Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We are new at this and need help! We purchased a green anole and a tree frog from PetSmart for my 9-year-old son's birthday. We set up a 10-gallon aquarium with repti-bark and moss, a heat pad and UVB lamp, which we keep on about 14 hrs/day. We are also misting a few times/day to keep humidity levels up.

My first mistake was to dump a dozen crickets in there the first day (at the advice of the person @ PetSmart). I now know, from reading and talking to others, that this was not a good move. Fortunately they ate most of them, leaving maybe 4 to hang around and I think at this point they are all gone.

Now...here is the issue: the green anole has buried itself under the moss. Did it last night and is still under there today. I am concerned that it is sick and or stressed out and I am not sure what to do, or if there is even anything I can do. This just doesn't seem like normal behavior. I know my son picked the anole up a few times to show his friends, and I have told him not to do this anymore as perhaps this is what stressed it out. The frog seems to be quite the happy camper.

Was going to get some more crickets today, although this time will only add a few to the tank at a time. Thanks in advance for help! ChefAnn

Just an update here. Right after I posted my original message, I went up to my son's room to check on the lizard, and he was out and looking around, cute as ever. When he spotted me, though, back into the moss he/she went? So maybe he's ok after all, just a little nervous with us big folk around? ChefAnn

Oh, I'm sure he's just a little spooked from the transfer. Either that or he's feeling a little dry and stuck himself in the moss to get a little humid.

First of all, though, I don't advise getting any Anole advice from PetsMart. They (and I can tell you this by personal experience) don't know what they're talking about most of the time.

In my opinion, a ten-gallon is a wee bit small for an anole and a tree frog. I'd suggest a 15-gallon or even a 20-gallon-high if you were really ambitious. You can judge for yourself, though.

Do you have a hiding place in there? Sometimes Anoles git a bit stressed from being out in the open (especially if it's in a high traffic room) and like to hide. A half-log, half-coconut with a hole cut in it, or something of similar sort (both are commonly sold at pet stores).