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 #2092452


Atrax27407
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 When you have a sick Anole.

It is often not possible to diagnose what is wrong with an Anole simply from a description of symptoms. Several illneses may have virtually the same symptoms. If your Anole is not behaving normally, and you believe it is ill, please include some basic additional information in your post. It would be nice to have the enclosure temperatures (cool side, warm side, and basking area), humidity level, and the number of "daylight" hours when the lighting is on. A description of the current diet would also help. If you can, please include a photo of the Anole as well.



11/05/09  09:03pm

 #2094010


Dchase
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 2092452


 When you have a sick Anole. I need help!

I am having a few issues with my anoles. Let me give some background.

I am a high school teacher and I ordered this behavior kit for my animal behavior class. The catalog description does not inform you that you get 18 Green Anoles in this kit. I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician so I knew enough to do some research to ensure I had the proper habitats etc.. Turns out I have 20 Anoles. I have two ten gallon tanks each with 3 anoles - one male and two females. These guys are thriving. I have two long 20 gallon tanks with 6 in one and 8 in the other. I know it says not to have more than three together but $ prevented me from getting more tanks. I have basking lights and UVB lights on 12 hour cycles. The temp in the cool area is usually just above 70. The humidity ranges50-70%. Temp in the warm area is 80-82. I spray the tanks twice daily, feed M-W-F alternating mealworms and crickets(dusted with calcium 1Xweekly). They have an eco-earth substrate, vines, live plants and fake ones. The conditions have been like this since September.

The problems:
1) In the past week I am seeing aggressive behaviors all of a sudden. In the two larger tanks. I can assume that it is possibly too many in the tank. One male in each of the tanks have gone after smaller females. One of the females lost part of her leg. I have since separated the injured female out and the aggressive male from the other tank. My plan is to get some more ten gallon tanks and reduce their numbers. I think I can solve this one

2) This problem I don’t know what is happening! In one of the larger tanks a female appears sick. She seems to have something that is not allowing her to open one of her eyes - crust or maybe damage to her eye. She did not struggle much when I took her out to look at her. She is also brown and has been for a while. It seems in general most of the anoles in the larger tanks just are not doing well. Could it just be due to overcrowding?
11/10/09  12:24pm

 #2094022


Atrax27407
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   Message To: Dchase   In reference to Message Id: 2094010


 When you have a sick Anole. I need help!

Here are the observations:

1) They are woefully overcrowded. You need to allow 10 gallons per Anole in the enclosures. If you don’t, you will never see normal behavior. You can have more than three in a sufficiently sized enclosure as long as only one is a male.

2) You need to provide a basking area with a temperature of approximately 90 degrees in each enclosure. You might also increase the "daylight" to 14 hours.

3) You maybe confusing normal mating activity for aggression. Anole courtship is not for "the faint hearted". Females can indeed be injured or even killed in the process.

4) Make certain that you have only one male per enclosure. More than that will cause fights as they try to establish territories (male Anoles are highly territorial).

5) Seperate the sick Anole from the others and treat the eye ailment with some "Turtle eyedrops" from a pet store. They should clear up the infection.
11/10/09  01:52pm

 #2094073


Dchase
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 2094022


 When you have a sick Anole. I need help!

Thank you for the input. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to spend more $ but I want them to be happy.
11/10/09  05:03pm

 #2094677


Tiari
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   Message To: Dchase   In reference to Message Id: 2094073


 When you have a sick Anole. I need help!

Definately need larger enclosures and make sure the basking spot is of the right degrees.

Indeed, mating anole’s can be VERY aggressive. My male, Madison, actually dislocated his pelvis due to one of my females not being in the mood when he was randy, and he is still recovering after several months of veterinary care.
11/12/09  08:17am

 #2095176


Tabbyfoo
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   Message To: Tiari   In reference to Message Id: 2094677


 Consider making your own enclosures

Since you said that cost is a consideration, you might consider MAKING some enclosures. If you get creative, you can come up with some great ideas. I had one of the medium sized plastic "critter keeprs" that I was using as a cricket container, but one of my cats dumped it over in the middle of the night three times and I"d had enough of crickets all over the house. I bought a plastic storage container with a locking lid, some plastic substrate mesh and a hot glue gun and made my own containers - one larger one for crickets and two smaller ones for mealworms and waxworms, and the cat knocked them over last night and nary a cricket escaped! I’m sure if you searched around online, you could find some plans for home-made reptile cages to give you ideas.

Also, 10 gallon tanks are the most popularly bought, so you might try posting on your local craigslist.org and see if anyone will give you their old ones free or for a very inexpensive price.
11/14/09  12:11am

 #2095458


Tiari
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   Message To: Tabbyfoo   In reference to Message Id: 2095176


 Consider making your own enclosures

Check too with Aquarium supply stores for returned 10 gallon tanks, sometimes they have these at deep discount prices. Another thought is putting up a flier in a supermarket that you are looking for 10 gallon tanks, many people have small aquariums then get bored and have tanks sitting in their basements collecting dust. Also check second hand stores like the Good Will.
11/14/09  11:26pm


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