29 August 2011

GREEN ANOLE

Recently, a Green Anole (scientific name: Anolis carolinensis) arrived with a shipment of plants and was placed into one of the terarriums and I sort of adopted it rather than leave it to die.


I brought my vivarium container, put in a piece of driftwood and a few plants but it didn't seem happy because it changed colour from green to brown, which may be an indication of stress and malnourished condition etc. Then we bought crickets and mealworms but it refused to eat. The crickets were probably too large for it. But it turned its face away when I put a mealworm next to it's face.


So this morning, I changed its container to one with lights and tried to feed it mealworms again. But it was adamant about not eating. According to my colleagues, it seemed thinner than a few days ago although I really couldn't tell. All I know is it is stressed, judging from the amount of time it remained brown, closed eye and lifeless. It didn't even try to drink any water I sprayed onto the leaves of plants.


I am at my wit's end and think it would eventually starved to death if it refuses to eat. I am afraid I don't know what else I can do now. 


Anyway, the following are some links on the interesting lizard from Florida:

  1. http://www.anapsid.org/anole.html
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychrotidae
  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_anole
  4. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/733845
  5. http://www.essortment.com/common-health-issues-green-anoles-lizards-41458.html
NB on 2 Sep 11: The lizard was finally rescued from my hands. I hope it finds a good home and lots of happiness for the rest of its life in a faraway foreign land here in Singapore.