Anoles - Slightly OT: New Job! Oh, and a waterfall question...

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Thirteen Phonegirl75 Phonegirl75 Atrax27407 Phonegirl75 Atrax27407 Phonegirl75 Noodles & Thader Geckolord12 Phonegirl75

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#2175733

Thirteen
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Slightly OT: New Job! Oh, and a waterfall question...

Recently I got a new job at a pet shop and aquarium! No puppy mill support here, the only mammals are cage animals like rabbits and hamsters, no cats or puppies. It is a wonderful owner run place! I have purchased my Anoles and Alligator Lizard here and all of the animals are in wonderful condition and have proper care and all of the employees are extremely knowledgable! It’s pretty much my favorite place ever, haha. I feel so lucky that I was invited to work there! Over the last two years I’ve been in there at least twice a week (crickets!) and have become friends with everyone and they’re always asking about my lizards! Mostly Rampage, the Alli, because I was in contact with them almost daily when I bought him because he wouldn’t eat for two weeks (now eating multiple crickets a day!). I know you guys are big on reputable pet/reptile stores so I had to share!

Alssssso, does anyone have experience with the premade waterfalls? I know Exo-Terra, among others, makes them, and I’m looking into getting one for my Alli (unnecessary for the Anoles and I don’t want to risk a drowning just to have something pretty). Any info/experience/reviews would be excellent! Thanks!

09/16/10 11:35am

#2175738

Phonegirl75
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Message To: Thirteen In reference to Message Id: 2175733

Slightly OT: New Job! Oh, and a waterfall question...

I recently got a waterfall for my vivarium, it is a ZooMed Reptirapids waterfall. I got it from an online store called PetMountain for $38.00, I got free shipping and no tax. It took a while to be delivered but other than that we are pleased. I actually did get it for my anole because I have had the worst time trying to keep the humidity at the proper levels and was misting all day long. Anyway, it is bigger than I expected but we love it!

Ziggy spends nearly all his time on his vines, almost never coming down to the ground at all so he doesn’t seem to care that it takes up some floor space. I don’t even feed him in his vivarium, I remove him and put him in a mesh insect keeper so I can see how much he is eating and that the crickets aren’t eating him! It recommended putting some rocks in the bottom if you have small or delicate lizards, which qualifies for my anole, so I did.

I would like to post a picture of it for you, but I whenever I try it tells me it is too large. Any ideas on how to shrink it down so I can post? I wanted to post some pics anyway, get feedback from everyone about my set up for Ziggy.

09/16/10 12:27pm

#2175745

Phonegirl75
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Message To: Thirteen In reference to Message Id: 2175733

Slightly OT: New Job! Oh, and a waterfall question...

I have posted pics of Ziggy’s place now... you can see the waterfall in them if you are interested.

09/16/10 01:38pm

#2175749

Atrax27407
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Message To: Phonegirl75 In reference to Message Id: 2175745

Slightly OT: New Job! Oh, and a waterfall question...

Waterfalls are problematic at best. Although reptiles rarely drown in them, crickets (which are incredibly stupid) will almost certainly do so. The result is fouled water and a big mess. Although Anoles will sometimes drink running water, they much prefer to lap droplets off the foliage. In addition, waterfalls don’t do a whole lot for increasing the humidity in the enclosure.

09/16/10 02:40pm

#2175802

Phonegirl75
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Message To: Atrax27407 In reference to Message Id: 2175749

Slightly OT: New Job! Oh, and a waterfall question...

I read a lot of reviews on waterfalls before purchasing one, and almost all mention the problem of crickets getting in and clogging up the pump, so I agree with Atrax that it is a concern. I don’t drop prey into my vivarium because I want to monitor my lizards eating habits and because I don’t feel it is possible for me to catch the uneaten ones. I don’t like the thought of crickets munching on my sleeping lizards or of them decomposing in the substrate, so I feed in a separate place.

As for the humidity, it was recommended from many sources to increase it but it only does so marginally. However, it does minimally splash out spraying the surrounding foliage which gives my lizards the ability to get a drink whenever they like. It is also aesthetically pleasing and the trickle is calming. If you do choose to get one, I do recommend this one because the flow is adjustable and the pump is nice and quiet. :)

09/16/10 10:24pm

#2175865

Atrax27407
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Message To: Phonegirl75 In reference to Message Id: 2175802

Slightly OT: New Job! Oh, and a waterfall question...

There are easier fixes to the problems than a seperate feeding enclosure.

1) If you do about 15 minutes of maintainance each day (i.e. removing debris and dead feeder insects) most of the problems will disappear.
2) Controlling and monitoring your Anoles’ feeding is relatively simple. Feed them one insect at a time until they lose interest.
3) If you provide a small container of food for any feeder insects that elude being eaten, they won’t be interested in munching on your Anoles (powdered rabbit food pellets work fine).
4) If you mist several times a day you will keep the humidity levels up. I would recommend a Habba-Mist which is fully programmable as to mist interval and duration. I have mine set for a minute duration every 3 hours unless I’m no going to be home for a few days and then I change the interval to 6 hours. It will last 4+ days with those settings between fill-ups.

I have found that waterfalls are mainly for the owners instead of the Anoles. You will spend much more time maintaining and cleaning the waterfall than you would using the above alternatives.

09/17/10 11:46am

#2175967

Phonegirl75
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Message To: Atrax27407 In reference to Message Id: 2175865

Slightly OT: New Job! Oh, and a waterfall question...

Well, no one had any comments about my waterfall or vivarium when I asked for them, so I am thinking there is no point in posting it now just to be contradictory to my attempt to assist Thirteen. It was my mistake, I won’t be responding to any posts on YOUR board in the future. It is all yours, enjoy!

09/17/10 10:24pm