Hello all, I'm new to the forums.

We've had a female anole for a bit over a month now. We got her from a friend. She took the move well and has been a wonderful pet. She's about 2 1/2 inches long with her body and probaly 4 inches if you include her tail.

She has a 15 gallon tank, with several fake plants, some logs, a sun rock, hiding places, etc.

My kids are wonderful with her, we do not handle her because we read she's quite delicate. She eats crickets that we get from petsmart. She has a UV light and heat lamp.

Today a friend came over and her 10 year old son scared her by banging on the tank and screaming into the top of it. (I'm disgusted by his behavior). It caused her to fall off of her tree limb. She fell on her back. I helped gently flip her over. Since then, she's been breathing quite heavily (you can see her sides going in quite a bit) and she can use her front legs, but not her back ones.

I later misted her cage with water and she did drink some, but she's still breathing pretty heavily and won't use her rear legs. She didn't have any live crickets in, so I dropped some in, but she's not eating either. I mean two crawled right over top of her and nothing.

Her belly seems full, at least it seems fat I should say, so I don't think she is hungry, but she also didn't have anything live in their either.

Could she just be stressed from the brat child scaring her? Would her rear legs break from a fall of about 4-5 inches onto her back?

My kids would be devistated if she died and I'd be livid. SHe's been so neat to watch. My kids were fascinated when she shed her skin, they love watching her eat crickets, etc. And to be honest, I'd be upset if she died. I've kind of grown attached to her and would hate to know if she died or is in pain.

Any advive would be great.

Thanks

I would have to guess that is mostly due to the shock of falling and stress related. Give her a few days, but keep a very close eye on her. What did she land on, what type of substrate?

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Jungle mix lizard litter. It's pretty soft.

She's hiding right now under a log that has like a cavish cut out. I'm hoping she will perk up tomorrow or something. I'm just really worried about her. It's amazing how attached to a lizard you can become.

Could be shock...or could she have injured her back somehow...not using the back legs is not a good sign....give her some time...raise her temps a bit and keep her misted.....good luck....Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Also make sure the UV light is a UVB light and not UVA. Adding some electrolytes to the water could perk up her appetite and giver her a litlle needed energy. You can dilute some Gatorade, or better yet, Pedialyte, lor you can add Reptisafe to the water, which will also dechlorinate it (something that should be done anyway). Let us know if her situation improves or worsens!

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

This morning she's still under her log cave. She's still not using her back legs. They just hang behind her. I don't want to move her for fear of hurting her more. Her color seems good this morning however and she isn't breathing too hard. But she's also not coming out from under her log. I misted her this morning and I'll go out today to get some pedialyte. She's skittish around us and I just worry that the more I check on her, the more stressed she will be.

I'm so angry because this is common sense that you treat animals with kindness. My daughter is upset because Mystic is her pet and she's always taken such great care of her. I'm just...angry.

I hope she starts feeling better. I find it unlikely that she broke her back. She didn't fall very far, nor land on a hard surface. Still, her loss of function in her back legs puzzles me.

Anyone have anymore suggestions?

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

Thank you for all the replies. Unfortunately, Mystic died this afternoon. I had called an exotic vet, and had made an appointment for tomorrow. But she didn't make it. They said she was breathing so hard because she was in pain so maybe it was better this way.

My daughter was quite upset. We buried her in the flower bed. She drew a picture of her and cried a bit.

I'm upset and angry still, but I'm glad she isn't in pain anymore.

Thanks for the help.

youre right, at least she isnt in pain. In time, maybe you can open your heart to a new anole (i know that sounds really corny). I had an anole once in about 2nd grade. actually it was my teachers, but oh well. This thing was sort of old, but I loved it and it would do things such as crawl into my hand to be hand fed. (it was a very odd lizard). Unfortunately it died in a heat rock related incident before I learned that heat rocks are bad. So I know how hard it can be to lose even an animal that others couldnt see how you can get attached to, especially ifd youre a child.

Jamie,

My heart goes out to you and your daughter. Im sure the boy meant no harm. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive the action, and get another anole. No you cannot replace the love you had for Mystic, but life does go on and your daughter will see that.

Steve