help! found a baby lizard at the hardware store

Rain_Frog · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011, 02:42 AM

Today I was picking up charcoal from the local hardware store when I walked through the sliding doors and a little kid was on the floor looking at something.

I asked him, and he told me that "a baby chameleon" was down there.

I took a closer look, and sure enough, a baby lizard was hiding amongst the plants. I told the boy that I raised frogs, so it would be best if I kept it since he had no idea how to care for it.

However, I have never kept a lizard, and I would like to find the lizard another owner. It's just a baby. I took a closer look, and I'm pretty sure its a baby brown anole, not native to Kansas.

Since I have never kept a lizard, my first question is: are there any zoonotic diseases that could pose a threat to me, my frogs, or my family? I heard there's this one parasite called a pentastomid that can infect humans, but not sure what type of reptile host it uses.

I'm kinda paranoid anymore about getting bit / scratched etc. from other people's animals since a month ago I got bit by my friend's dog and had to get a tetanus shot-- my insurance is short term and doesn't cover things like that, so it wasn't cheap.

My second question is: Will fruit flies and Repashy Calcium ICB be enough for the young lizard, or do I really need UVB? I've read that anoles like UVB, but since I'm offering a balanced D3 supplement, I don't know if its necessary.

My third question: is there an easier way to keep a lizard "watered" since they don't usually drink from a dish? What if I can't always mist the cage every morning?

billschwinn · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2011, 02:48 AM

You could probably get by with minimal UV lighting, just keep moderate humidity, FF as initial food, temps can fluc. between 70 and 85, small basking area would be nice.

Neontra · #3 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011, 12:10 AM

I kept one of these 2 years ago.
These things usually do carry a lot of diseases
Mine was kept in a super cheap screen cage (I think it was like a 20g screen cage with PVC to make a frame, it was like 8 bucks on sale or something)
and i put it somewhere where the sun could give it some uvb. They're really easy to care for. I fed mine a few crickets every other day. They like about 40-50% humidity, so with a screen cage heavy misting will be needed. I am not 100% sure if D3 can supplement their needs, but you can try.

Rain_Frog · #4 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011, 12:50 AM

Are you saying that anoles carry many diseases that can harm humans?

Here is a picture of it:

billschwinn · #5 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011, 03:21 AM

I would say they carry no more diseases than you or I. It just hatched, so where has it possibly been infected at? It should not have parasites as well unless it has already eaten infected food.I have regularly used Anoles that I have caught in my yard as prey for stubborn snakes as a first food source. I really think you will be fine, Bill

frogface · #6 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011, 12:59 PM

I used to wear them like earrings, when I was a kid, to freak out my mom, lol. They clamp down on your earlobe and hang on. So, you clearly need to find one more for a matched set

Rain_Frog · #7 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011, 03:10 PM

Hi Bill,

I still have not seen it eat yet-- but I'm not around most of the time. It doesn't *appear to be really thin, but I'm not a lizard expert. That's the one side of the hobby I have never ventured. I haven't tried UVB or a basking spot bulb, but I'm planning on moving it to a ten gallon specifically for mounting it.

Someone told me to look for a embryonic sac. If he just hatched, where would that be located?

purplegroovetube · #8 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011, 03:45 PM

Send that baby to me. I have a tank already setup and ff waiting. i can pm my cell number.

p.s. I will be grandma to this baby

billschwinn · #9 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain_Frog

Hi Bill,

I still have not seen it eat yet-- but I'm not around most of the time. It doesn't *appear to be really thin, but I'm not a lizard expert. That's the one side of the hobby I have never ventured. I haven't tried UVB or a basking spot bulb, but I'm planning on moving it to a ten gallon specifically for mounting it.

Someone told me to look for a embryonic sac. If he just hatched, where would that be located?

If it hatches properly there should be no sac unless it was a preemie. Dehydration is a problem with juvie lizards so be sure to mist a couple times a day, feed dusted FF. They are shy initially so more than likely you won't see it eat.

bsr8129 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-03-2011, 07:27 PM

why not just release it back into the wild where you found it from?