30 gallon terrarium help

[froggsong]

I've always wanted to use a 20 high for some FBTs. What I want to do is turn the 20G on it's front, so that what used to be the front is now the bottom, then silicone a piece of plexi or glass across the front of the tank frame to hold in substrate and make a screen door to go across the front. That way I have a low tank with more floor space to work with. I'd say I like to think outside of the box, but I think in this case it is more like thinking with the box in a different direction, lol...

Have you tried luring the FBTs out with food? Maybe something that wiggles alot but stays in one spot, like wax worms?

[jpstod]

I had Brown and Green Anoles in with Green Tree Frogs for a long Time..before I went on Vacation and Found the Tank invested with Fire Ants when I returned..

They all got along..The Tank sat right by the Computer and every time I played music..They all started dancing and bobbing heads and the green tree frogs started chirping. I guess they were use to people because none of them every hid and they spent more time watching people than we did watching them

I would recommend getting rid of that water dish and use a small portion of pond liner to make a more natural looking pond

[beth2]

yes, I dislike that little dish too....I bought it as a temporary water source.....they dont even use it now that the soil is so damp again from a good soaking.

[harrywitmore]

I do not house anoles on purpose but they are native here and I have them by the 100's outside in the greenhouses and even in the house. In the summer I never see many brown males unless they are fighting and then it's normally the loser. The females are brown sometimes but most of the time they are green with a lighter stripe down the center.

Winter is a totally different thing. They are all brown almost all the time unless they find a very warm spot and it stays that way. One other thing I have noticed. They detest being sprayed with water and this always makes them run from the water and turn brown.

So, if your anole is brown I would say it is either cool or stressed for whatever reason. Extending the dewlap is staking territory and displaying for females. I love the tank but I would move the anoles to another enclosure.

[froggsong]

You can avoid the anoles running away when misting by misting with warm water (the hotter is is when it goes in the bottle, the warmer it is when it comes out. Hot water makes a warm mist, warm water makes a cool mist, cool water makes a COLD mist).

Harry, what is your reasoning behind moving the anole rather than the toads? I think the tank setup is better for anoles and tree frogs than FBTs, as they don't need the vertical climbing (branches, etc). What are your ideas? It has been a long time wince I have been surrounded by anoles. I'm sure you have lots of great advice on what they would like, since you have hundreds of wild ones that can pick their favorite spots!

[harrywitmore]

Actually no reasoning. After looking at the setup again I think you're correct. I would setup something else for the RBF's.

It doesn't seem to matter whether the water is warm or cold they rum. The water I use in the greenhouse is heated to about 90Fin the winter but they still take off.

Anoles LOVE to sun themselves. They like to sun on dark colors for obvious reasons. They come out if it's sunny in the winter at anything above freezing. I have seen them out when the water is frozen. They like anything they can catch. They also like to feed from the hummingbird feeders so they would most likely like a treat of something like you would feed a day gecko like some kind of fruit baby food.

[beth2]

thanks guys for all the input and thoughts....keep them coming!!!! I have a lead on a used 20 gallon long tank for the FBT's terrarium. So, the anoles can stay in the current set up....I do still want to tweek the landscaping though with more live plants and live moss.
The current terrarium will have a new spot in a couple months in our family room. Our basement family room is under construction...we are building built in wall-units with book shelves/cabinets and built in areas for my 75 gallon fish tank as well as this terrarium. A twenty gallon long tank could fit on one of the book shelves......we take pictures when we get them in!

We discovered that our heat lamp does not put out much heat! I assumed that it would put out lots more heat than the flourescent strip lights! It doesnt! So we are off to get a better basking lamp to replace the strip lights and another thermo...one for both ends! I feel so bad! thats what I get for assuming things! I guess thats why my anole is so brown!

[froggsong]

Doesn't look to me like there is anything wrong with that lamp. I have several just like it. If you really want to get another, the shop lights from wal-mart that have the ceramic sockets work well, but you'll have to install a switch if you want one, otherwise you'll have to unplug it all the time (or put it on a dimmer, which would actually be better and give you fine tuning control). Why don't you try for a higher wattage bulb in the one you have? What wattage do you have in it now?

[beth2]

The reptile bulb we have is 40 watts. It was all the petstore had at the time. Should I have two basking areas? Are the bulbs for the reptiles also good for the plants? The current strip lights on the tank are daylight bulbs.

I forgot! We did have a house gecko in this terrarium a while back. He was sooo cool! But he only lasted two weeks.
The long tailed grass lizard or the blue tailed skink.....anyone have those in with anoles? I ve been reading up and they CAN be with anoles....but would like to hear some experiences here.

[beth2]

I jsut picked up a 100 watt bulb....hopefully we will see a difference in my anole. I am picking up a 20 gallon long tank tomorrow for a FBT set up. I am very excited to build!