Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. As I was earlier reading the KingSnake.com Herps forum here on the KingSnake.com board I came across a post by a most
knowledgeable person with the username of CheshireyCat. In it they suggesting to another forum user that using a large plastic storage tub (the ones that come with the tighly locking plastic lids) from say Walmart as a tank for Green Anoles/Reps in general was perfectly good and relatively inexpensive. Well, now that sounds like a fantastic idea to me. Wished I'd have thought of it myself. But I have some questions. CheshireyCat: You still on board here? Your knowledage of Herps is impressive! And I am serious. Care to send me your email address so that I might have you on call, as it were?

Anyway, what would be a good size storage tub for say 2-4 Green Anoles? By size I mean in gallons (sorry, in the U.S.A. we don't uses liters, but I can do the conversion if liters is what they use in the part of the planet where you are located).

Should I be concerned about what type of plastic the storage tub is made from in that some types of plastic might be harmful to Herps (perhaps giving off chemical residue, etc...)?

Should I be concerned that the plastic tub be see-thru? I know for a fact that my Green Anole can and does look out of his tank and I wouldn't want to deny him that freedom, too. I know he's a he because I've been on many Reps websites, read a few books/factsheets on Herps and they all say that Green Anoles that like to let loose with a signifcant dewlap are most often male Green Anoles and mine likes to do that often (enough). Sometimes I think he's trying to impress me.

Now CheshireyCat explicitly said one should cut out a section of the (harder) plastic locking lid that comes with these large plastic storage tubs and replace it with some type of screen mesh in order to provide essential ventilation for your reps. What type of screen mesh would be best and where might
one be able to purchase it and what might one expect to pay for enough of it to do the job properly?

How much of the lid should one cut out? 50%, 75% or 90%?

What type of screen mesh would be best and safest to use to close up the cut out? Where might one buy the stuff? What type of sealing method/mateerial would be best to seal the screen mesh to the locking plastic lid where one has made the cutout?

Should I be concerned about the thickness of the plastic that the storage tub is made up of in that room temperature might not reach inside a relly thick plastic storage tub as well as a thinner plastic might allow as well as essential light UV and otherwise?
That's all for now. Thanks for reading my post and if you can and feel like replying to it, well thanks double! Peace.

This is just MY personal opinion...when it comes to anoles, I would not recommend a plastic tub for a habitat. My main concern would be heating AND lighting. Not only would you need bulbs that provide the proper heat in their basking spot, but you're also going to need the UV source, as I'm sure you already know/or have this..and I'm just not sure how this would work with a plastic tub? I could be wrong however

You asked about UV...in my terrariums, I use SunGlo daylight lamps to provide the heat (a regular light bulb works just fine), and a combination of ReptiGlo5.0 and ReptiGlo2.0...the 5.0 provides the adequate UV levels (which influences their agnostic, reproductive, & signalling behaviours, as well as how they see their food, & vit. D3 synthesis)..and the 2.0 provides the adequate visual light emissions (colour rendering). Sounds like a bit much, and I'm sure many would say that both are not necessary, but the higher the UV output, the less visual light is emitted, & the amount of visual light emitted effects the lizards, as they see light differently than we do, which is why a combination of the 2 will provide the best results for your anoles.

As for the mesh..use a normal mesh, avoid glass (fibreglass), plastic, & ultrafine meshes, as the UV will be greatly attenuated by these. Even a normal mesh will reduce the UV rays by about 10%. And remember that the UV rays will also diminish with distance.

I guess it could work in a plastic tub...I'm just not sure how...and why would you not want to be able to watch your little guys?
Hope any of this helps

Every thing you said is correct.
I had anoles for yrs they live a long time if kept correctly, UV hot basking area lots of green plants sticks to climb,Bright day light ,warm at night.
They for some reason do better in the long run in glass enclosures than enclosures they cant see out of. If nothing else atleast one full glass side but that I still think not good enough.

>>Every thing you said is correct.

Thanks. I'm still learning and so appreciative that nice people like yourself, Torey (El Toro), BrazingBetty and others are generous enough to share your knowledge on keeping (Green) Anoles in capitivity with others here like me.

>> I had anoles for yrs they live a long time if kept correctly, UV hot basking area lots of green plants sticks to climb,Bright day light ,warm at night.

You've had Anoles for years! Way cool. Green Anoles, Brown Anoles or another sub-species of Anoles (if such critters exist)?
I'm a newbie as far as Herps go, but I'm learning.

>> They for some reason do better in the long run in glass enclosures than enclosures they cant see out of. If nothing else atleast one full glass side but that I still think not good enough.

Oh, I'm certain they can see out and do enjoy having a look
about when active. Especially during daylight hours. After all in the wild they have to be on the lookout for passing meals, snacks, and during breeding season potential breeding partner(s). I haven't yet come across any Herp literature on the meeting, "dating" & mating process of Herps (Green Anoles in particular) in the wild. That would make for some "interesting reading to be sure. Peace.

E-mail: LizardKing@TechWarrior.Net
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Shark~King

Yeah I'd definitely have to agree with the glass terrarium and being able to see there surroundings. And I love watching all mine.. my Haitain Giant loves to show off! When I walk into the room he hangs from the screen, and bounces around bobbing and everything until he gets a few mealies! Pretty silly guy

And it's nice to help others out..I know I prefer it when ppl ask questions and learn as much as they can BEFORE aquiring the little ones. Good luck