for a higher temperature, or for sun baths. Usually a reptile, 

 whether it be snake, lizard, alligator, or turtle, suffers from a lack 

 of both heat and sunlight. 



HEAT 

 The temperature of native animals should be 70-80° F for most of 

 the day and should not drop below 65° F at night. Lizards should 

 be kept at a temperature of 80-90° F. If reptiles, particularly, are 

 to be left over week-ends or vacations in a building with the heat 

 turned off, it is best to move them to the boiler room. An electric 

 bulb, preferably connected to a thermostat, or an aquarium or 

 vivarium heater placed in the water or earth and connected with 

 a thermostat, will also work very satisfactorily. Good thermostats 

 and heaters can be obtained from stores selling tropical fish. If the 

 heater is to be used dry, be sure to get a guarantee that it is suited 

 to the purpose, for most of them are made to run immersed in 

 water. 



ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT AND SUN BATHS 

 Sun baths for reptiles and amphibia are very important. Half an 

 hour or so of direct sunlight, with no glass between sun and animal, 

 or a few minutes under a sun lamp, will help greatly to keep these 

 creatures in good condition. Clear cellophane or poultry "glass," 

 such as "Vitaglass," can be used for the tops of cages, since these 

 substances do not keep out ultra-violet light as does ordinary glass. 

 Ultra-violet bulbs can now be purchased but should be used with 

 discretion, for they give out not only ultra-violet light but also 

 enough heat to burn up ordinary light fixtures and injure the 

 patient. 



FOR FUNGUS 

 Fungus appears chiefly in the mouths and around the eyes of rep- 

 tiles and amphibia, but may appear in breaks in the skin as well. 

 When it appears the living quarters should be thoroughly soaked 

 in a cherry red solution of potassium permanganate, and the 

 affected animal should be dipped in some of the solution. A cotton 

 swab dipped in the permanganate solution may be used to wash 



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