Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Greetings, WARNING, long message!

I have a big terrarium I custom built over a year ago. My initial plan was to use it for poison dart frogs. However, they are really expensive, and a big pain in the butt (breeding fruit flies, etc.) So I never got any frogs or any other critters for it and it has remaied unoccupied for a LONG time now.

I am in the process of "remodelling" it right now. (So it is a little different from the picture below). I am adding a couple basking sites nearer the top, as well as converting the top to be partially screen so I can have a basking light up there. I have also added a bunch more foliage in the form of pothos vines. Also, in case you cannot see in the picture, there is a ventilation fan which I can adjust to control humidity.

It is completely planted, and is a little self contained ecosystem, which I spray water every day. I can keep the humidity at about 60-70% no problem. (When set up for the frogs it was at almost 100%) The temp ranges from about 73 degrees (F) at the bottom to around 80 at the top. The basking branches I am putting in will have a basking temp of about 85-90 (which will be adjustable via a reostat).

So.... what I want to know is what you all might suggest I put in this terrarium? I DO love anoles. So they are certainly an option. But I was wondering what other small lizards (like anole sized) might enjoy living in such an environment? I know I don't want Day Geckos (too delicate and expensive).

I don't think I will do a "community" tank (with multiple species) unless I am absolutely sure they can live in harmony. Though if I can have an arboreal species (like anoles) and a ground-dwelling species in the same tank, that might be cool.

Also, it should be a lizard that can be happy living on a main diet of small crickets (with occasional treats like maybe waxworms or mealworms). And I would also not want to have the lizards be too expensive! If they can easlily breed in captivity, that would be a nice bonus.

Any input is welcome. Thanks for looking!

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Steve

Steve,

That is a really nice setup! I had a multi-species tank a few years ago that consisted of Bahamian Bark Anoles [aka Brown Anoles - I think 1.3], and House Geckos [Hemidactylus garnotti]. Both lizards occupied different niches - day active and night active while each ate the same foods - small crickets and worms. Plus, the anoles will breed regularly and the House Geckos are an all-female parthenogenic species which will produce viable eggs throughout the year as long as they're kept warm and fed. In a vivarium that size you could house much larger groups than I did. However, with any anole species you're best off with only one male - most are highly territorial and subordinate males will get so stressed that even if their injuries from fighting with the dominant male don't kill them they will starve to death from being deprived of food and the constant stress will wear them down.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

n/p
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0.0.37-blue lab chichlids
0.1.6-sandiego gopher snakes
0.0.1-cal. kingsnake
0.0.1-anole
0.0.2-f.b.t
2.3-coturnix quail
0.1-cockatiel
0.2-s. black widow
1.1(fixed) cats-eddie/buzz

Hi

Well its up to you how much u want to spend. Like that would b perfect for like crested gecko or some other new caldonian geckos but i would go for either gargoyel or crested geckos. But thats just me talkin. Get what u like and what you can buy. Do tons of research.

PAul

perhaps a Long-tailed Grass Lizard?
Small and inexpensive ($9 -$10 @ petco)

Needs 80% humidity. Eats crix and mealworms.

I'm considering on gettign one myself.
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1.1.0 Bearded Dragons
Nunca & Nexus
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/24/04]

have you thought of snakes or frogs?
you might do anoles and ribbon snakes or something similar. they could all eat crix and bugs, and larger snakes could eat small anoles.

what are the dimensions of that tank?