Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was picking up a few crix (.15 a piece! My order hasn’t come – ugh!) at the feed store that carries them. They also sell a few fish and lizards. There has been an anole in there for a long time and I have commented twice on its condition and enclosure - 10 gal. tank, a bowl of water, one fake skimpy plant, rock substrate and no where to hide or cool down (hot bright light over entire tank). Today there were two in there (I doubt that one was the one I had been seeing – he probably died). So I mentioned it again to the owner (!) and he said he’d “mention it” to the reptile guy. I couldn’t say more b/c I knew I was not in control and would probably lose it. I almost cried when I left the store – then I just got pissed.

Now, my dilemma…next week I am shipping my three anoles to FL to set them free. I am thinking of buying these two at the store and shipping them off with my three. I figure they are going anyway so it wouldn’t cost any more except the cost of the anoles.

I know the argument - if you buy, they will just get more and this will encourage them to carry them. I agree with this in theory but these poor things are miserable. So what I thought was that I would buy them and then send them a letter explaining why I bought them, what I did with them and include a good care sheet. I suppose my other option would be to just do the care sheet and hope for the best.

You may think this is too involved, but you have to understand that I live in semi-rural NH with 2 feed stores that I frequent, small town, etc. I go to a different feed store for most of cat and bird food but I have to go to this one occasionally.

My rationale is that my letter, etc. will have enough influence so that they will not carry them again or will keep them better – maybe knowing that I am checking them out. I am also thinking of having a friend call and inquire if they have lizards, what kind, how much, how do you take care of them etc. to see what they say. I don’t know, maybe I am just thinking with my heart right now so I turn to you to help me work this out.

I will listen to any one’s opinion, for or against, just don’t judge me.

Thanks, gang
lele

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

ok first let me say you have a beautiful heart to feel so strongly about all of this and your story was very touching to me. second let me say that pet stores are in it for the money. they will not waste more money on a tank for a lizard that is fairly cheap and easily purchased. unfortunatly i dont think your letter will really do anything to change any minds becasue in the end the welfare of the animal is not first on their checklist. Its a noble effort but really i dont think it will produce much change, but it never hurts to try.
i say buy the two anoles and set them free at least they got the chance.

thank you! you almost made me weepy again. This is so hard. Sometimes I wish my heart wasn't so caring - it would make these decisions easier. When I think of these three in the original rescue it was because of similar circumstances, different store, and they were the last three - I suppose I just emptied their cage so Petco could get more...

>>ok first let me say you have a beautiful heart to feel so strongly about all of this and your story was very touching to me. second let me say that pet stores are in it for the money. they will not waste more money on a tank for a lizard that is fairly cheap and easily purchased. unfortunatly i dont think your letter will really do anything to change any minds becasue in the end the welfare of the animal is not first on their checklist. Its a noble effort but really i dont think it will produce much change, but it never hurts to try.
>>i say buy the two anoles and set them free at least they got the chance.
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

I would leave them there.
1. They will likely die.
2. They may bay be sick and setting them loose could spread disease.
3. They will be replaced regardless.
I you leave them there and they die that would be a better deterrent. Losing money would make them think about buying more than selling them figuring someone will feel bad for them and buying mew sickly reptiles..

yes, this is the head/intellect part that I "know" and which is fighting with my heart/emotion that I "feel". The point of making others sick is a good one that I had not thoguth about - though I did consider a quick dose of panacur before shipping, but not sure if that is a good idea either... thanks for replying.

lele

>>I would leave them there.
>>1. They will likely die.
>>2. They may bay be sick and setting them loose could spread disease.
>>3. They will be replaced regardless.
>>I you leave them there and they die that would be a better deterrent. Losing money would make them think about buying more than selling them figuring someone will feel bad for them and buying mew sickly reptiles..
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

one more thing- what chance does a captive bred animal stand in the wild?- they would be an easy target for predators and may adapt very poorly to "freedom"

Anoles are rarely captive bred (except as feeders by keepers and breeders). They are usually caught in the south/tropics (FL is a common state for this) and shipped around the country to pet stores and then sold. One thing I am not concerned about are my girls (or the others if I decide to get/send them, too) being OK in the wild - I think they (my girls) are struggling more right now. Thanks for the point, though

lele

>>one more thing- what chance does a captive bred animal stand in the wild?- they would be an easy target for predators and may adapt very poorly to "freedom"
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

call a your local humain society. If they are not taking care of the animal no mater what it is it is abuse.

I probably should have mentioned that I will do this anyway, along with a horrible little shop in the next town.

>>call a your local humain society. If they are not taking care of the animal no mater what it is it is abuse.
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

It is hard to see an animal in such poor conditions, I too always want to help, but what you said will happen, they will just get more to suffer in the same way, even if you tell them your only buying them to save them, they dont care... they got the money...thats all that matters to them.

I would not buy these poor animals. I would write them a letter, and find out what proper authorities in your area handle animal neglect and abuse. Let them know that you are going to contact the authorities and they will be conducting a FULL investigation into their WHOLE store, not just taking away a few ten cent lizards (their cost most likely) This might just scare them into at least doing the bare acceptible min. for the animals.
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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.0 Veileds
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

Oh one more thing, what kind of anoles are you sending to FL? where are you sending them? If they are green I wish I would have known you were getting rid of them, I love the green ones, I'm trying to re-populate the green ones around my house and kick out all these stupid non-native brown ones. I have 2 LARGE males that call my yard home now after I re-located them ... no females though, cant find any.
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From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.0 Veileds
1.1 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther