TULSA, Okla. — The Oklahoma Reptile Show drew thousands of exotic pet enthusiasts to the DoubleTree hotel, near E. 61st St. and S. Yale Ave., to buy and sell reptiles, amphibians and other cold-blooded animals.
5-year-old Kruz Escue got to hold a snake, as well as a lizard.
“I got to hold one lizard, and it was kind of like sharp,” he said.
To find out how to keep cold-blooded pets safe and warm through the winter, FOX23 with met Amethyst Halvorsen, who owns Bio Boutique.
“Some reptiles, it depends on what species, but they either need a heat lamp or a heat mat to keep them warm. You can do an ambient temperature, I keep a heater in my room, just to ambient, but some snakes do need higher temperatures, so you do a heat mat with a thermostat, which is very important. You don’t want any injuries happening,” she said.
Halvorsen said another thing to keep in mind is humidity and hydration.
She said avoid placing terrariums near vents and windows.
“In the winter the heat in your house will dry out the air, so you need a humidifier or spray them daily so they keep up that moisture so they stay hydrated,” she said.
Halvorsen also said to use caution when snuggling your reptiles against your bare skin to keep them warm.
“I would keep them away from your nose, eyes and mouth, and always wash your hands before and after to keep away any Salmonella or things that might transfer,” she said.
If something doesn’t seem right with your cold-blooded friend, seek out a veterinary clinic immediately, preferably one that has exotic animal experience.
The Oklahoma Reptile Show will be back in Tulsa on Feb., 26, 2023.
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