Anoles, pronounced as /e-noul-iz/, belong to the lizard family. They are the most common pet lizard in the world, often called American chameleons for their ability to change color. Anoles are intelligent but shy creatures and, though best left in their housing, can become somewhat comfortable with being handled. However,  they require very gentle handling and can easily be crushed and stressed. Never pick them up by the tail as they may drop it. The tail will grow back but not the same as before. Unfortunately, because they are so readily and inexpensively available, there are still a huge number that suffer inappropriate care, either because of ignorance on the part of the owner, laziness or downright apathy.

WildRescue, Inc of Lewisville, Texas, recently rescued over 1,000 animals such as this Green/Bahama Anole from a raid on US Global Exotics. Find out about adopting by calling Wild Rescue at 940-442-8289.

HOUSING

Anoles that have been bred in captivity generally make better pets than wild-caught lizards as they will be less stressed. Just remember, they still require a commitment to their continual care (they can live 4 – 8 years) and don’t assume they are less expensive than larger, more exotic reptiles. The initial set-up of their habitat will be just as costly. But once your anoles are happily ensconced in their abode, you will be able to enjoy a wonderful slice of tropical landscape in your home.

Other resources:

http://www.anapsid.org/anole.html

“Precisely the least, the softest, lightest, a lizard’s rustling, a breath, a flash, a moment – a little makes the way of the best happiness.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Lizard

Lizards are an extremely popular pet. Bearded dragons, Skinks, Geckos…the list goes on and on. Most commonly, parents will purchase a lizard as a pet for their children, without realizing what exactly is involved with the care of these animals. Many of these lizards then end up in rescue organizations or up for adoption.

Before You Adopt or Rescue a Lizard

There are a number of things that you need to do before you commit to adopting or rescuing a lizard for a pet. Just a few of these things are:

-Ask yourself why you want the lizard? Is it only because your child has been begging you for one, or because you truly love animals and want to provide a good home to the lizard.
-Determine whether you have the means to truly care for the lizard. Can you afford the expenses of the proper cage, food, veterinary care and time that is involved with caring for it?
-Decide what kind of lizard you want, and learn all you can about the species before you go and adopt. Each lizard species has its own special requirements, and you need to make sure that you are going to be able to meet their needs.

Once you have evaluated these things, you may decide your next step is to find the right lizard for you. When browsing through agencies that offer animal adoption, you will find an extremely large number of lizards that are in need of a good home. Many of these animals will be perfectly healthy, perfectly friendly pets that will make a great addition to your home without any trouble at all. But, it is important to keep in mind that a number of these pets are also in rescue centers for a reason. They may have behavioral issues or health problems that have caused them to be rescued, and these are issues that you must be aware of before adopting.

Questions to Ask the Adoption Agency

-Does the lizard have behavioral issues? Does it bite? Is it afraid of other animals or children?
-Are there any extensive health problems? Will the lizard require frequent trips to the vet, or daily health care?
-If you are adopting more than one lizard, what are the sexes of each lizard? Putting two males together in a cage can cause fights that may kill one of the lizards. Putting a male and female together, well, you can probably figure out the dilemma with that!

Chances are, if you are adopting the lizard from an adoption agency, they will ask you a number of questions about your ability to care for the pet. Don’t lie to them simply because you don’t want to be turned away! By answering the questions honestly the agency will be able to find a lizard that will best suit your needs, or may even recommend that you are not ready for a pet lizard. If this is the case, you should definitely reconsider your choice as to whether a lizard is right for you.

If you are adopting a lizard from a private individual that is just looking to get rid of the lizard they have, you should also not let yourself get pressured into taking an animal that is not really what you want. While it may be tempting for you to get the lizard out of the situation that it’s in, taking it from one bad situation and putting it into another is not going to help at all. Take your time, and find the lizard that is the right match for you.

I first heard of Iggy’s existence soon after moving to a new home. The next door neighbor came out to chat and during the course of the conversation commented on how difficult it was to get her teenage son to take care of his iguana. You know, the usual problems with testosterone-driven, defiant 15-year old man/boys. I didn’t think much of it at the time. The mother apparently was aware of the problem and I simply assumed that she was responsible enough to take care of it. Wrong!

A few weeks later the woman told me that Iggy was dead. Seems her son kept forgetting to feed the poor creature and by the time Iggy was taken to a doctor it was too late to save him.

Adding a Rescued Iguana to Your Family

Green Iguana

Not everyone wants a pet who’s cute and cuddly or who can fly around the house. Many who want a different type of pet opt to purchase or to adopt an iguana. Iguanas require specialized care and, because of that, there are an abundance of iguanas who have been rescued and who are awaiting loving homes.

Rescued iguanas typically come from abusive or neglectful situations and, as a result, are unhealthy and will need a lot of care and attention. A rescued iguana may also require considerable, expensive veterinary care, something you must carefully consider before you decide to adopt a rescued iguana.

Caring for a rescued iguana is much different than caring for other types of pets. Some of the factors you should take into consideration when making a decision, include:

Time and patience. Abused iguanas are going to be mistrustful and frightened, especially at first, which is natural for any animal that has been hurt at the hands of a human. You must have the patience and the time to prove to your newest family member that he is safe and he can trust you.

Space. Don’t expect a rescued iguana to bond with you immediately or even to come to you willingly at first. Give your iguana the space that he needs. When he begins to feel comfortable in his new surroundings, you can take the first steps to holding him and interacting with him more.

In addition, never force interaction with your iguana while he’s healing from whatever physical problems he has: At that point, the most important thing is for him to get healthy again. Once he’s healthy, you can start working toward bonding with him.

Unfortunately, not all iguanas can be fully rehabilitated, and there is no guarantee that your iguana will get over the abuse and be able to bond with you. Make sure you understand and are willing to accept that risk when you adopt a rescued iguana.

Care. According to the Green Iguana Society, rescued iguanas and iguanas in general tend to be dehydrated. As a result, you will need to give electrolytes (ask your veterinarian for the exact amount) to your iguana via a syringe to help him become hydrated again. A qualified vet will be able to show you how much to give and how to often to give liquid to your iguana.

Diet. Chances are your iguana was not fed the proper diet in his previous home. Depending on how long he was with the rescue who saved him, he may or may not have already had his diet changed over. If it has not been changed, you will have to gradually change your iguana’s diet so he is getting the foods he needs. The process of changing the diet should take no more than two weeks.

Finances. Veterinary care for an iguana can be extremely costly, especially when ongoing care is required. Be sure you can afford the necessary veterinarian care for your rescued iguana.

Finally, if you are adopting a rescued iguana and little is known about his past, it’s essential that you take him to an experienced vet for a thorough checkup. The Green Iguana Society recommends having the vet do a full blood panel, a fecal smear, and a fecal float.