Common Problems With Terrarium Pets

Terrarium pets are no different from more traditional kinds – sooner or later you’re bound to run into problems, but a little knowledge can help you avoid some of the most common ones. Although different kinds of animals are often prone to their own particular troubles, many of the difficulties most likely to be encountered apply across the board, irrespective of the specific sort of pets you keep.

Poor Appetite

There are few things more guaranteed to worry a pet owner than an animal that simply won’t eat properly. With many species, it’s a common response to the stress of being relocated from the dealer’s familiar surroundings to your terrarium.

It’s perfectly normal for many kinds of exotic pets to take a little while to settle into their new environment and during this time, they’re unlikely to show much interest in food. Provided you’re offering them an appropriate diet and the temperature and general conditions within their tank are right, there’s seldom any reason to worry unduly. Once they become acclimatised, they’ll usually rediscover their absent appetite and start eating happily.

If an animal which has previously been feeding well starts refusing food it may indicate that something is wrong – but it may also simply be a part of the creature’s natural behaviour. Royal pythons (Python regius), for example, fast for extended periods during their breeding season and many other species behave in a similar way. Finding out about your particular pet’s natural behaviour can save you an awful lot of worry – so it’s well worth doing some careful research.

Parasites

The list of parasites waiting to infest most exotic pets is a long one and many animals – especially wild-caught specimens – have their share of unwanted guests. Parasites can be divided into “external” types, such as ticks and mites or “internal” ones – the likes of tapeworms and roundworms.

• Ticks - these are fairly large parasites, which attach themselves by their piercing mouth parts and suck the pet’s blood, their bodies swelling up to the size of a pea as they feed. Removing them calls for a bit of a knack if you’re going to make sure you get all of the head out; leaving anything behind can lead to infection.
• Mites - smaller than their tick relatives, mites are another pest likely to be encountered on a number of exotic animals. Although they normally occur in much larger numbers than ticks, their smaller size makes them more difficult to see – and many a pet-keeper has only become aware of an infestation after they have found mites crawling on their own skin after they’ve been handling their pets. These parasites can often spread, so it’s important to stay on top of any mite-problems. Vets and exotic pet suppliers can provide suitable treatments and many keepers think that it’s worth treating new animals for mites preventatively on arrival.
• Tapeworms - these are intestinal worms, which attach to the wall of the gut and take their nutrients directly from the food the animal has eaten and digested. Many kinds require several host species during their lifecycle, which makes tapeworms a problem for a wide number of different creatures. They are particularly common in carnivorous types of pets.
• Roundworms - another type of internal parasite, roundworms can often be dealt with by using any one of a number of proprietary solutions, though veterinary help will need to be sought for heavy infestations.

Fungus Problems

Although aquatic pets are the most likely to meet fungal problems, any animal kept in fairly humid conditions can be affected. Problems usually begin once an animal has picked up some small damage to its skin, which allows the fungus to find its way in.

Once a fungal infection has taken hold, it can be remarkably difficult for any animal to get better on its own, so prompt veterinary treatment is called for, along with isolating the affected individuals to stop the disease spreading. It’s important to take action as soon after the first symptoms are noticed as possible to reduce the chance of other animals becoming exposed and infected.

However well you manage things in your terrarium, problems can still occur; knowing what to look for – and how to deal with them – is obviously important and can help you to minimise the potential damage that they can do.