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Baby Brown Anole Possible Emergency

22 13:28:00

Question
Hi there,
I moved up here to VT just last November from FL, and was suprised to find in my orchid collection a hatchling Brown Anole that had hitched a ride in one of my 'chids via egg. I have no herp experience, so I did some brief research and set up a pretty rudimentary temporary "terrarium" out of a spare 10 gallon aquarium lined with paper towels (so I could more easily watch for bm's and such) and scattered with a few small bare root Dendrobiums I had on hand. The little guy didn't eat or drink for the first couple of days, so I figured it must have been a fresh hatchling, not needing food for 3-4 days post hatching. Soon she began readily drinking from a syringe and takes 1 drop 2-3x a day whenever I offer it. She previously had no intrest in the fruit flies I bought her but I was able to catch several of these pesky orchid gnats that made their way up along with my plants. She ate with no less than gusto. I must mention though, that before she started taking insects, I was giving her a banana puree/water mix through the syringe (now and then mixed with a tiny bit of Exo Terra Calcium +D3) of which she would drink .5-1 drop a couple times a day. Most recently (again before she took to insects) I was giving her the syringe mix of pureed peach/water sometimes with Exo Terra Multi Vitamin supplement powder. Note that I've only had her for 3-4 days or so, I believe since Jan. 3rd. Anyway, yesterday she had 3 of those orchid gnats, and today she finally went for a fruit fly. Oh, and I need to mention that I know her enclosure isn't adequate, but it's extremely hard to get proper reptile supplies where I live, not to mention I'm limited in the money dept. so I just got what I figured would be essential. I try to keep her as warm as possible, considering it's very much winter here in VT, so she sleeps near a reptile heat bulb I bought, and by day she basks under my Wonderlight, which at this time is the only light I have that I feel could do her any good when compaired to regular fluorescent lighting. I use it for my orchids, and I believe it simulates full spectrum light. She has no decrease in appetite, and remains very intrested in water. Her eyes are bright, she basks, is always alert, and her skin is nice sandy light brown. She was only ever dark brown when I found her cold and in the moist area where I keep my 'chids. On the day that I fed her those 3 orchid gnats, that morning she had her first "real" bm. It was small, but seemed to be the remains of the very first gnat she ate. It's been a day to a day and a half since she's defacated, so I'm a bit nervous. I must mention this, though I'm totally ashamed to, but I accidentally broke her left rear leg when I first found her and had no syringe to offer her water with. I used the tip of a spoon to drop water before her and she got spooked (and I freaked because I thought she would escape never to be seen again) and the spoon slipped a bit and hit her back leg. I had no idea any damage was done 'till I calmed down and looked at her closely. I was heartbroken. She never bled, and at this time the wound has closed up and she doesn't seem to mind it much anymore. She climbs on the Dendrobiums, walks, runs, etc. It is still a bit swollen though. Yet, the reason I'm here posting, is because I'm worried that she may have a fluid filled abdomen. 'Sounds strange, yes, but i've been looking at her up near the light (so i can see through her) and have noticed that her lower half of her abdomen can be seen through. As in I can't distinguish any organs. It just looks cloudy/clear, as if it were full of fluid. Above it on her sides I see what I believe to her her intestine(s) as it looks to be fairly thick, completely dark, and squiggly. Above that is her lungs. I've tried my darndest to find a diagram of Anole anatomy on the search engine and have come up empty, so therein lies my concern. I don't know what I'm looking at. From above, she seems a bit pudgy, though I've never spent too much time with hatchling Anoles, I used to "save" them from our screened in porch and let them go in our yard back in FL, and I remember them being fairly slim, some anorexic. Am I giving her too much water? (She takes it freely, mind you) Did I accidentally give her too much of a certain supplement? Could it be in connection with her leg? I was so excited to see that she hunted down a fruit fly today but now I'm sort of bummed out and worried that I may have done something wrong that may cause her demise. She's so tiny, probably about 1.5-2", and I have no access to a herp vet, it was hassel enough just getting my hands on fruit flies. Any imput would be much appreciated!

Answer
There is not much a vet would be able to do for a broken leg (or any other issue) on such a very tiny animal.  I would say that you are doing everything right.  If the little one does not make it, it will not be your fault at this point.

I would not worry about his/her insides right now.  Change the paper towel out, and see if the anole is still eliminating regularly.  If it is, then don't be concerned.  Keeping the hatchling well-hydrated is a very good thing.  Keep using the calcium/D3 supplements--dust every fruit fly you feed.  If he looks a bit pudgy...good!  That means he's eating well and is well-hydrated, and should therefore grow quickly.

As soon as possible, order a reptile UVB fluorescent light.  Your plant grow-light does produce UVA, but it does not produce the UVB that reptiles need to create vitamin D in their skin.  Your anole will also benefit from Repashy crested gecko diet.  You can give him that, instead of the banana, and he'll learn to lap it up from a small cup after he's used to it.  Half his diet can be CGD, and it contains plenty of calcium and other vitamins and minerals.  (It is used as a complete diet for crested geckos, and a supplement for day geckos and anoles).  Pangea Reptile Supply carries both items, as does The Bean Farm and Big Apple Herpetological.