Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, i currently have a Brown Anole. I bought it a couple of weeks ago, and it was the FIRST lizard i have ever had. ( If anyone knows, i have a couple of quick questions before i go on... does anyone know what the anole's color change means, and also, sometimes when i stare at him, he will start to do pushups and extend his burlap. does anyone know what that means?) Anyways, back to my origional questions...Along with him, i bought a 10 gallon tank, a log type thing for him to climb on, a fake bush/tree thing for him, and the rest of the necessities... vitamin and calcium powder, bedding, uv light, heat lamp... all that good stuff. i just recently bought him one of those hollowed out bark things to hide/sleep under, and a small heat rock. Also, just today, i bought him a 20 Gallon tank. Now that i have a larger tank, i would like to add on and give him a female. it's not that i want to breed, but i would like him to have a friend i quess. I was just wondering if i can add another anole now, after this anole has been around for a while, or if i HAVE to purchase them together. Also, if you have any tips to help me on my way, i would gladly appreciate it.
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Thanks,
Matt

Color changes are usually mood changes i think. Scared he will try to blend in more. Greenish happy maybe. Something like that anyway.

The pushups are to attract females, fend off other males, or to try and "scare" you away. He may feel threatened, but i'm guessing he should get used to you after a while.

A female should fit in nicely with him in the 20 gal.
I had green anoles and they did fine when i introduced the females later to the male, no problems. Just watch him and her to make sure.

Now for a problem i see... the heat rock. They are not good ideas to most reptile people. They can develope hotspot and burn your critter. I'd use Flex Watt heat tape under the tank, with a dimmer so that you can control the temp easy. However you may be able to wait or not do that since your heat lamp may work well enough by its self... you could get a piece of slate or somethign to put under the heat lamp for the Anole to bask.
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Later,
WhisQuila

ok, thanks alot!..... I JUST WENT IN YM ROOM, ONLY TO SEE MY ANOLE SHEDDING... IS THIS NORMAL??? I SWITCHED HIM FROM A 10 TO A 20 GALLON TANK TODAY, COULD THAT BE IT? PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ASAP!!
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Thanks,
Matt

It is perfectly normal for your anole to shed. In fact, it is a good thing. Don't worry, and have a good time with your new anole!

-RT

Thank you so much!!! he had the S**T scared out of me. thanks for the good wishes, and have a nice night.
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Thanks,
Matt

i think you meant dewlap, not burlap? right? lol

yea, heat rox arent good. i have 3 of them right now that ppl keep giving me when there herps die or when i take in rescues.... needless to say all 3 of them are wrapped up and not being used...nor are they going to.
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UroKnight...coming soon
1.1.0 mali uromastyx
1.1.0 green anole
1.0.0 brown anole
0.0.1 fowlers toad
1.0.0 emperor scorpion
1.0.0 cuban knight anole
1.0.0 ribbon snake(currently escaped)
1.0.0 african clawed frog
1.0.1 green iguana
0.1.0 eastern kingsnake
0.0.3 crayfish
0.0.1 3 lined salamander

I heard a good suggestion a while back for using hot rocks. Cut the cords off of them (while unplugged, of course) and use them in the tanks for decoration! Nice way to get SOME use out of the things!

Torey

yea, i was just gonna put it in the cage and not plug it in, they are decorated pretty neat!! lol
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UroKnight...coming soon
1.1.0 mali uromastyx
1.1.0 green anole
1.0.0 brown anole
0.0.1 fowlers toad
1.0.0 emperor scorpion
1.0.0 cuban knight anole
1.0.0 ribbon snake(currently escaped)
1.0.0 african clawed frog
1.0.1 green iguana
0.1.0 eastern kingsnake
0.0.3 crayfish
0.0.1 3 lined salamander

yeah, after you said heat rocks are bad herp girl, i didnt ant to mess with their cage, so i just unpluged it... they dont use it much, but it still looks noce sitting next to the new waterfall i put in today... i would really like to post pix of their cage just so see what everyone has to say aboput... if it is good/bad and what not. if there is somewhere to do tis, please let me know.
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Thanks,
Matt