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 #1702880


DragonTU84
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 Anole-Stunted Growth

Hey all. I have a question regarding my "baby anole," Louie. You see, he is over 5 months old now (will be 6 months next month on the 8th) and he has not grown much at all since he was about 2-3 months old. He is still only about 3-3 1/2" in length, and he has not grown since. He almost seems to have this stunted growth. Over that time, he has also gotten more lazy/lethargic, he doesn’t eat heartilly like a young anole should, he doesn’t drink on his own inside his home, so he is dehydrated, lethargic, he hardly eats (I am now giving him Repti Aid to make up for the lack of nutrients he is not getting from the fact that he hardly eats), and of course there is his stunted growth.

I am worried for the poor little guy. When he first hatched, he was growing, he was definately energetic and curious about his surroundings as he slowly grew larger and older each day, yet over time he seems to be getting lazier and eating and drinking less as the months go on.

He also of course has only grown to about 3 1/2" or so in length (I don’t have a ruler to measure him exactly), but he looks to be only 1-2 months old when he is in reality 5 months old. So I am stuck as to what to do at this point with him. What could be causing his stunted growth? Why the disinterest in eating or drinking even?

Also, when he does eat, he seems to have what I call an "Anole Panic Attack" where he thinks he is chocking and is going to die, gets the typical stress marks behind his eyes, and starts to panic and run around his cage, just to finally lay down in exhaustion while breathing heavily and become his "lazy, lethargic self." He is the only anole I have seen this happen to. This has happened since an incident where I fed him a cricket, which I guess was slightly too large for his tastes, and he feared he was choking on it and regurgitated it back up. Ever since then he has had this "fear of choking," even when I give him the Repti Aid, he fears he is choking on that. So I am stuck on how to take care of the poor little guy....he is a runt for sure and yet he is also lazy and lethargic, and I do not know if there is ANYTHING I can do to help him GROW and also become more active and healthy again. Maybe he will forever have this stunted growth, but I at least want to see him active, healthy, eating and drinking and running about normally even if he has this stunted growth (if there is just nothing I can do about it), and at least living life as much as he can and as happily as he can.

~Crystal (DragonTU84)~
04/14/08  02:09pm

 #1702924


DragonTU84
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   Message To: DragonTU84   In reference to Message Id: 1702880


 Anole-Stunted Growth

Ok, to show ya what I mean about his stunted growth, here are different pics of him at different ages:

As a hatchling (11/10/2007- hatched 11/08/2007):





At 3 months of age (Feb.):





As of Today (04/14/2008):









04/14/08  02:56pm

 #1703296


Atrax27407
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   Message To: DragonTU84   In reference to Message Id: 1702924


 Anole-Stunted Growth

Probably intestinal parasites.
04/14/08  07:19pm

 #1703636


DragonTU84
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1703296


 Anole-Stunted Growth

Hey Bob. Would intestinal parasites at such a young age cause his stunted growth though? I can understand if they are making him lethargic, not eating or drinking, but the stunted growth? Could intestinal parasites really do all that?

~Crystal~
04/14/08  10:06pm

 #1703660


DragonTU84
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1703296


 Anole-Stunted Growth

One last question Bob. If I take care of the parasite problem and it is indeed causing his lack of nutrition which is thus causing his stunted growth, does he still have the chance to reach full adulthood age and size and maturity, or is it too late for him now? Will he always be a "runt" to some degree? Can he still reach sexual maturity and become a full-fledged adult and all?

~Crystal~
04/14/08  10:17pm

 #1703684


Gretchenellie
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   Message To: DragonTU84   In reference to Message Id: 1703660


 Anole-Stunted Growth

unfortunately, parasites take a lot of the important nutrients that the anoles get from food they digest. this means, that even though you may feed him more then what you think he needs, he is actually not getting enough...

this could be leading to his stunted growth... you will probably need to de-worm him.

what are you feeding? are you dusting and gut loading his food appropriately? what about lighting?
04/14/08  10:39pm

 #1703736


Atrax27407
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   Message To: Gretchenellie   In reference to Message Id: 1703684


 Anole-Stunted Growth

The answer to all of your questions is "yes". Once the parasite problem is taken care of, he will resume growth but he will not catch up until he is mature.
04/14/08  11:27pm

 #1703928


DragonTU84
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1703736


 Anole-Stunted Growth

Darn, I just wish I knew a reptile vet in the area. The one I went to when I was living in Beltsville/Laurel overpriced me, and I cannot afford the costs of a vet, but this poor baby anole...AGH I just dunno what to do!! >__<

So any ideas?? I do want to help this little guy, but GAH! What to do??



04/15/08  07:19am

 #1703932


DragonTU84
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   Message To: Gretchenellie   In reference to Message Id: 1703684


 Anole-Stunted Growth

He has the proper lighting, substrate, etc. He is dusted crickets whenever he does eat....etc. He is esp. given extra D3 and Calcium when he does eat since he needs it for bone growth, but he sure as heck isn’t utilizing it at the moment....with his stunted growth and all. I have owned anoles for 10 years, and I did have some with parasite problems (most had to be put under though since they got too far off and I was young and didn’t have $ of my own). But this is my first with a hatchling with parasite problems. All of my other anoles are fine, eating healthy and well-fed and lively.

I am wondering what caused his parasitic problem since he was hatched out of an egg? The only thing I can think of is when he ate a few nats that got into his home when he was younger....
04/15/08  07:24am

 #1704798


DragonTU84
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   Message To: DragonTU84   In reference to Message Id: 1703932


 Anole-Stunted Growth

I found this over-the-counter anti-parasite formula that is supposed to work for reptiles. It has the active ingredients for Pedicure in it, so hopefully it will do the trick. It is a product by Jungle Labs, and it is called Reptile Xtra Anti-Parasite Meal for turtles and lizards. Basically I powder the crickets with it, and give it to the anole, 3 consecutive days in a row, for 3 weeks. So I did it today, then I will do it again tomorrow and the next day, then I will have to wait until next week to do another 3 consecutive days of the treatment, and so on until the final (third) week. I hope it works. Wish me luck!

I also have been giving Louie Turtle Eye Drops to help with his eye infection. He seems to have gotten some stuff stuck in his eyes which is causing his infection, but I can’t seem to get whatever is obstructing his eyes out. Any advice?

~DragonTU84 (Crystal)~
04/15/08  09:24pm


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