Species Profiles

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.

Is It Safe to Dress My Reptile Up for Halloween?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Part of the fun of Halloween involves dressing up all family members, pets included. But is it safe to dress up your herp for this holiday?

While it’s highly appealing to dress your reptile, amphibian or even tarantula in a cute costume for Halloween, it might not be the best idea to do so. Whether or not your pet is suited for playing dress up depends upon your pet’s species, individual personality, and consistent level of human interaction. It’s ultimately a matter of personal discretion and judgement.

What species are good to dress up for Halloween?

There are some species that will tolerate wearing a Halloween costume better than others. These are typically lizards and snakes that are used to being taken out of their cage and have been captive bred.

Bearded dragons, leopard geckos, Savannah monitors and iguanas that have been socialized are all usually agreeable when it comes to getting dressed up.

Ball pythons, corn snakes and boa constrictors are usually bred in captivity and therefore tend to be used to human care and handling. This means that they are good pet reptiles to wear simple costumes for Halloween.

What species are not good to dress up for Halloween?

Backwater Reptiles sells many varieties of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. We sell them because we think the they make great pets for different types of people who are looking for different things in their exotic pet. However, that does not mean that all of the animals we sell are good fits for Halloween costumes.

Because frogs, salamanders, newts and other amphibian species have very sensitive skin, we would not recommend dressing them up. A costume with sleeves or a lot of coverage on their body could unintentionally throw off their skin’s balance by removing moisture and causing respiratory distress. Any type of clothing item on your amphibian’s body or torso area is highly ill-advised.

We would say that the same is true for all of the invertebrate species we sell. It’s simply not practical to try to dress up an arachnid with eight fragile limbs, nor does it make much sense to try to clothe a feisty scorpion with a dangerous stinger. We hope that this is common sense to most invertebrate owners.

What types of Halloween costumes are safe for my pet?

Because pet reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates are delicate and should not wear full-blown clothing items as costumes, no matter how festive the holiday, we recommend only simple Halloween costumes.

For example, tiny hats are safe for most animals, provided it does not cause the animal undue stress to have something as unnatural as a hat on its head. There are plenty of adorable images on the Internet of snakes, lizards, frogs and even spiders wearing lightweight, simple and very easily removable hats with no adverse effects.

Lizards can also wear cute little cloaks or “dresses” that are worn essentially like a blanket would be. Because these types of costumes basically only sit on top of the animal and do not impede its movement or functioning in any way, these are acceptable. Again, we highly advise that you take into consideration your pet’s individual temperament and attitude towards interaction with people when playing dress up for Halloween.

If you are concerned about a costume or your pet’s ability to wear a costume, we recommend that you purchase some themed props instead. It might not be safe to clothe your pet, but you can set up a backdrop and some items for it to interact with and encounter little to no issues.

Conclusion

In the end, there is no hard and fast rule for safety when it comes to dressing up your herp for Halloween. We recommend that you utilize common sense and monitor the emotional state of your pet as you try on any type of simple costume.

We strongly advise that you never dress up your pet in a costume that causes it clear distress, impedes its movement or function or could cause physical injury. It’s simply not worth risking your pet’s health and wellbeing for a cute Halloween photo.

Can My Reptiles Live Together?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Can my reptiles cohabitate?

Many people wonder if it’s safe to have multiple reptiles living within the same enclosure. Furthermore, sometimes people might be interested in housing multiple animals that are different species together. Does this work and is it safe? In this article, we’ll discuss the topic of reptile cohabitation and teach you some guidelines so that your pets can safely live together…or separately.

reptile cohabitation

Which species can live communally together?

For the most part, reptiles are non-gregarious and don’t require a “friend” in their space to keep them happy. But, you can often house a male and female together or multiple females with no issues and maybe even the added surprise of reproduction!

Here are some species that are commonly housed together and typically have no issues with one another: young bearded dragons, certain species of snakes such as garters and rattlesnakes, monkey-tail skinks, shingleback skinks, some species of tortoise and many species of aquatic turtles such as sliders and cooters.

Are there any different species of reptiles that can safely live together?

Again, we want to make it clear that we do not recommend housing reptiles of different species together in one enclosure. It can be done, but it is a controversial subject within the herpetology world and also many people aren’t experienced enough to be able to do so safely.

But, if you want to give it a try, a good species to start off with would be aquatic turtles. Sliders, cooters and painted turtles will actually coexist peacefully in the same pond in the wild and it’s not too difficult to replicate ponds in your own backyard. In fact, it can be quite pleasant to have your own pond populated with fish, turtles and other natural wildlife.

How do I know if it’s safe to let my reptiles cohabitate?

Ideally, you want to do a ton of research prior to putting two animals in the same enclosure, regardless of whether or not they happen to be of the same species.

Here are some things you should consider prior to allowing your herps to cohabitate:

Is there enough space? All animals should feel safe and have places to hide, thermoregulate and eat food. There should be enough room for each to bask or cool off accordingly without competing.

Are the temperatures, humidity levels and substrate suitable for all the animals living within the enclosure? For instance, you don’t want to house a tropical species and a desert species together as they likely have extremely different temperature and humidity comfort levels.

Are the animals known to be aggressive toward others? This could be something as simple as determining if males and females of the same species are safe together year round. It could also be more complicated and require you to know if you have a particularly feisty or skittish species on your hands such as a Tokay gecko or an ameiva.

Will there be enough food? This is the biggest concern you should have. Underfed animals are far more likely to cannibalize other animals, plus no one wants their reptiles skinny and unhealthy even if they are a vegetarian species. Make sure that the animals are all able to eat safely and without stress from others, even if that means moving animals to separate enclosures during feeding time.

Cohabitation Tips and Tricks

Watch your animals. Once you have determined that a group or pair of animals will live together, we advise that you keep a close watch on them at first. This will help you make sure that if any aggression occurs you can immediately separate the animals. It also allows you to watch feeding habits to make sure that all the occupants of the enclosure get the proper portion of food.

Be prepared to make adjustments. Even if you have researched your herps into the ground or you are very experienced in keeping reptiles, we still recommend that you have a backup home prepared. This way if anything goes wrong or you have any doubts that the animals will get along, you still have a safe place for all the animals to live.

Introduce your animals in a neutral space first. If all goes well and they don’t seem to mind one another, you can try putting them in their enclosure together. Many people even use this tactic with furry companions when adding to their household.

Know the gender of your animals. This is an important factor because some animals are only aggressive and territorial when they see another male of the same species, but they will do fine with females. This is true of chameleons and many species of lizards. Get your animals professionally sexed if they are not sexually dimorphic so that you can avoid potential mishaps.

Don’t put different-sized animals together. Even if you are putting strict vegetarians together in the same enclosure, reptiles can get aggressive towards animals that are smaller than them. An even worse outcome would be that the larger animal cannibalizes the smaller one. It’s safest for the animals if they are similar sizes and ages.

House females together. For nearly all species of reptile, other males are viewed as competition and therefore aggression or stress will ensue if you put them together. Most females will tolerate one another relatively well though, so it’s typically safe to allow multiple females to cohabitate.

Quarantine and clean. Prior to introducing a new animal into another’s habitat, it’s wise to quarantine the new one and observe it closely to make sure it does not have any form of illness or parasites that it could pass along to your other herps. You should also make sure that the enclosure is clean and disinfected and ready for both animals to start fresh.

aquatic turtles

Conclusion

As a general rule, we don’t recommend mixing different species in the same habitat. There simply isn’t enough space and habitat requirements vary just enough so that neither species will be fully happy. There is also always the danger of aggression or over competition for resources such as food and water.

However, there are exceptions and some species can cohabitate. Sometimes you can communally house members of the same species together in one enclosure such as leopard geckos and young bearded dragons. And on rare occasions, you can also allow some species to cohabitate such as aquatic turtles and some tortoises.

If you intend to house multiple species together, please always be sure to do your research. That is the number one most important thing you can do to make sure your herps live their happiest and healthiest lives.

What Do Scorpions Eat?

~ BackwaterReptiles

What do scorpions eat? How long do scorpions live? How big do scorpions get?

Many people who are unfamiliar with scorpions might have questions about this interesting invertebrate, regardless of whether or not they want to keep one as a pet. In this article, we will answer basic questions that may or may not have basic answers in regards to scorpions.

what do scorpions eat

Do scorpions make good pets?

The shortest answer we have for this question is – yes! However, scorpions are only good pets if you want a pet that is mainly for display. Obviously, experienced owners do handle their scorpions, but for most people, scorpions simply stay in their enclosure most of the time.

It’s quite obvious that scorpions have an amazing defense mechanism in the form of a stinging tail and so we typically recommend that people only handle scorpions when necessary. In fact, we even have an entire separate blog article dedicated to that specific task.

Many people also enjoy pet scorpions because they are easy to maintain. They need a water dish, a cage cleaning every now and then and food…and that’s basically all they need to thrive.

So, if you’re in the market for a pet that is not cuddly, is easy to care for and requires very little in the maintenance department, a scorpion might just be a good match for you and your household.

What do scorpions eat?

Scorpions are opportunists and will eat many different types of things in the wild. Larger species will even eat small rodents, other scorpions and spiders!

In captivity, pet scorpions will eat virtually any type of insect. Many are fond of crickets and roaches, but worms of many types are also good treats. If you’re lucky enough to have a scorpion that is large enough, such as a fully grown Dictator or fully grown Emperor scorpion, you can even offer an occasional pinkie mouse as a treat.

Because scorpions are most active at night, we advise feeding at night. It’s as easy as offering a worm using tongs or tweezers. You can also toss a cricket or two into the enclosure while the scorpion is not hiding and watch the fun ensue.

Keep in mind that scorpions have slow metabolisms so they don’t need to eat as frequently as mammals do. Young or baby scorpions should be offered food daily, although don’t be surprised if it’s not eaten every day. Adult scorpions really only need to eat every other day or so.

how long do scorpions live

How long do scorpions live?

Honestly, the lifespan of a scorpion will depend upon what species you own. Just like all types of animals, different species of scorpion will have different life spans.

Scorpions are born as tiny versions of their adult selves. They don’t undergo metamorphosis prior to becoming fully grown. They will however molt several times in order to reach maturity. This process can take between one to three years, depending upon the species.

Once a scorpion reaches maturity, it can live for another one to three years. Again, the time frame is highly dependent upon the species.

Ultimately, for an arthropod, scorpions do live pretty long lives. In general, they typically live an average of five years, although there are some that can live between ten to fifteen years!

how big do scorpions get

How big do scorpions get?

Here’s another question where the answer will vary based upon the species. For instance, Dictator, Emperor and Asian Forest scorpions all grow relatively large. On the other hand, many of the species that belong to the taxonomic family Buthidae tend to be quite small.

The average scorpion size is six centimeters, or just over two inches. Some are much smaller and some are much larger. If you are interested in a particular species as a pet, we advise researching that species’ size at maturity prior to purchasing so that you can be sure you are buying the correct size enclosure.

Where do scorpions live?

Scorpions can be found the world over in different environments including the desert and even semi-urban areas. In fact, exterminators are actually trained to handle removing scorpions from homes because in some areas they are considered dangerous pests.

Typically, scorpions can be found living solitarily underneath rocks, bark, wood and other objects that sit upon the ground. They like to feel hidden and safe during the day and emerge after the sun goes down to find food.

If you live in an area where scorpions are commonly found indoors (such as Arizona in the U.S.), they will likely take refuge in firewood, under boards or in bathrooms. They can also be partial to cupboards and pantries since they are dark and have objects to hide behind and underneath.

are scorpions dangerous

Are scorpions dangerous?

Most species of scorpion are not lethal to humans. However, all scorpions have tail stingers that are venomous and they can bite. More often than not, these bites and stings will only cause localized pain at the site of the injury, but that can be vastly different if you happen to have an allergy to scorpion venom. Children and older adults are the most at risk.

Most of the species that people commonly keep as pets are larger and tend to be slower to sting. They usually have more docile dispositions as well.

Interestingly enough, it tends to be true that the smaller the scorpion species, the more venomous it is. And the species that have larger pincer claws such as Emperor scorpions and Asian Forest scorpions tend to have less potent stings.

So, yes, theoretically all scorpions are dangerous. But the commonly kept pet species are not lethal to people unless you happen to have an allergy. People who have been stung by their pet scorpions have compared the pain and after effects as similar to a bee sting.

Where can I get a pet scorpion?

Some people are lucky enough to be able to step outside and collect a wild scorpion as a pet! But, we advise against this for multiple reasons.

Specialty pet stores often sell the more common scorpion species. And reptile expos and shows are also great places to acquire a pet scorpion. Both of these are great options because you can see the animal beforehand and get a feel for its personality.

Scorpions are also really resilient creatures and do very well with being shipped overnight to new homes. This means that you can safely order a pet scorpion online from Backwater Reptiles or another breeder of your choice.

Conclusion

While we don’t have all the questions you might possibly have about scorpions listed or discussed in this article, we do hope that we’ve covered the basics. We get a lot of queries about this invertebrate because people are interested in owning one, but want to do research prior to purchasing. And we are one hundred percent on board with that.

We hope that we’ve helped you gain a better understanding of this sometimes misunderstood creature. If you still have any questions that we didn’t cover in this article, let us know in the comments!

Don’t miss our other scorpion-related articles, including:

The most popular pet scorpions

How to set up a scorpion habitat

How to pick up a scorpion

What is Reptile Enrichment

~ BackwaterReptiles

What is reptile enrichment? 

Many zoos provide enrichment for their captive animals. Essentially, enrichment is entertainment in the form of activities, puzzles or special playtime. The idea is to make sure that captive animals don’t feel bored or stressed. In terms of reptiles kept as pets, enrichment can mean many things and we’ll discuss what those things entail and what you as a reptile owner can do to provide enrichment.

Minnesota Zoo Snake Climbing Board
This Hog Island Boa is enjoying a climbing board at the Minnesota Zoo.

What counts as enrichment?

It might seem strange, but reptiles can get bored. It’s true that repetition helps train them and domesticate them, but our herp friends still need to break up the monotony of captivity. That’s where enrichment comes into play.

Technically, in the context of pet reptiles, enrichment involves several elements. In terms of habitat, it can be defined as enhancing or creating an environment that most accurately mimics that of the wild. In terms of behaviors, it can mean providing your pet with the ability to make choices and perform species-specific activities and instinctive behaviors. 

Interestingly enough, enrichment can be anything from the type of food you give your herp to the décor in its cage. It also involves the time you spend with your pet and the opportunities you provide to get outdoors.

Does my reptile need enrichment?

The answer we would like to give to this question is of course, yes. However, truthfully, many species of reptile and amphibian actually don’t need a whole lot of material possessions or maintenance to thrive and be healthy. We are just of the mindset that any pet you own should be given the best care and that means providing experiences that give meaning and for lack of a better term, fun, to your pet’s daily existence. 

Most herps really only require a few things to do well as pets: a cage, substrate, food, water, a hide space, and some lighting and/or heat source. Enrichment is simply any extra attention you provide to the environment and your pet.

And we want to be clear that there are certain species that are more “intelligent” or interactive that should definitely be provided with enrichment. These include the larger species that shouldn’t always be kept in a tank such as crocodilians, fully grown iguanas, tegus, large pythons and boas, and grown monitors. Other smart species that we feel should have special enrichment features include but are not limited to: bearded dragons, tortoises (particularly large sulcatas), and chameleons.

feeding enrichment at London Zoo
These tortoises are enjoying feeding enrichment. Not only do they have a variety of tasty food to consume, they are also being encouraged to practice natural behaviors that would allow them to obtain the food in the wild.

Ideas for reptile enrichment at home 

The type of enrichment you choose for your herp will vary widely based upon what species you own and how well that particular species interacts with humans on a personal level. Some species such as dart frogs, will be provided enrichment mainly in the form of habitat naturalization. Other species, such as tegus, iguanas or bearded dragons are a lot more people-friendly and will have a wide range of enrichments that the owner can provide.

Below are some very general ideas that you might wish to try out as enrichment for your own pet:

Snake enrichment 

It might seem like snakes wouldn’t require much in the form of enrichment. After all, they don’t even have limbs. But, there is one very easy element that most owners can provide that works for almost all arboreal snake species – climbing furniture! You can purchase special items made to put in an enclosure to climb on or you can find your own natural sticks. Some zoos have even created special climbing boards for their larger snakes that resemble Plinko games. The snakes are let loose and allowed to climb the wall by utilizing the pegs that stick out.

Another simple way to add enrichment to your snake’s life is to allow it to explore outdoors (under close supervision of course). Many ball pythons and large boas truly enjoy soaking up the sunshine while crawling through the grass.

Lizard enrichment

Nearly any lizard enclosure can be enriched by making it appear as naturalistic as possible. For tropical species, this could include adding backdrops, living plants, water pools and very moist substrate. Some larger species with large, custom built cages will even enjoy mini waterfalls.

If you have a large lizard such as a fully grown iguana, tegu or monitor, we highly advise that they spend a fair amount of time outside their enclosure.

Tegus can enjoy leash walks, believe it or not. They often behave like puppies and enjoy going places with their owner and quickly learn that leashes are non-threatening. Tegus are also very smart and sometimes learn to play simple games that are based upon sharpening natural behaviors.

Iguanas can be a bit more temperamental, but they still enjoy a good soak in the sunshine. They also usually have very healthy appetites so providing enrichment in the form of a very varied diet is an option.

Amphibian enrichment

Amphibians are the toughest to provide enrichment for. Most frogs, toads and salamanders don’t enjoy being handled by people, so enrichment typically comes in the form of treat food and specialty enclosures.

Many people enjoy crafting a tank that mimics wild environments. Not only does the amphibian enjoy it, but the owner usually gets pleasure from the aesthetic beauty of it.

Meal time enrichment can come in the form of a varied diet of treats and staple foods. Some owners also allow natural feeding methods rather than tong-feeding or dish feeding.

tortoise enrichment
These tortoises are enjoying leafy greens through a special ball. The ball encourages natural picking and foraging techniques while eating.

Conclusion

Just like we try to keep our furry friends entertained and happy with toys, treats and outings, we should also strive to provide entertainment in the form of enrichment to our reptilian and amphibian pals.

Although most herps don’t require a lot of space or engagement, it is important to break up the monotony of captivity. We recommend using treat food items, interacting with your pet outside the enclosure if possible, and maybe even playing some games with your pet if they are willing and able. Taking your reptile or amphibian outdoors for some sunshine also counts as enrichment!