Stress in Reptiles
The signs of stress can be very subtle and may not be clinically evident to an owner. It is important to know the signs of stress of the species in your care because inadequate setup will trigger stress responses in an animal and immunosuppression can follow. Over handling of shy species, excessive noise or foot traffic in the area of the enclosure, the presence of other domestic pets that are perceived as predators and inappropriate diet and environment are all stressors that can effect cortisol levels and thereby create immune suppression. An innapropraite environment may mean inappropriate temperatures or humidity, poor choice of substrate and enclosure, size of the enclosure, availability of hides, accessible basking spot, light cycle, other animals visible from reptiles enclosure or external noises. Other causes of stress can be inability to exhibit normal behaviour (physical) e.g. animals that are usually arborial not provided with climbing aperatus, or burrowing animals not given appropriate substrate in to which they may borrow, etc or naturally solitary animals forced to co-exist, creating unnatural competition for resources (food, best hide, basking spot) as well as increasing rates of bullying, or placing naturally gregarious animals in solitary confinement.
Stress is very serious in reptiles, it can make the animal more prone to disease, reduces efficiency of bodily functions and generally reduces the health of the animal. Chronic stress is stress that is endured over a long period of time (which could be years). It is very dangerous and can be fatal. Stress should be reduced as much as possible, it can cause the animal to become withdrawn, aggressive, anorectic and ill.
Stress is very serious in reptiles, it can make the animal more prone to disease, reduces efficiency of bodily functions and generally reduces the health of the animal. Chronic stress is stress that is endured over a long period of time (which could be years). It is very dangerous and can be fatal. Stress should be reduced as much as possible, it can cause the animal to become withdrawn, aggressive, anorectic and ill.
Prevention of Stress
There are some points to consider to prevent the induction of stress in your reptile, below is a quick list of such considerations to take into account.
* It is not appropriate to leave excessive numbers of invertebrate prey in the enclosure if the animal is uninterested – this allows insects to cause damage to the reptile.
* Social/antisocial behaviour of the animal should taken into account.
* Males in view of each other is a trigger of stress.
* Correct temperature gradient allowing for thermoregulation as the animal moves around, poor gradient will cause thermal stress.
* Be sure there is appropriate space and hiding places/ complexity of the environment.
* Obesity – consequence of lack of exercise and/ or over feeding.
* Discourage live feeding of vertebrate prey.
* Escape proof the enclosure.
* Undertank heaters are inappropriate for burrowing species – thermal burns.
* Over handling/ not supporting the animal when handling will induce uneasiness.
* Other pets create psychological stress.
* Appropriate provision of heat (day species heat from above/ nocturnal species heat from below) / day/night cycle.
* Arboreal, terrestrial, aquatic? – behaviour should be decider on setup.
* It is not appropriate to leave excessive numbers of invertebrate prey in the enclosure if the animal is uninterested – this allows insects to cause damage to the reptile.
* Social/antisocial behaviour of the animal should taken into account.
* Males in view of each other is a trigger of stress.
* Correct temperature gradient allowing for thermoregulation as the animal moves around, poor gradient will cause thermal stress.
* Be sure there is appropriate space and hiding places/ complexity of the environment.
* Obesity – consequence of lack of exercise and/ or over feeding.
* Discourage live feeding of vertebrate prey.
* Escape proof the enclosure.
* Undertank heaters are inappropriate for burrowing species – thermal burns.
* Over handling/ not supporting the animal when handling will induce uneasiness.
* Other pets create psychological stress.
* Appropriate provision of heat (day species heat from above/ nocturnal species heat from below) / day/night cycle.
* Arboreal, terrestrial, aquatic? – behaviour should be decider on setup.
© 2014 Cat Read