What can you tell me about the activities and events you have going on today for reptile and amphibian awareness day at the zoo?

Rosario: We have a few things at our station including a scavenger hunt that takes place in the reptile house. Kids find the animals in the proper exhibit and there’s a fact sheet where they learn things about the species and they get a t-shirt. We have paper snake chains that represent the lengths of the snakes full-grown in reality. We also have the frog jump where we have three species of frogs’ average jump length and kids can see how they compare to them. There are coloring activities and life cycle matching games. There’s also information on the characteristics of reptiles and amphibians and what makes them different since people always tend to link them together even though they’re totally separate groups. We also have some diet guessing games and some turtle chow guessing games with prizes.

BR: Do you feel that the awareness days at the zoo are successful?

Rosario: Yeah, as long as people are learning a little bit of something, then I think they’re successful.

ball python
Although this is a ball python from Backwater Reptiles, the Sacramento Zoo also has ball pythons.

Conclusion

Fans of reptiles and amphibians are already aware of how cool these creatures are. We love interacting with them, observing them, conserving them and teaching others about them. We don’t need a special day to show our appreciation for reptiles. But at Backwater Reptiles, we’re all about any event or activity that educates about why herps deserve our love and attention, which is why we’re grateful to have had the opportunity to attend Reptile and Amphibian Awareness Day at our local zoo.

We hope you enjoyed our interview with a local herp zoo keeper. It’s not every day that we get to talk to someone as educated and up to date on the proper husbandry and techniques needed to keep our favorite critters healthy. What questions would you have asked the zoo keeper?