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 #1707358


TwilightRealm
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 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

I’m worried about my green anole’s current habitat setup. This is my first reptile, and I’ve researched about them but all the sites seem to conflict and be confusing.


-=Habitat Description=-

-7-gallon plastic tank (but looks more like 5-gallons than 7-gallons..! Pic here: Link) with lid (26.4 L)
-the lid is plastic and has an attached light fixture containing 5 watt incandescent bulb
-fake ivy plant on one end
-thermometer and hygrometer on plant’s side
-another thermometer and climbing vines for basking on other side
-water dish
-substrate flooring

To reiterate, it’s a 7-gallon plastic tank (but looks like a 5-gallon one) with a plastic lid and an attached light fixture shining down with a 5 watt incandescent bulb. On the left side is a fake ivy plant with a suction cup against the wall of the tank. This is the ’cool’ side of the tank, providing shade if the anole wants. On the back wall of the tank, nearly in the center but a little more toward the left, is a thermometer and hygrometer. The right side is the ’warm’ side/basking area. There are some leafless vines he can climb up on in order to bask (yet he rarely seems to go on these). On the wall where the heater is stuck to the side with the adhesive it came with is another thermometer, to judge the basking area’s temperature. The water dish is shallow and sitting in the center of the cage. The floor has regular substrate.

-=Terrarium=-

I’m using a plastic terrarium--is this okay?

Also, should I be concerned that my terrarium is 7 gallons and not 10 gallons?


-=Heating=-

Daytime:

The ’cool’ side of the tank is 90 F degrees, 5 degrees higher than what sites say the temperature should be, but it’s hot where I live. Is this temperature adequate or too hot? If it needs to be lowered, would turning on my overhead fan until the temperature drops to 75-85 F help?

The ’warm’ side of the tank is always 5 degrees warmer due to a heater that sticks to the side of the tank. So while the cool side is 90 F, the basking side is 95 F. Is this also too hot? If I drop the temperature in the room to 80-85 F, the warm side will become 85-90 F, which sites say is a good temperature for basking during the day. The reason the heater is a low-powered one is because of the terrarium being plastic.

Nighttime:

The ’cool’ side of the tank is 70 F degrees--sites say this is good.

The ’warm’ side of the tank, always being 5 degrees warmer, is 75 F. Sites don’t say what the temperature should be on the warm side, at night. Is 75 F appropriate or too cold? What is the appropriate temperature for the nighttime basking area?

-=Lighting=-

Regular Lighting:
The only light source I have is an incandescent 5 watt that shines down in the middle of the cage from the lid. Correct me if I’m wrong, but sites say this should be a fluorescent "full spectrum" UVA and UVB bulb, and that the commercial 5% bulbs are fine. Should I switch out this incandescent one for a fluorescent full spectrum bulb?

Basking Lighting:
There is also mention of having an incandescent bulb (typically 40-60 watts) with a dome-reflector or "gooseneck" lamp that points in one corner of the cage at a large branch, or rock. I do not have this. Is this light necessary? Is my heater fine for the daytime or do I need to swap it out for a heat lamp during the day?

Is there anything else I should know? Any other mistakes I’ve made?
04/17/08  10:37pm

 #1707517


Atrax27407
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   Message To: TwilightRealm   In reference to Message Id: 1707358


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

Read the caresheet a few messages down. The problems are too numerous to cover in a message.
04/18/08  01:07am

 #1729698


Hollyvenus
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1707517


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

I have read the care sheet but I can not find a specific on this...


I have the same starter kit...

mine seems to b okay with the temp maintaining.. the humidity was an issue until reading the care sheet, humidity is about 50%-60%

the temp is an issue though.. it seems to be holding steady at about 65 I know that is the NIGHT TIME temp...

can some one please elaborate on this!!!
05/08/08  07:39pm

 #1729733


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Hollyvenus   In reference to Message Id: 1729698


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

if you live in a semi warm area then i wouldnt worry too much about the night temperature. I live in Massachusetts so i place a night light on the tank at night during winter. I do think that 7 gallons is a bit small. Try and get a 10 gallon relatively soon, they used to be 8.50 at my petsmart + 6.99 for a screen at walmart in the pet section.
05/08/08  08:03pm

 #1729739


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1729733


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

also, the temps are fine... as for lighting you need a basking light(incandescent) which it looks like you alreay have.. AND a flueorscent(rather pricey).. The best long tube ones are probably reptisun and reptiglo (5.0). Along with the light you need an actual lamp for it (very pricy) which will run you anywhere from 20 to 40 $ most likely
05/08/08  08:07pm

 #1729750


Coolguy132435
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1729733


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

if you want to address problems like this go to my forum Link to discuss it in further detail. Note that this is in no way a distraction from RepticZone
05/08/08  08:12pm

 #1736099


Kumi
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   Message To: Coolguy132435   In reference to Message Id: 1729750


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

Why would you suggest that he go elsewhere when plenty of people are willing to help here?
05/15/08  09:23am

 #1753465


Greenandscalyanoles2
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   Message To: TwilightRealm   In reference to Message Id: 1707358


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

What is the humidity level?It should be at least 70% in humidity.I think 90 degrees is a little bit good.One time it was 100 degrees in a little plastic cage and it was a bit too hot.
06/06/08  01:00pm

 #1753470


Greenandscalyanoles2
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   Message To: Hollyvenus   In reference to Message Id: 1729698


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

Hey the humitidy should be at Least 70%!
06/06/08  01:08pm

 #1753473


Atrax27407
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   Message To: Greenandscalyanoles2   In reference to Message Id: 1753470


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

Humidity levels that high are dangerous. That causes mold and mildew. Green Anoles inhabit temperate climates where the humidity ranges generally from 30% to just above 50% in the summer. Something close to 50% is ideal.
06/06/08  01:12pm

 #1753607


TwilightRealm
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   Message To: Atrax27407   In reference to Message Id: 1753473


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

Oi, my thread was hijacked!

I don’t trust the Anole Starter Kit, having had it to begin with.
1. It’s got plastic sides, so it’s hard to maintain a good basking temperature without threatening to melt the plastic.
2. It says it’s a 7-gallon, but it’s more like a 5-gallon. Five or seven, the rule of thumb is 10 gallons per anole.

What temperature are you getting for the basking side?
06/06/08  04:05pm

 #1836721


Efetsko89
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   Message To: TwilightRealm   In reference to Message Id: 1707358


 Worried about my anole’s habitat setup--please help!

that seems ok but you need an incandescent and a fleurescent.
08/19/08  10:25pm


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