Snakes

Is My Reptile’s Poop Normal?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Do reptiles pee? Is my reptile’s poop and waste normal? Buckle up – you’re about to read an entire article devoted to reptile waste elimination!

If you’re new to herpetology, you might be wondering what normal waste looks like. Should it be white? Solid or liquid? How often should you be cleaning it up? The truth is that poop consistency and frequency will vary depending upon the species, but there are some general guidelines to normal-looking waste and things to watch out for that might indicate a problem with your pet’s health.

Do reptiles pee?

Reptiles “drink” water differently than mammals do. Of course, they can drink it directly through their mouth, but did you know that many species can actually benefit from soaks or baths to keep them hydrated as well? They can also derive moisture through food they eat.

Why do we bring this up you ask? Well, because reptiles don’t typically drink water in the same manner as mammals, they also don’t urinate separately the way that mammals are accustomed to doing.

The short answer is that yes, reptiles do pee. However, in healthy reptiles, their pee is always accompanied by solid waste. They do not pee and poop separately.

snake poop

What should my pet reptile’s poop look like?

Have you ever seen bird poop on a car, statue or sidewalk? It’s usually white and liquidy with some brown or black solid elements to it. Reptile waste is very similar to bird poop in this manner. The white and liquid parts are comparable to urine and of course, the solid part is the poop. So, reptiles poop and pee simultaneously for the most part.

When examining your reptile’s waste, you should notice three components. There should be a clear or yellowish liquid urine, a semi-solid white or opaque urate and a solid, brown or black poop.

It should be noted that depending upon your pet’s substrate, you may or may not notice the liquid element of the waste. Many substrates are fairly absorbent and therefore you may only notice white and black/brown stool.

How frequently should my pet reptile go to the bathroom?

Lizards will evacuate more frequently than snakes. Because snake metabolisms are pretty slow, they really only need to eat a meal once a week or so. Therefore, they poop less frequently since they eat less frequently.

Lizards with big appetites, such as bearded dragons, should be eliminating at least once per week, if not a bit more frequently. Fun fact: bearded dragons are notorious for pooping in their water dishes…particularly right after their owner changes the water!

In general, it’s also good to know that babies eliminate more frequently than adults.

There is no set schedule for when or how often your reptile should eliminate. The main thing you want to consider is what is normal for your pet. Your pet is likely healthy and fine unless you notice that it suddenly isn’t pooping and/or eating in its normal manner.

bearded dragon poop

What if my pet reptile isn’t pooping?

If your reptile appears constipated, it could be a tell tale sign of dehydration. The solution? Lots of water of course.

You can start in the obvious place by making sure your pet has a bowl filled with fresh drinking water every day. You should also mist or spray water inside the enclosure so that your reptile can drink water off of leaves and other cage furniture.

Another really great option is to soak or bathe your reptile for 10-15 minutes in room temperature water daily until it poops. The baths will not only help hydrate your pet, they can also stimulate the digestive system. Many reptiles will poop in their water source or during baths. Actually, we’ve found that bathing can be an effective way to help keep your pet’s enclosure cleaner. It’s almost akin to toilet training!

Impaction could be another possible reason why your reptile isn’t using the bathroom. This is when your pet has accidentally ingested something that blocks its digestive tract, typically substrate. For this reason, we do often advise that owners feed their pets outside of their usual enclosure.

Finally, if you still can’t get your pet to poop after lots of baths, you can try administering a natural laxative. For reptiles, this could mean anything from a few drops of olive oil, some juice/water mixture with no added sugar, or even pureed squash. There are lots of options that are easy on the digestive system and natural too.

How do I clean up reptile waste?

Most reptile owners choose to spot clean their pet’s enclosure as needed. You can scoop out dirty substrate and change out water dishes as needed.

We recommend wearing gloves to handle reptile waste. Depending upon the type of substrate your pet has, you can buy special poop scoopers to accommodate and make clean up easy.

Eventually, you will need to clean your pet’s entire enclosure. That is an entirely different blog article topic though! But just know that it’s always a good idea to clean at least monthly to combat bacteria and keep your pet reptile in peak health.

Arboreal reptiles such as chameleons will tend to poop on the plants and perches within their enclosure. This can make spot cleaning a pain in the rear end, but it is still necessary to keep your animal healthy.

We’d also like to note that this article discusses terrestrial reptile elimination. Aquatic turtle poop is a completely different topic, mainly because the clean up process is much different due to water filters, pH levels and aquatic environments.

chameleon poop

Conclusion

While it might seem like a strange thing to pay close attention to your herp’s stool, in truth, it’s a very good indicator of your pet’s health. We recommend noting how often your pet uses the bathroom and checking to make sure that whatever waste you do clean up appears normal according to the guidelines in the article above.

If you notice anything strange or your reptile’s pooping habits are suddenly different, it could be a sign that there is a problem. You might need to adjust temperatures, humidity levels, feeding habits or all of the above.

Have reptile poop questions? Ask us in the comments! You can also email our knowledgable customer service team at sales@backwaterreptiles.com. We’re happy to help.

What Do Snakes Eat?

~ BackwaterReptiles

What do snakes eat? Do they all eat the same thing? What should I feed my own pet snake?

Unlike other reptiles, snakes as a whole tend to eat the same types of things – other living creatures. No snake species is vegetarian. The types of food that snakes eat varies but primarily includes: rodents, fish, small reptiles and amphibians, and insects.

what do snakes eat

What do constrictors eat?

The group of snakes dubbed constrictors are the species that squeeze their prey to death before eating. The snake first wraps its coils around its prey and then each time the prey exhales, it tightens its grip, causing its prey to eventually suffocate. Snakes that constrict include but are not necessarily limited to boas, pythons, anacondas and many colubrid species.

In captivity, most constrictors eat rodents. In fact, there are entire refrigerators full of frozen mice and rats in pet stores that are just for reptiles like snakes. Some pickier snakes will only eat live rodents, although we always recommend using frozen rodents if possible. It’s simply safer, more sanitary and less hassle for both owner and snake.

In the wild, constrictors will capture and eat mice, rats, shrews, voles, squirrels and other small mammals. The tropical and arboreal constrictor species tend to eat whatever they can catch including birds, mammals and other reptiles.

constrictors eat mice
This boa is eating a mouse.

What do aquatic snakes eat?

When we speak of aquatic snakes, we are really only referring to a select few species such as elephant trunk snakes, sea snakes and water snakes.

Sea snakes are highly venomous and not kept in captivity, however they eat fish, fish eggs and eels.

Other aquatic species eat aquatic or semi-aquatic fare. Feeder frogs, feeder fish and crayfish are all options when keeping aquatic snakes as pets.

Be advised that aquatic snakes should not eat rodents and we do not recommend trying to feed these kinds of snakes mice or rats.

aquatic snake diet
Water snakes like the one pictured eat primarily feeder fish and frogs when kept as pets.

What do very small snake species eat?

Some species of snake are very small and all the previous prey items mentioned are simply too large for them to eat. Small snake species that are commonly kept as pets include Bimini blind snakes, ringneck snakes, baby Dekay’s snakes and baby ribbon snakes.

Tiny snakes eat tiny food. In captivity, tiny food is typically invertebrates of some sort. Crickets, nightcrawlers, roaches and mealworms at their smallest life cycle phase are definitely all commonly used food items.

small snake diet
Tiny snakes like the one pictured typically eat small insects and worms.

What should I feed my own pet snake?

In general, if you are buying a pet snake and wondering what it eats, the answer is very likely to be mice. Most snakes will thrive on a diet of frozen/thawed rodents of the appropriate size. For instance, at the Backwater Reptiles facility, we feed our ball pythons, boa constrictors, king snakes, corn snakes, milk snakes and rat snakes mice…and that’s just naming broad categories!

There are a few other snake species that commonly eat food other than rodents. For instance, ribbon snakes and garter snakes both eat prey such as frogs, insects, lizards and fish.

Hognose snakes will often eat mice in captivity, but if they prove to be a picky eater, it’s because they typically eat toads and frogs in the wild. One wacky tip that actually works if you have a picky hognose snake is to “scent” mice by rubbing them with a toad or frog. You can also try soaking a thawed rodent in tuna water.

Another popular snake species is the green snake. These snakes are primarily insectivores in the wild and make great pets for people who want a snake that doesn’t eat rodents. You can feed your green snake the same diet they’d eat in the wild – grasshoppers, crickets, worms, caterpillars, snails, small frogs and feeder lizards.

Very large snakes are another specialty feeder. All of the snakes that grow to enormous sizes are constrictors. Anacondas, Burmese pythons and reticulated pythons that are mature will all require larger prey. Usually they eat rabbits, but some owners have found the giving them multiple feeder rats in a single feeding session also works.

anaconda diet
Snakes that grow very large like the yellow anaconda pictured will eventually need to eat larger prey items such s rabbits.

Finally, we feel that egg-eating snakes deserve a mention on this list. Their common name actually gives away what their food of choice is – eggs! However, please keep in mind that egg-eating snakes usually eat small bird eggs like quail or finch eggs. An egg out of your refrigerator won’t cut it.

ribbon snake diet
Ribbon snakes eat night crawlers, insects and frogs when they grow larger.

Conclusion

Most pet snakes eat rodents. Most will also thrive on a diet of frozen/thawed rodents. However, if you are going to own a pet snake that is known to eat mice, we do advise that you be prepared to feed it living rodents in the event that it is a picky eater.

There are other species of pet snakes that don’t eat mice. These include water snakes, egg-eating snakes and other specialty species.

Ultimately, no matter what your pet snake eats, it doesn’t need to eat every day the way that mammals do. Snakes have much slower metabolisms and therefore usually only need to be fed once a week or so. We always advise that you research your pet of interest before purchasing to be sure that you are prepared to care for its needs, including its diet.

hognose snake diet
Hognose snakes can be picky eaters and sometimes need to be tricked or trained to eat rodents in captivity.

How Long Can a Ball Python Go Without Eating and Other FAQs

~ BackwaterReptiles
What are the most common questions regarding care and husbandry of ball pythons?
Ball Pythons are one of the most popular pet snakes, but they can be shy and mysterious. Because we have a lot of experience caring for these docile snakes at Backwater Reptiles, we will compile the most commonly asked questions into this article and answer them for you. Got a pet ball python or are you considering getting one? We recommend reading this article before you commit.
In our experience, the most commonly asked questions about pet ball pythons are:
How long can a ball python go without eating?
How often should I feed my ball python?
How big does a ball python get?
How long does a ball python live?
Keep reading to find out our answers!

ball python faq
Ball Pythons are one of the most popular pet snakes, which means they inspire many questions. Read our entire article to see our responses to the most commonly asked questions about pet ball pythons.

How long can a ball python go without eating?

Unfortunately, ball pythons can be picky eaters at times. For instance, it’s not uncommon for them to become lethargic, dull-colored and refuse to eat several days before they shed. Other times, you might encounter a ball python who refuses to eat frozen/thawed rodents and will only eat live mice. However, the bottom line is that sometimes ball pythons don’t want to eat and we as their adoring owners become increasingly worried with each day that passes without an appetite.

The good news is ball pythons typically resume feeding with a little coaxing. Maybe your snake needs time to complete its shed cycle or perhaps you might have to soak your thawed mice in hot chicken broth. But the truth is you really don’t need to be too concerned about your ball python skipping a meal or even two.

Snakes have interesting digestive systems and their metabolism is very different from that of a mammal or even other reptiles. They don’t need to eat as frequently as other animals.

Baby ball pythons should accept food weekly. They are growing snakes after all and will usually be pretty voracious eaters. But it’s OK if you try to get your baby ball python to eat and it refuses food for a few weeks. Anything beyond a month is when you should begin to be concerned for your baby ball python.

Older ball pythons have more established metabolisms and reserves and can go quite a long time without eating. There is no definitive time frame that you can deem as safe for a snake to deny food, however adult ball pythons in particular can go months without eating and still be fine.

Truthfully it will take a very long extended period of time without eating in combination with other factors for any ball python to starve to death. There have been reports of older ball pythons going on hunger strikes for six months! These snakes have the ability to slow down their metabolism if they deem it necessary. But, if your ball python is not eating, you might want to do some further investigation as there could be other factors contributing to your snake’s lack of appetite.

If you need help with getting your snake to eat, we recommend reading our article on working with snakes that are picky eaters.

How often should I feed my pet ball python?

This question is a very common one for new snake owners. The answer will vary based upon how old your snake is.

Baby ball pythons are growing and need more protein, vitamins and meals than their older counterparts. At Backwater Reptiles, we feed our baby ball pythons once weekly. They usually eat a pinkie, although you can also give them mice that are a bit larger as your snake grows a bit.

We’ve found that our older ball pythons do well on a schedule of being fed an appropriately sized rodent every other week. Remember, snakes have unique metabolisms and don’t need to eat every day like mammals.

how big do ball pythons get
Ball pythons will average between three to five feet in length when fully grown.

How big does a ball python get?

Ball Pythons are considered one of the smaller species of python, although that’s just accounting for their length. Ball pythons can be quite hefty and girthy while still being relatively short in length.

On average, ball pythons will grow to be between three to four feet long. However, there are reports of them reaching lengths up to six feet in length.

Adult female ball pythons will average between three to five feet long, whereas males are a bit smaller. Male ball pythons will average around three feet in size.

How long does a ball python live?

Lucky for their owners, ball pythons live very long.

With proper husbandry, care and housing, it’s not uncommon for them to live 30 years.

The record life span for a ball python comes in at over 40 years old!

Bottom line: prepare for a long life with your pet ball python. In fact, if you acquire a baby when you 50 or older, your snake might outlive you!

ball python life span
Ball pythons can live for thirty years or more with proper care.

Conclusion

Ball Pythons make amazing pets. In fact, we often recommend them to first time snake owners because they are such hardy, docile and interactive snakes.

We want all ball python owners to be as educated on their care and husbandry as possible, which is why we wrote this article discussing the most commonly asked questions about keeping them as pets.

Didn’t see your question addressed in this article? Let us know in the comments!

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.

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?