Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-08-02
Feeding Reptiles In Captivity.

vi lne ItpultS COulmODly lOuHu III zap
tivity, with the single exception of The
large snakes. These reptiles display an
almost incredible fastidiousnesS, for they
frequently prefer starvation 10 eating food
that does not please their pala,es. And
since ii is often difficult TO ascertain what
food snake does want, the keepers OF
captive serpents are frequently put to it
to find way 10 save valuable specimens
from starving themselves to death.
Although the word reptiles" suggests
10 the average person only snakes and
lizards, the tortoises and crocodilians
come under the same head. AT the Zoo
logical Garden in Bronx Park, New York
City, nearly one thousand specimens OF
these various kinds Of reptiles are on ex-
hibition, and the process OF feeding them
has been put on a thoroughly scientific
basis.
The tortoises include both land and
water turtles. The smaller OF these are
largely herbivorous, but the larger kinds
subsist principally upon flesh. The
small turtles therefore are fed twice a
week with lettuce, cabbage, carrots,
melons, sweet potatoes and celery, and
the larger creatures receive daily small
fish, frogs, beef and earthworms.
Lizards, too, are both carnivorous and
herbivorous. The smaller species sub
sist principally on green stuffs, while the
larger kinds, such as iguanaS, monitors
and others, are chiefly meat eaters. IT.
captivity, therefore, the former receive
succulent vegetables, the latter eggs, rats,
mice and the like, with an occasional
meal OF fruit.
The crocodilians, including both the
crocodiles and the alligators, are strictly
flesh eaters. They are the Scavengers OF
the reptile kingdom, and they enjoy their
food when it is slightly putrid Their
appetites are Unsuitable. Twice week
in summer and once week in winter
they are given raw beei Each is fed ac-
cording to its size; the big twelve-foot
saurian for example gets an eight-pound
titbt. Occasionally their diet is varied
with fish or chickens.
1t is the feeding OF snakes, however,
that is most stintereSting Sopowerful are
the digestive fluids in these creatures that
they assimilate virtually everything they
swallow. Bones, feathers, hair, nails,
and even the hard enamel OF teeth, MELT
under the action OF their acid secretionS.
The only things they throw off are the
soles OF the feet OF fowls and the quills
from feathers. In these apparently the
snake cannot find any nouriShment--
which is not remarkable.
With respect TO their food, snakes
naturally fall into two classes those
which eat only cold-blooded animals,
and those OF which the prey is wholly
warm blooded. To the first class belong
almost all the smaller and more common
species, and the huge pYthons, boas, an
acondas and king snakes constitute the
second division. The poisonous ser
penis also fall into the second group.
Frogs, toads, small fishes, earthworms,
salamanders and similar cold-blooded
creatures compose the food OF the first
class the reptiles in the second division
receive, according TO their size, mice, rats,
birds, fowls, guinea pigs, and even small
pigs.
The frequency with which snakes are
fed depends upon their activity and the
degree OF their fastidiousneSS. There is
moi much trouble with the nonconstrict-
ing serpents. They are active and they
eat whatever is given them. The most
active are fed every fourth or fifth day;
the least active once week or once in
ten days. ltj with the giant constrlc-
tors that the keepers have difficulties.
Once in twelve days is the usual time
for feeding them; but some ot these SER
pents are so sluggish that, to prevent
their becoming fat, they are fed only at
intervals OF three or four weeks. More
over, these huge constructors are fastidi-
Gus TO degree, and their keepers are Oh
ten at their wits end to find food that
pleaSes them. The taste OF a serpent is
not to be determined by its species,
since one snake may refuse TO eat any
thing except rabbits, while another snake
of the same kind may insist on being fed
with chickens.
Probably the most voracious serpent
at the Bronx Zoo" is the king cobra.
He is strictly cannibalistic. Large black
snakes and similar serpents are his favor
ite food. AT first he received three OF
these each week. But the supply at the
Zoo was not equal to the demand. Then
large snakes were brought from the
South. When that supply also began TO
fail. a novel experiment was tried on the
cobra. A black. snake, stuffed TO burst
with bull frogs, was placed in his cage,
and the keeper .anxiously awaited'the re-
suit. The cobra quickly dispelled all ap-
prehension by eating the stuffed snake.
Since then stuffed snakes have been his
sole food
Remarkably fastidious was atree snake
that came to the Zoo from tropical Africa.
This serpent possessed the unusual COM
bination OF poison fangs with the power
OF construction. When put into the cage,
il climbed 10 the top OF a tree and stayed
there.
Mr.. Raymond Ditmars, curator OF rep
files. had never before seen such snake.