Anyone Have Green Anole Experiance? Neglected Lizards!

[Kelsieb]

In a desperate dash to try and get my GAPF to show some interest in food other than rats I ordered some feeder lizards from a well known company and promised myself that I would humanely dispatch them and feed them off. Well, they got here and my heart broke for the little buggers! I ordered 10, out of ten 1 of them had MBD and, I suspect, had broken hips and was dragging his rear end around, was in obvious pain and severely emaciated and dehydrated. All but one possibly two of the others are also severely underweight and dehydrated. A couple were so desperate for water they began drinking the urine of a nearby cage mate! I realized that the lizards would arrive with missing tails and bite marks but for a company to send out ones as skinny, injured and sickly as these are is discusting to me. Could they not have at least given them water first?? I don't understand how a company that claims to love reptiles could send out any animal in such bad shape, even if it is 'only' a feeder!

Any way, I am now the owner of 9 green anoles and am wondering if anyone could give me any advice at all in how to care for them properly. I have supplies coming in the mail that include a Mercury heat and UVA/UVB bulb, baby dubia roaches, mealworms, calci-worms, vines, a food dish for the bugs and a bottle to mist them with. There may be more but that's all I can remember off the top of my head. I've included a few pics of the lizards, although they are crappy phone pics and don't really show how truly thin they are. Lucky for me I had an old large Exo-Terra aborial cage laying around. I used Eco Earth bedding, the same stuff I use for my African pixie frogs, is that okay for these little guys? How do I sex the smaller anoles? I know for sure that one is a male, he's HUGE and flashed me his dewlap when I was transferring them to their new cage.

[findiviglio]

Hi, very glad you are interested in these lizards...also neglected in the trade, even though they are popular...thought of as "beginners lizardss" but actuall very complex. Properly set up, a group will provide more of interest than can be imagined...those I set up during my years with the Bx Zoo stole the show from many "more dramatic" creatures! Here's a 5 part article I've written on care & nat history...sorry for the different links, i've since gone to single, longer articles. Please let me know if you have any questions, best, Frank

[Kelsieb]

Hi, very glad you are interested in these lizards...also neglected in the trade, even though they are popular...thought of as "beginners lizardss" but actuall very complex. Properly set up, a group will provide more of interest than can be imagined...those I set up during my years with the Bx Zoo stole the show from many "more dramatic" creatures! Here's a 5 part article I've written on care & nat history...sorry for the different links, i've since gone to single, longer articles. Please let me know if you have any questions, best, Frank

Thanks so much for the link! I do have one question, I noticed today that apparently I have at least two males and they were displaying aggressive behaviour over a female with dewlaps showing and head bobbing. The female was also bobbing her head but showed no dewlap. I've included a picture. One male made a small swipe with his tail before I split them up. Should I seperate them ASAP or will they work it out? If I should how many females should I put with the single male?

[findiviglio]

Thanks so much for the link! I do have one question, I noticed today that apparently I have at least two males and they were displaying aggressive behaviour over a female with dewlaps showing and head bobbing. One male made a small swipe with his tail before I split them up. Should I seperate them ASAP? If so how many females should I put with the single male?

My pleasure; yes, males cannot be kept together unless given a huge exhibit...greenhouse type setting, etc; You can keep several females, as many as tank size permits, with a male; just keep an eye on them - fighting not as common as with males, but dominance hierarchy will develop; submissive animals may not be able to bask and feed, and will also be subject to stress related disorders. Provide lots of cover, multiple basking sites; pl keep me posted, frank

[Kelsieb]

My pleasure; yes, males cannot be kept together unless given a huge exhibit...greenhouse type setting, etc; You can keep several females, as many as tank size permits, with a male; just keep an eye on them - fighting not as common as with males, but dominance hierarchy will develop; submissive animals may not be able to bask and feed, and will also be subject to stress related disorders. Provide lots of cover, multiple basking sites; pl keep me posted, frank

I will have to do some moving around but can get a second cage going. I think I only have the two males, if there are any more they are young and undeveloped. I adore these little guys already, they are pretty and funny. Hopefully they can all recover from their neglected states! I am moving later this year and will be able to build them a huge cage once I move. Would an 8' wide by 4' tall plexiglass enclosure be enough for the two males to establish seperate territories?

Edit to add: would a Zilla fresh air screen cage that is 12 deep, 18 wide, 20 tall work for now to seperate the males? My room is kept at 78-80 degrees to keep my Giant African Pixie frogs cozy so the anoles wouldn't be cold and I don't mind misting several times a day or even maybe getting them a small water dripper or something if that would help with humidity. Thank you so much for your help! I really want to do right by these poor little guys!

[Kelsieb]

An update on my neglected anole colony. They appear to be doing much better and I now believe I have 3 males but one looks to be very young. His dewlap barely shows any color and he's very small and thin. Can he be housed with another male for the time being since he's so young and non aggressive? He acts just like a female and does submissive head bobs whenever the big male displays dominance. I only noticed it because, until a special aborial dish I ordered arrives, I've been feeding them every other day in a Kritter Keeper. It's the only way I can get them to eat. 7 out of 9 are eating well, including the big male and his favourite female who's very beaten up and covered in bite scars. I suspect she's had eggs before. I feed these two together and their behaviour is awesome! She waits for the male to eat first, then does submissive head bobs and takes herself a worm. Very fascinating! I ordered another cage that should be here by tomorrow according to the tracking info. Some supplies arrived and I tricked out their cage, they seem quite taken with the fake vine and bamboo stalks. I also got them a Mercury Vapor bulb. Enjoy the pics!

ETA: I was wondering if it's possible that some of these guys are Brown Anoles or another species of anole? Some have beautiful back patterns and others are active and alert but still a deep brown, others have brown noses and tails. Is this from illness or something else? You can see the brown ones and the back pattern in the pics.