Anoles!

[gasteriaphile]

Hi Beck, a couple to three observations on your remarks (which are appreciated by the way!):

I didn't say that anoles were frowned upon only that they are not popular, esp. due to prices and money concerns. Plus these things go in fads. And lastly, anoles are a "subtle" lizard. That is they don't "get right in your face" like some lizards (monitors come to mind), or just blow your mind like chameleons...or engender the warm fuzzies like some geckoes.

I don't think anyone on e(vil)bay is selling live lizards. Maybe live fish etc. but not herps. I may be wrong.

I went to a pretty impressive little local reptile store today for first time and they had some pretty nice chameleons, lots of geckoes, some agamids, bearded monstrosities and NO anoles.

But I am actually having some luck. I have found a fellow in California with a darned nice list of anoles for sale at reasonable prices AND he is amenable, amicable, and knowledgeable.

Breck

Originally Posted by beckdg

i sure do hope things work out for you. it is not impossible, but difficult yes. the wtb posts and ebay type sites i think would be your best bets. .....experienced anoles are frowned upon openly in many online communities due to the reasons you yourself stated and the fact that most specimens collected even now are in fact wild caught... this will prove difficult when searching on line which sucks cause it's the easiest way to communicate and locate things nowadays... if there is a good lps in your area that you deal with, maybe someone there can point you in the right direction... you never know where you're going to get what you're looking for so (of course) keep your options as open as possible... best regards and good luck, BECK.

[gasteriaphile]

Sorry you did not find your needs met here gasteriaphile, having done some research on you I do hope you will come around from time to time and help us out with our flora and aquaria problems though. A good biologist is always needed on any herp related site.

Well actually John your info below was quite helpful. Terms are always good to know. I don't know how you did your research on me, but that was interesting to know too! I'd be happy to share whatever I can that is needed. I have been a biologist for many years, in botany. But was a boy herper and learned to take care of several types of lizards and snakes. I have alot of experience in plant design and ornamental horticulture, and can help vivarium beginners to have a design in mind and execute it. And, diagnose plant problems.

As for your definitions I believe what you are really looking for is a herpetoculturist specializing in genus Anolis.
Hobbyists tend to be the people who keep pets. They will on occasion have a sucessful breeding and raise the hatchling et al to adulthood but for them it is more the beauty of the animal that counts.
Herpetoculturists are the breeders. Often they sell to the pet trade sometimes they just do it to see if they can.
I count myself between the Herpetoculturist and the Herpetologist.
For the Herpetologist it is primarily the study of the animals that counts.

I think I am between a horticulturist and a botanist

Also as I said in my preceding post to Beck, I have had some luck with an anole dealer who has some good stuff.

[gasteriaphile]

]Buenos dias amigos!

Well I have been making slow, steady, incremental progress (something I would never have had the patience for 50 years ago So I'm back to report, mainly with photos.

At this stage my creation is simply a terrarium, harboring only botanical specimens. But it was intentionally created, from the first step, to accommodate anoles. And, since it is more horizontal than vertical, I designed it for the little "Brown Anole", Anolis sagrei. That was done because this anole species is considerably much less arboreal than its congeners. I think it is referred to as a trunk-to-ground type. I also chose A. sagrei because I am just starting out and the cost of acquiring this little fellas is modest, and failure would not be as catastrophic as would killing some Anolis bahorucoensis!

The glass tank is a 29 gallon size, 30 inches long, 12 inches deep and 18 inches high. I chose plants that are reasonably the same as what this anole species would live amongst in southern Florida, USA (where it has established itself as an alien species). The Maranta leuconeura on the right hand side might be a stretch, being native to Brazil and I do not think it is grown out of doors in southern Florida. The large green leaved Ardisia elliptica on the left is a naturalized alien species, although, coincidentally, two other species of Ardisia are native to Florida!

The plant setup is filled out with two plants of the vine, Ficus pumila, which I hope will climb over the large "log" it is in front of. It is very common in southern Florida. And lastly, on the far right, front corner is a Selaginella kraussiana to act as a groundcover.

The large pieces of wood are both from the same tree limb, and I have tentatively identified it as that of an ornamental cherry. I found this limb by the side of a street here in Spokane and cut the limb up to size for the tank. These pieces of wood are to be the anoles' perches.

The tank has about 4-5 inches of soil in it. Well, actually an inch, or thereabouts, underneath the soil is pumice, calcined clay and horticultural charcoal. This is to provide an area where excess water can pool if necessary and not drown the plants' roots.

For the all important light source, I have decided to use a 200 watt compact fluorescent fixture made by HydroFarm. I think many vivarists do not use enough light to really grow plants well. Especially with fluorescents, they settle for much fewer watts. Fluorescents put out much less light, i.e. foot--candles than a comparable wattaged incandescent. So 200 watts is just right. I'll post some photos of the whole setup later. I am suspending the light fixture on two Zoo-Med metal supports, which are OK but I am not satisfied with them. They are too flimsy for the HydroFarm unit and don't raise high enough. But for now, they'll do.

My biggest challenge in the near future is to raise the humidity in the tank. Because the top is screen and the light is strong (fluorescents do put out heat, just not near as much), the humidity, so far has never been above 50% and is usually in the 20% range.

I still need a UVB source for my lizards to bask in for Vitamin D production. Those big light hoods with the ceramic bases are just way too big. Does anyone know of a small UVB light that can pinpoint the beam?

Now I have to start doing research on breeding and raising crickets! Cheers to all you lizard lovers. Breck

[froggsong]

Not bad... Very nice branch you have there.

If you get a digital hygrometer, I bet you'll find that your humidity is higher than you might think. Those dial gauges are very often incorrect (more often than they are).

[gasteriaphile]

Originally Posted by froggsong

Not bad... Very nice branch you have there.
And it was free!

If you get a digital hygrometer, I bet you'll find that your humidity is higher than you might think. Those dial gauges are very often incorrect (more often than they are).

I didn't know that. I presume you refer to the type I have which is a Petco special.

[froggsong]

You are correct!

Most of us use this one from Wal-Mart. It measures a basking temp, the ambient temp, and the humidity. It also has a clock and records the highs and lows of all three. You can find it in the section with the window screen and tools and stuff near the paint. They can be a little bit difficult to locate, but someone should be able to point you to them.

I came across this one on the same site that is really cool too, I like that the remote sensor has a removable probe.

[gasteriaphile]

Is it possible to get adequate results from using Vitamin D/Repti-Cal supplements to food as opposed to using UVB producing light? at least in the case of anoles?

[beckdg]

in a word "no"... they don't need a huge bulb though and definitely no more than a reptisun 5.0... a 2.0 should do just fine... if they can get natural sunlight from time to time that would really make things easier... a couple of keepers have suggested an hour a day of natural sunlight (not through glass) at least 3-4 times a week will suffice... i personally would not know about that one... as i'm sure you already know they are iguanids so natural light really is best at least from time to time

[Austin]

I too love the branch you have in there. You did a good job placing plants and wood, it looks very nice

[gasteriaphile]

Originally Posted by Austin

I too love the branch you have in there. You did a good job placing plants and wood, it looks very nice

Thank you. I have had thoughts of creating these terraria/vivaria for "fun and profit". Would have to be local of course, but it sure was fun. After several decades working in one way or another in the plant business, I know what I am doing with such creations, whereas my earlier efforts with aquaria were ludicrous!