thank you w/ 1 important question

Question
QUESTION: Hi Pam, my name is Jared and I am from Austin. I found a Texas Tree Lizard and decided to keep it. This is the first pet I have ever owned, so needless to say I only know the basics about reptilians.
This isn't a breed found in pet shops so there really isn't too much information about Texas Tree Lizards on the internet.

I have a basic setup for it, an aquarium with the heating light and have been letting it bask at a temperature of around 95 to 100 degrees. I have been feeding it crickets, meal worms and on occasion wax worms. Do I have to be as careful with wax worms as others on the internet seem to be with their leopard geckos?

I plan on getting the Calcium and Vitamin powder, is it necessary to sneak in some fruit also? I have tried putting apple in the aquarium once, but he didn't seem to interested.

Should I expect my lizard to eat any type of greenery or fruits?

Any tips you could give me would be very helpful.




ANSWER: Texas Tree Lizards are a native so make sure first that Fish and Wildlife Authority in Texas allows natives as captive pets.  Usually natives that are wild caught do not do as well as captive bred.  He will need proper UVB lighting, such as the Reptisun 10.0 fluorescent tube, not the compact or coil, they cause eye damage.  They are insectivores, so bugs only, or their larva.
The reason why waxworms are to be given rarely, is because they are 58% fat and a captive lizard just can't exercise that off in a tank as they can in the wild.  As insectivores, they do not require greens or fruits, but give the insects you feed a good gutload with a slice or two of winter squash for moisture.  What good nutrition that goes into the bugs will go into the lizard.


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bulb   QUESTION: Thank you for the response, it was very informative. The bulb that I bought says it is intended for Reptiles. I have an image attached, except I have a 50W bulb. Would this bulb cause eye damage?

Also, if I dust the insects with vitamins and Calcium do I still need to worry about feeding them? Is the moisture for the lizard or the bugs, will my lizard get enough water from his dish?

Thank you for all of the great advice!

Jared

ANSWER:   That bulb is a mercury vapor bulb, a good source of UVB and won't damage the eyes as long as it was given an 8 hour burn before adding reptile.  Powersuns are pretty good for output, but I have found that the amount of UVB emitted decays a lot faster than they claim.  Using a Solarmeter, I have found the average Powersun will emit good UVB for about three months, then decay quickly.  It will continue to emit light and heat, just no UVB after a while.  A more stable brand is the Weston Mega-Ray.  You can get those at ReptileUV.com.

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QUESTION: Hi Pam,

Excellent advice, thank you for every thing. You have had quite an impact on hundreds of lives with your generosity. I'm sure you know the benefits of owning a pet and with this great advice you have helped plenty of people extend those special friendships.

I know you help a lot of people and your time is limited so this is my last question unless it is imminent.

Like I have explained before, I have a Texas Tree Lizard that I caught in the wild. It has been eating fine (with Calcium and Vitamins) and looks healthy while I have had it for about a month.

However, I have been reading many people advice against owning wild creatures because they may carry diseases or parasites. Is this something that I should worry about? After about how long do you think it will be until I know the lizard didn't bring any problems with him?  

Answer
All animals carry parasites, even we have a species of pinworn in our intestines, that actually help break down cellulose.  with most reptiles, stress can cause a rise in the parasite load in the gut.  The feces will get runny or formless, and the odor more pungent.  Too many parasites will affect digestion and should be knocked down by medication and a spotless enclosure till the parasites go back to a controllable level.
He should be vet checked two weeks after you got him.  As far as catching anything, flagellates can cross species, and start off giving you some bad diarrhea.  All this can be avoided by good hand washing after handling the animal.