Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's my situation. Jamaica, my brown anole, is intimidating one of my green's (all females) and I am really worried about her health. She(green) seems to be losing weight and I never see her eat or drink. She(green - sorry, no names yet) and the other green are fine. I have done some separation trials and I think Jamaica needs to be on her own. Well, I have other herps and limited space. I am thinking of putting Jamaica in with two very small house geckos in a new 10 gal setup. Some folks seem to be totally opposed to mixing spp and others say they do it and it's fine. As the geckos grow I would have to move them all to a larger tank and/or separate Jama from them. But for now I would like to have the geckos and Jama together. My only other alternative is to put Jama, by herself in a little 2.5 gal.

Since their requirements are similar with the exception of nocturnal/diurnal, thus I would have to have a flourescent on during the day, but the geckos have lots of very dark, natural hides. FF, crix, roaches and the ocassional waxworm are the main feeders for all.

I would like to hear from folks who HAVE mixed herp species and what their experience has been. I don't want speculation or what you have read or heard - because I have too. I am in a sort of desperate situation and need real life experience - thanks!

lele

Don´t care too much about those purists who shout people down without having hands on experience with mixing species (maybe except for their newbie period when they tried and it went wrong).
IMHO in the dull artificial environment mixing species can even lead to behavioural enrichment by adding new stimuli.
Also I think its strange, that all those people who shout DO NEVER MIX SPECIES do keep pairs or groups of lizards together which are mainly solitary in the wild.
Mixing individuals of the same species can be much more fatal than mixing carefully selected species!
Just talk to beardie fans about nipped tails or toes and dieing inferior animals!
The presence of a cagemate of the own kind may cause much more stress and problems than the presence of a non related animal, since an animal of the same species of course is the 100% rival for food and territory.
Hence I do seperate animals of more solitary species from each other, exceprt for mating, but I do keep them in tanks together with other species.

But sorry for the excurs...had to be said somehow.

You do not say which house geckos species.
But in almost all cases mixing of Hemidactylus turcicus or frenatus or Cosymbotus platyurus with Anolis sagrei works very well.
Just take care that there are lots of brnaches in the cage which will mainly be used by the anole and where the anole will sleep on.
Since the house geckos will almost exclusively use the walls of the enclosurte, they will not disturb the sleeping anole at night.
I once had a tank with a breeding group of A. sagrei and a pair of C. platyurus.
I called this the gecko/Anolis factory, since I could catch hatchlings of either species at least once a week. This worked well for like 10 years.

Ci@o

Ingo

Thanks - appreciate your candidness. That's why I made the comment of whom I wanted to hear from. I posted this question on the anoles forum as well.

What I would be doing is a female baby house gecko, 2.25" snout to tip of tail, another female house gecko maybe 4" snout to tip and a territorial female brown anole. They would all be in a 10 gal. tank.

I notice that my tiny geck is out much of the day, whereas the newbie (larger one, just got her a little over a week ago) I never see, day or night(!)

The baby I got free from a petco b/c they found it in the back of the store and no one wanted it and it looks like this: http://www.africamuseum.be/biodiversity-comores/Biodiversity/Reptiles/Gallery/Hemidactylus%20frenatus.jpg

The second I got from a herp show last Sunday. While perusing some photos the newer one looks JUST like the Paroedura bastardi on this page http://www.angelfire.com/me4/pets/geckopics.html so now I am wondering what she is!?

Here is a pic of the setup the two gecks are in that I want to include the brown anole.

Thanks for any further advice!!

lele

You may know that I think that your tank is way on the small side, especially since its a long and not a tall one.
If possible, I would recommend to upgrade for a 20 g or bigger TALL one.
In themeantime you should cover all sides of your tank with black paper to make the geckos feel more secure in it. Also you should eihter add a bark or rock backwall or at least lean a number of flat bark piees against the wall to provide hidings for the gex.
Also you should add a lalrger number of branches about as thick as the body of the anole. With the present setup the anole does not find apt climbing opportunities.
Last not least your setup seems to be a bit on the humid side fort the animals you keep in.
And is this a real tortoise???
Also make pics of your Gex-thats the only way how we can help you to identify them.

So, That IS my further advice.
Happy herping

Ingo

ingo - thanks! I have comments/questions below (see ****)

>>You may know that I think that your tank is way on the small side, especially since its a long and not a tall one.
>>If possible, I would recommend to upgrade for a 20 g or bigger TALL one.

****Since they're still small I thought it would be OK for awhile. What if I up-ended it or would it be limiting ground space too much? I guess I was thinking of hides on the ground rather than high, I can easily adjust that - many plants and branches laying around!

>>In themeantime you should cover all sides of your tank with black paper to make the geckos feel more secure in it.

****I have the forest border background that I can use. I have that for my anoles. Will that do or does it need to be dark?

Also you should eihter add a bark or rock backwall or at least lean a number of flat bark piees against the wall to provide hidings for the gex.

****OK, will do. My tarantula has been hogging the bark pieces and she is do for some re-decorating!

>>Also you should add a lalrger number of branches about as thick as the body of the anole. With the present setup the anole does not find apt climbing opportunities.

****I don't know if I'll put her in or not. She is still with the greens for now.

>>Last not least your setup seems to be a bit on the humid side fort the animals you keep in.

****it's not very humid. the substrate is almost dry, plants are in pots. I have an open (1/8" screen top and mist the plants and for water. What made you think that?

>>And is this a real tortoise???

****haha! No! it's a little fake one that hangs out on plant pots but I use them for deco and little shelters.

>>Also make pics of your Gex-thats the only way how we can help you to identify them.

****as for pix I need to delete a few from the gallery to upload more. Can you post a pic of your setup?

thanks agian!

lele