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 #1759327


Greenandscalyanoles2
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 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

I have had Green Anoles for years,but I am wondering,what substrate is good for them besides organic potting soil? Please list them when you answer this!
06/12/08  10:42pm

 #1759983


TwilightRealm
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   Message To: Greenandscalyanoles2   In reference to Message Id: 1759327


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Atrax’s care sheet (Link) recommends either "organic potting soil (without Perlite or fertilizer) or organic compost. Both are absorbent and digestible and can be found at most garden supply stores for a few dollars."

I’ve heard some people recommend Bed-a-Beast, but personally after trying it, I plan to switch to organic potting soil.
06/13/08  04:34pm

 #1836693


Efetsko89
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   Message To: Greenandscalyanoles2   In reference to Message Id: 1759327


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

eco earth is good



08/19/08  10:00pm

 #1836799


Peas_on_earth
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   Message To: Efetsko89   In reference to Message Id: 1836693


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

I use eco earth...it keeps humidity and my females have an easy time digging in it when it’s egg laying time.
08/19/08  11:32pm

 #1837245


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Peas_on_earth   In reference to Message Id: 1836799


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

eco earth, bedabeast, and stuff like that are fine...but once you realize how much more expensive they are compared to organic potting soil, you will never use it again.
08/20/08  02:53pm

 #1838336


Leith
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   Message To: Greenandscalyanoles2   In reference to Message Id: 1759327


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

I use crushed english walnut shells
but beaked moss is great too
08/21/08  02:27pm

 #1838422


Atrax27407
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   Message To: Leith   In reference to Message Id: 1838336


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Both pf those are dangerous. If ingested, even in small quantities, will cause death.
08/21/08  03:56pm

 #1838451


Leith
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1838422


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

well when i got the english walnut shells i read the chart on the back and it has acceptable and preferred substrates and it said the stuff i use is acceptable and beaked moss was preferred, im confused, is the chart wrong then?
08/21/08  04:24pm

 #1838520


Dislimbed
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   Message To: Leith   In reference to Message Id: 1838451


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Dont believe the charts, they just want your money. Walnet shells are horrible.
I prefer dirt.
08/21/08  05:11pm

 #1838569


Leith
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   Message To: Dislimbed   In reference to Message Id: 1838520


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

it says Douglas Fir bark, Terrarium Liner, and Beaked Moss are good
08/21/08  05:57pm

 #1838635


The White Wolf
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   Message To: Leith   In reference to Message Id: 1838569


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Organic potting soil is the best substrate for anoles.
08/21/08  07:07pm

 #1838850


Atrax27407
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   Message To: The White Wolf   In reference to Message Id: 1838635


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Go to the local garden center and buy a bag of organic potting soil (without added Perlite or fertilizers) or organic compost for about $4-$5. Depending on the size of the enclosure, you will have enough substrate to last a year or more depending on how often you change it.
Any conifer-based product (pine, fir, cedar, etc.) contains natural chemicals that cause nerve damage in reptiles. Any substrate that is indigestible (like moss, walnut shells, sand, and others) can cause intestinal impaction and death if accidentally ingested along with a prey item. Anoles will often get a mouthful of substrate when hunting on the enclosure substrate.
But do whatever you want. Just don’t complain at an untimely and sudden death.
08/21/08  10:09pm

 #1839264


Leith
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1838850


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

He makes sure not to get any substrate when he eats, he grabs a cricket and climbs on top of his tree thats in the cage and sways his head back and forth against it to get any off then eats it
08/22/08  10:43am

 #1839418


Atrax27407
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   Message To: Leith   In reference to Message Id: 1839264


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Its obvious that there is no way to convince you to put a safe substrate in your enclosure. Good luck.
08/22/08  01:07pm

 #1839449


Leith
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1839418


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

no no i know its not safe but im saying ive had him in that substrate for 18 months, and he hasnt had a problem, if he pulls thru the respiratory infection i switch
08/22/08  01:44pm

 #1839754


Atrax27407
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   Message To: Leith   In reference to Message Id: 1839449


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

The dust generated by the crushed walnut hulls might be the cause of his respiratiry problems.
08/22/08  08:04pm

 #1839755


Atrax27407
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   Message To: Leith   In reference to Message Id: 1839449


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

The dust generated by the crushed walnut hulls might be the cause of his respiratory problems.
08/22/08  08:04pm

 #1841390


Anais
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   Message To: Greenandscalyanoles2   In reference to Message Id: 1759327


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

bark chips
08/24/08  06:39pm

 #1841466


Atrax27407
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   Message To: Anais   In reference to Message Id: 1841390


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Also not good.
08/24/08  07:56pm

 #1841467


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Anais   In reference to Message Id: 1841390


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

bark chips are not a good substrate
08/24/08  07:57pm

 #1864296


Greenandscalyanoles2
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1841467


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

I put organic potting soil in my lizard’s tank a few days ago.This is a new anole I have had ever since June.



09/20/08  05:06pm

 #1881993


Reaperx
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   Message To: Greenandscalyanoles2   In reference to Message Id: 1864296


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

I just replaced repti-bark (very bad for anoles i have recently learned/ also $21 a bag) with organic topsoil (which was $1.79 a bag) And mind you one bag of the organic topsoil is enough to last my 30 gallon cage at least a whole year as said a few posts above.
10/16/08  03:43pm

 #1882093


TwilightRealm
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   Message To: Reaperx   In reference to Message Id: 1881993


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Hey, Atrax?

I while ago I bought a bag of organic top soil from Home Depot. The store had a huge selection, but most of the organic ones we saw had additives, or in the case of Miracle-Gro’s Organic Choice, mentioned that the user should wear gloves when handling, which sounded suspicious.

Anyway, I bought Organic Valley top soil and took it home. I’ve been using it for a while now, but the last time I went to clean the tank, I saw long clumps of what appeared to be dried wood, about a 1"-1 1/2" long and a little less than 1/4" wide. I opened the bag and sifted around, and found more, soggy wood substances. When I first used it, I thought it was all dirt.

Could these hurt my anoles? Even if they look fine right now, I know that doesn’t mean they are.
10/16/08  06:40pm

 #1882116


Atrax27407
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   Message To: TwilightRealm   In reference to Message Id: 1882093


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Anything that big shouldn’t be a problem. I always sift my substrate through 1/4" hardware cloth and sterilize it in the microwave or oven before putting it in the enclosure.



10/16/08  07:02pm

 #1882139


TwilightRealm
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1882116


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

That’s why I mentioned the size--I don’t think it would be possible for them to really ingest something like that, but I couldn’t be sure and felt it was safer to ask. I’m so glad I get to keep the dirt, then, because we got a HUGE bag, and this will last a long time. The heck with Bed-a-Beast, what a waste of money for something so small.

What does sterilizing the soil prevent or kill? Possibly bacteria? It sounds like a good idea, but I think my roommates (both cooks) would get upset if I tried to bake dirt in ’their’ kitchen. What is hardware cloth? Any instructions as to what temperature and for how long you bake it for? The wooden bits wouldn’t catch fire, would it? Sorry for all the questions!
10/16/08  07:27pm

 #1882287


Atrax27407
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   Message To: TwilightRealm   In reference to Message Id: 1882139


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Sterilizing the copost/potting soil will kill bacteria, fungi, molds, weed seeds, and any pest eggs (like slugs)
Hardware cloth is the heavy duty screen usually used to seal foundation vents, etc.
In an oven, 30 minutes at 300 degrees. In a microwave 15 minutes on high heat. It works bext if you put it in a roasting bag. Keep a check on the compost in the oven but 300 degrees is well below the ignition poit of most materials.
Oh yes, let it cool before you put it in the enclosure.



10/16/08  10:40pm

 #1902103


Jimis dad
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1882287


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

I have reptile bark in my anole’s enclosures, and have for years. I have never heard of it being bad. I have 7 anoles and never had a health issue. There was a show in Canada called Acorn the Nature Nut. He recommended it for anole enclosures. That’s how I came to use it. Why is the bark bad?
11/20/08  05:02pm

 #1902198


AnoleFriend101
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   Message To: Jimis dad   In reference to Message Id: 1902103


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Quote:

I have reptile bark in my anole’s enclosures, and have for years. I have never heard of it being bad. I have 7 anoles and never had a health issue. There was a show in Canada called Acorn the Nature Nut. He recommended it for anole enclosures. That’s how I came to use it. Why is the bark bad?



As Atrax said earlier in this post:
Any conifer-based product (pine, fir, cedar, etc.) contains natural chemicals that cause nerve damage in reptiles. Any substrate that is indigestible (like moss, walnut shells, sand, and others) can cause intestinal impaction and death if accidentally ingested along with a prey item. Anoles will often get a mouthful of substrate when hunting on the enclosure substrate.

If you have not had any problems so far, you are just very lucky. As far as the show you watched goes, proper anole care is not common knowledge, even, if not especially, among pet store workers and people like TV hosts who are not specialized in reptiles or anoles.
11/20/08  06:45pm

 #1902282


Jimis dad
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   Message To: AnoleFriend101   In reference to Message Id: 1902198


 What is a good substrate for Green Anoles?

Thank you for the info. I have just read Atrax’s care sheet also. I’m glad I did. I take great care to provide a proper living space for all my animals, and I would hate to loose any of them due to my ignorance. I will remove the bark and replace it with potting soil. I have 80 lbs of organic potting soil (the proper stuff) I use for my crickets.

Funny thing, I used peat moss one time when I didn’t have any bark. The anoles clung to the screen lid and wouldn’t climb down, not even into the plants. They were up there for 2 days until put bark back in and they went right back to their normal selves, climbing and hunting.
11/20/08  08:18pm


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