Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have to go away for a week in December and am trying to arrange for my herps. Initially I was hoping to find one person that would come to my home at least once and of course, preferably twice, a day for care. Finding someone that I would trust with my herps and my home who has this flexibility has proved difficult. I may have to split everyone up. I have 3 anoles, 2 house geckos, 1 veiled chameleon and a tarantula.

For my anoles I am thinking of allowing a friend care for them in her classroom for the week. She is a 6th grade science teacher and has a passion for all animals (she has Madagascar Hissers as personal pets) and I would trust her implicitly.

I realize this is not ideal but it may be the only way for me to go. What I would like from you folks are some thoughts on how to go about this, personal experience, potential problems, etc. One concern is that it would involve a weekend so heat may be an issue. I would bring all my timers/lights etc.

Would the 3 of them be OK in a temporary 10 gal for that week?

I live in NH and it would be about a 45 minute drive -what is the best means of transport?

Alternate ideas are certainly welcome as well! Thanks.

lele

Don't you wish they had boarders for lizards the way they do for dogs and cats???....

Actually, you may, if you have a local reptile shop they may be able to board them for you for a fee.

Otherwise, as far as living in a ten gallon for a week, I'm sure they would survive as long as it was a temporary setup and all their heat/light/food/water requirements were met (and assuming kiddies won't be poking or picking them up or otherwise causing them stress). Yes it will be a stressful time for them, but it's better then leaving them with little to no care while you are gone.

As far as trasporting them, a large critter keeper would work perfect (they are cheap at the petstores) with some substrate and set up like a small cage misted well before you leave. Assuming you won't leave them in a baking hot car (or a freezing one for that matter)for any length of time they should fair ok. Again this is all going to be stressful on them so I would really reconsider if you have anoles that are in less then good condition (i.e. stressed normally, not eating, etc.)as they may not survive all the change.

I have been in the position of leaving my house for 4 days with my anoles all alone and set up a dripper system along with timers on the lights and such, and extra food. They all made it fine but I had to clean the cage promptly when I got home because the dripper SOAKED the substrate and it was way too wet in there (this is before I had planted sustainable terrariums).

The choice is yours, as long as you have pets, you have kids who will always need a babysitter when you want to leave for more then a day.

Just my 2 cents.
-----
Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.4.0 green anoles
2.2.0 green tree frogs
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake
2.4 Domestic house cats
1.0 Rottweiler
1.0 Husband (who loves all my critters too)
AND I play foster care for 3 homeless kittens & their mom for a few weeks for the shelter.
(and not even going to count what I raise as food for all these guys)

Chantel,

The owner of a local small pet shop said she could come by the house twice/day ($10 each time), but I have a problem letting total strangers into my house. I live in a rural area so we don't even have much in the way of pet stores around here. I am waitng to here back from my herp vet if he has an ideas.

The transport would be scary. It is snowing outside as I write this so who knows what sort of weather I would be transporting them in December!

Interesting to know that you have been able to leave yours for up to 4 days. I rarely go away, but for a night or two or a weekend it'll be nice to leave them w/o worry. I am so obsessive about their care that if they could answer the phone I'd be calling daily to check in! As it is, I call the place I board my cats once or twice to make sure they are OK

Barb would make sure the kids don't mess with them, but it still is not ideal. I have one friend to try and hope she is willing.

Thank you very much for all your input!

lele

>>Don't you wish they had boarders for lizards the way they do for dogs and cats???....
>>
>>Actually, you may, if you have a local reptile shop they may be able to board them for you for a fee.
>>
>>Otherwise, as far as living in a ten gallon for a week, I'm sure they would survive as long as it was a temporary setup and all their heat/light/food/water requirements were met (and assuming kiddies won't be poking or picking them up or otherwise causing them stress). Yes it will be a stressful time for them, but it's better then leaving them with little to no care while you are gone.
>>
>>As far as trasporting them, a large critter keeper would work perfect (they are cheap at the petstores) with some substrate and set up like a small cage misted well before you leave. Assuming you won't leave them in a baking hot car (or a freezing one for that matter)for any length of time they should fair ok. Again this is all going to be stressful on them so I would really reconsider if you have anoles that are in less then good condition (i.e. stressed normally, not eating, etc.)as they may not survive all the change.
>>
>>I have been in the position of leaving my house for 4 days with my anoles all alone and set up a dripper system along with timers on the lights and such, and extra food. They all made it fine but I had to clean the cage promptly when I got home because the dripper SOAKED the substrate and it was way too wet in there (this is before I had planted sustainable terrariums).
>>
>>The choice is yours, as long as you have pets, you have kids who will always need a babysitter when you want to leave for more then a day.
>>
>>Just my 2 cents.
>>-----
>>Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
>>"I came, I saw, I adopted"
>>
>>2.4.0 green anoles
>>2.2.0 green tree frogs
>>0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
>>0.0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake
>>2.4 Domestic house cats
>>1.0 Rottweiler
>>1.0 Husband (who loves all my critters too)
>>AND I play foster care for 3 homeless kittens & their mom for a few weeks for the shelter.
>>and not even going to count what I raise as food for all these guys)
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles (Jaida, no name)
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - (still no names)

I am psyched - my friend said yes and I trust her implicitly! So all my critters can stay home and be catered to! LOL!

lele

>>Don't you wish they had boarders for lizards the way they do for dogs and cats???....
>>
>>Actually, you may, if you have a local reptile shop they may be able to board them for you for a fee.
>>
>>Otherwise, as far as living in a ten gallon for a week, I'm sure they would survive as long as it was a temporary setup and all their heat/light/food/water requirements were met (and assuming kiddies won't be poking or picking them up or otherwise causing them stress). Yes it will be a stressful time for them, but it's better then leaving them with little to no care while you are gone.
>>
>>As far as trasporting them, a large critter keeper would work perfect (they are cheap at the petstores) with some substrate and set up like a small cage misted well before you leave. Assuming you won't leave them in a baking hot car (or a freezing one for that matter)for any length of time they should fair ok. Again this is all going to be stressful on them so I would really reconsider if you have anoles that are in less then good condition (i.e. stressed normally, not eating, etc.)as they may not survive all the change.
>>
>>I have been in the position of leaving my house for 4 days with my anoles all alone and set up a dripper system along with timers on the lights and such, and extra food. They all made it fine but I had to clean the cage promptly when I got home because the dripper SOAKED the substrate and it was way too wet in there (this is before I had planted sustainable terrariums).
>>
>>The choice is yours, as long as you have pets, you have kids who will always need a babysitter when you want to leave for more then a day.
>>
>>Just my 2 cents.
>>-----
>>Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
>>"I came, I saw, I adopted"
>>
>>2.4.0 green anoles
>>2.2.0 green tree frogs
>>0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
>>0.0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake
>>2.4 Domestic house cats
>>1.0 Rottweiler
>>1.0 Husband (who loves all my critters too)
>>AND I play foster care for 3 homeless kittens & their mom for a few weeks for the shelter.
>>and not even going to count what I raise as food for all these guys)
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles (Jaida, no name)
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - (still no names)