By now, everyone adopting one (or two) of our class anoles has been notified as of last Tuesday. The anoles must be picked up in my room at school after school either Monday (Nov 19), Tuesday (Nov 20), or Wednesday (Nov 21). Students need to have a parent along for the pickup as live animals are not allowed on the buses.
Bring a secure box with air holes to transfer the lizards to their new homes. Immediate needs are a terrarium (pet store or wal mart), a heat source (We're using clamp lamps with 60 watt bulbs. A small reptile light from a pet store is preferable), spring water with a sprayer for daily spraying, and food (i.e. Live small crickets - 1 dozen a week would be sufficient. They've been fed here about 3 times a week with approximately 2 crickets per feeding. Mrs. Ashley checked prices of live small crickets at Speck's in Greenfield last Friday and found price to be around $1.50/dozen. Check with your favorite pet store for specific cost.)
Spending a lot isn't necessary to maintain your new family member. Students have learned how to use natural materials to set up a terrarium. (Local soil, Sticks from trees, Toilet paper rolls, Found rocks, Leftover grass seed from this past summer)
The anoles must be picked up on this week. I will be at school until 3:30 pm all three days. If you need to pick up earlier in the day, call the office (326-3121) to let them know when you'd like to come for pick up. All anoles will be gone after Wednesday afternoon.
Fall Celebration
The fifth grade Fall Celebration is set for Wednesday, November 21 from 1:30 to 2:00. If you would like to send in a treat (cookies, etc.), bottled water, napkins, or paper plates for 29 students, e-mail me at jellars@gcsc.k12.in.us
This Week's Agenda
Monday, November 19 (Gold Day)
1. U.S. Cities race
2. Lizard Kings: The Monitor Lizard [PBS video]
Tuesday, November 20 (Blue Day)
1. Open journal science test over our Food Chain investigation
2. Science Activity #11 - Food Chain Game
Wednesday, November 21 (Gold Day)
1. Spanish come to the New World
2. Science Activity #12 - The Web of Life
Have a Great Thanksgiving!
__________________________________
Extra: Here's a copy of the handout to be given to all lizard "adopters" this week.
Anole
Information
Thanks for adopting an anole! Here are a few tips for care.
Terrarium:
Anoles need a controlled environment. The terrarium should be their habitat at all times. Do not allow them loose in the house. (They’re extremely skittish and hard to catch.) They also don’t react well to excessive handling and prefer a life of leisure in the terrarium. If handled, be sure to wash your hands after contact with the lizards or their environment.
Anoles need a controlled environment. The terrarium should be their habitat at all times. Do not allow them loose in the house. (They’re extremely skittish and hard to catch.) They also don’t react well to excessive handling and prefer a life of leisure in the terrarium. If handled, be sure to wash your hands after contact with the lizards or their environment.
A small terrarium about the size of the ones used at school
is adequate. Your child’s journal should have a sheet showing the basic setup
needed for the lizards. We also stressed using natural materials, rather than
expensive store bought material. (local soil, climbing sticks fallen from
trees, found rocks, toilet paper rolls, leftover grass seed from the past
summer.
Heat Source:
We’ve been using inexpensive clamp lamps (I purchased one from Home Depot – the cheapest one available) with 60 watt light bulbs. Reptile bulbs provide more of the sunlike radiation needed to maintain good health. These are available at pet stores. For anoles, get the smallest bulb available. Your favorite pet store will also give you more detailed information on heating needs for a healthy reptile environment.
We’ve been using inexpensive clamp lamps (I purchased one from Home Depot – the cheapest one available) with 60 watt light bulbs. Reptile bulbs provide more of the sunlike radiation needed to maintain good health. These are available at pet stores. For anoles, get the smallest bulb available. Your favorite pet store will also give you more detailed information on heating needs for a healthy reptile environment.
Food / Water:
The terrarium should be sprayed daily with spring water. (I purchased spring water at Wal-Mart for 88 cents/gallon) Use an inexpensive household sprayer. Lizards will like water off the walls and surfaces. They will also drink from small water dishes but frequently knock those over.
The terrarium should be sprayed daily with spring water. (I purchased spring water at Wal-Mart for 88 cents/gallon) Use an inexpensive household sprayer. Lizards will like water off the walls and surfaces. They will also drink from small water dishes but frequently knock those over.
Anoles are insectivores – they eat small live insects. Live crickets are
available at pet stores. Mrs. Ashley checked prices at Speck’s in Greenfield
last week and found cost to be approximately $1.50 per dozen. We’ve been
feeding ours three times a week with one to three crickets per anole per
feeding. They will occasionally eat small mealworms but aren’t as interested in
them as with the crickets. The crickets need to be small or pinhead crickets.
The anoles are not able to eat the larger crickets. (Warning: Never feed
lightning bugs to anoles – they’re poisonous to them.)
Learn more about the care and feeding of these fascinating creatures in books available at pet stores and your local library, by checking “anole care” on the internet, and by talking to your favorite pet store carrying reptiles.
