[sunrico90]

Green anoles, Anolis carolinesis. Often mistakenly called American Chameleons, because of their ability to change colors from shades of green to shades of brown, they are in no way related to true chameleons. They are native to southern USA from east Texas, all the way to the Atlantic coast. They make great little pets, are somewhat delicate, and they do require more space and care than one would think. They are very pretty when green, and are easily tamed.

Diagnostic Features:
Size: 5 - 8 inches
Color:
This lizard possesses the ability to change colors. The dorsal ground color ranges from bright green to dark brown.
The dorsal pattern may consist of an irregular brown or white middorsal stripe.
Other:
Small lizard
Light colored throat and neck
Long claws
Long tail
Sexual Dimorphisms:
Males with pink dewlap
Females with pale pink throat
Habitat: This arboreal lizard is mostly seen in trees, shrubs, vines, and on fences and buildings.
Behavior: This diurnal lizard has a small territory, but will aggressively defend it. If an intruder approaches, the male will compress its body, extend the dewlap, and bob its head. It will engage in combat with other males or chase them away. Color changes are brought on by temperature and light. It feeds on insects and spiders. This lizard also sheds its skin several times a year.
Breeding: Breeding occurs for several months beginning in late spring. Males employ head bobbing and dewlap extension in courtship. A single, small, softshell egg is laid among leaf litter.
Range: In North America, this lizard is found from North Carolina to the Florida Keys to Oklahoma and Texas.
In Texas, it is found in East Texas and in part of the Rio Grande Valley.

[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by grammy164

I love the little lizards. We have one that I think adopted us. He sleeps in the same spot on on our screen every night. I love watching them. I must say I do use a cup to catch them thought.

I also like the tiny lizzard, the dogs, well, the bichon loves as a cat to stalk,
the terrer as a lion the pounce. anyway, 8 year later here, they do not bother, unless I say I see a bug, a spider. the terrier still checks out inside lizzards.

also we seem to have some frogs who climb? outside!

judy

[Y-Move]

Thank you all so much for your good advice about Little Lizards.
I haven't seen it since Friday - so I am hopig he escaped somehow.
But it was really very wonderful to be able to get some help at Four in the morning.
I expect that I will be visited again - and I will try to "escort" it out - but I an a city "girl" and too squeamish - can't even bait a hook - bad upraising, I think.
Thank You All.

[elfyum]

Hey Y-Move - there's hope! I's a "city slicker" too! Born & raised in NYC with parents (especially mom) who freak out from "crawly critters"! Now my mom's down here too & I believe she kills the poor things... I can't even think about it or I'll feel sick...
BUT my point is that I taught myself to appreciate all life & not be freaked out. So you can too! The only thing that I still can't do is catch something in my hands. I used to rescue beetles (I love those things! ) - once they flip on their backs they can't right themselves. So Elfy to the rescue! I would flip them, but they'd be disoriented & try to walk & go right back over...I kept some in my apt overnight hoping they'd "recover" & when they seemed ok (not that I'm a beetle expert! ) I'd put them outside.
Anyway, sometimes I would pick them up or they'd be in my hand, but they "cling" or "clamp" & that just feels creepy! So my natural reaction was to throw them/flick my hand. (and feel bad )
So I get nervous about catching a lizard or a frog & it doing something that felt "creepy" & me flicking them or in some way hurting them.
So I get my love to catch them!
But you can learn to love critters!
What city are you from by the way?

[Y-Move]

Thanks Elfy - I hope there is hope for me.
I'm from New York - and there - even in the most expensive and fancy places - like Park Avenue Apartments - you will occasionally see a roach.
If I ever saw one - first I'd run and put shoes on - don't really know why. Then I'd spray it with tons of spray - usually hair spray cause that was what I had on hand. Then when it stopped moving - wads of tissues to pick it up and flush it down the toilet.
Why do such small things freak out us big people?

[lulu]

Oh..those little rubbery soft gecko's that come out at night? I just love those...
These were my favorites as a kid & still are...
yeah, well...haven't grown up, what can I say?

What I do is...I have one of those inexpensive long/expandable duster's found anywhere, & I guide them very softly/delicately/patiently from the ceiling to an open area on the bottom in case they drop down - for example, to a place where there is no furniture/tv's on the bottom (they'll run & hide)- 9 out of 10 times they will freeze up (act dead) and stick to the duster and one simply opens the door & shakes them softly out to freedom. If they happen to fall to the floor, well...I end up looking like a cat on all fours trying to capture it very softly with my hands in a cuffed cage position and the other hand ready to capture it in case it wants to do an escape thing on me. They usually will leave their jumping tail behind, but don't despair this is a trick of theirs for the potential enemies to go after the tail & they can do a.. "one.. two... outta here." escape. No, it doesn't hurt them & the tail will grow back.

I know it sounds icky to some, but actually there are people that leave them alone when they're out & about on the ceilings cause they do eat roaches, mosquitos and tiny spiders.

[lulu]

Those frogs that climb/walk on walls are toads...they don't grow more than 1-2 inches and they serenate lovely chirping songs at night. I know it's hard for some, but don't fear them, they are harmless.... and necessary to keep the balance with yucky insects.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Lulu
The soft little green "frogs" are actually toads!?
During the heavy rains we had, those little guys were chirping all night long--the more rain we got, the louder they were--but they really didn't bother me and I am only a little bit jumpy (no pun intended) when they go hopping out of my way on the front porch in the morning.

I don't mind the lizards or anoles or whatever they are, either. They are pretty cute in a reptilian sort of way.

HOWEVER
I recently found a scorpion as long as my index finger in the carport.
Him I could do without. But I just let him scuttle away, I didn't squish him.

[lulu]

Yeah...they are kind of flat & green w/little round toes that are like suction cups. They are so adorable... They only come out at night & after a rain they get all happy & start chirping. They are somewhat territorial. I've had one that hides under my patio umbrella for over a year now ...and then at night it comes down & chirps away and then early in the morning it takes refuge under the umbrella again.
The scorpions as I remember can give you a painful sting...haven't seen one down here in a long, long time....remember them as a kid, and we used to have lots of beautiful snails, turtles, too. I hope we don't lose our native blue butterfly which is on the brink of extinction now. We all need to plant more native 'coontie plants' to see if they come back, somehow.

[pioneer8]

Originally Posted by Y-Move

Well I moved down to Florida three weeks ago.
I LOVE IT HERE!
But, one little problem.
Someone left my apartment door open and I didn't notice it.
A little lizard is now on the ceiling.
I know it's more afraid of me than I am of it - I know it eats bugs and so is very good to have around - I know I should just think of it as the Geico Gecko.
But - I don't love having a Little Lizard in my home.
There is no way for it to get out - unless I leave the front door open - and who knows what else can come in.
Friends said "Get used to it - they die fast."
I really do feel bad to have it die - but does anyone know how fast they die?
Or any thoughts on how to escort it out.
It's Four in the Morning and I am jsut not comfortable knowing there's a Little Lizard in the house.

HA! That is so funny! I just couldn't NOT answer this adorable question! I was born and raised in FL and catching lizards (even disecting them with my little bros and sisters)... was a fabulously fun thing to do outdoors. Of course, when my own children came to love those sweet little things, I was sure to tell them to treat all God's creatures with kindness...

Oh gosh, we used to let them bite our ears and pose withour lizard earrings!

Wow! If you have kids, maybe they'll catch it for you?? Seriously, I wouldn't like it inside either- I'm sort of a clean freak... They will eat the bugs though!

Thanks for that question... You've got me reminiscing.