Lucky Needs to Eat

So we took in this green anole, newly named Lucky, and had to figure out what to feed him. The whole family got involved in multiple bug hunts to find food for our new friend. We caught a bunch of grasshoppers, and put some in with Lucky, but he seemed uninterested.

After a day or two, we did some research on the internet and learned our anole really desires crickets and mealworms, and that his food should be about half the length of his head. Fascinating.

So Jon stopped by Petsmart to get mealworms and brought home superworms instead (they had no little capes, super though they were). We opened the superworms and quickly realized they were huge (in a relative sort of way) and they had legs, which I thought quite odd for worms. Lucky was not at all interested in them.

Fortunately, we were able to return the superworms, and I bought a small box of small crickets. No one has actually seen Lucky eat a cricket, but he seems to be doing well and I think the crickets are disappearing (although they do tend to hide), so I think we're on to something.

I have found, however, that crickets, which I used to think were such cute, friendly little bugs, kinda creep me out. I try not to look at them too much except to get a head count. It might be because these crickets are pale and not the black ones I'm used to. Whatever it is, I'm not liking them very much. Anna and Will at first tried to name them, but I told them it's best not to name the food... unless they want to name them Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Our New Pet: Lucky the Lizard

This past Friday Jon found a little green anole who had a crushed back leg and missing tail. Naturally, we took him in as a rescue, fearing he would not be able to A) catch food and B) escape predators with only three legs. We improvised a round fish bowl for his new home, and named him Lucky. The kids were delighted!

Lucky didn't really look very comfortable in the fish bowl, though. It was far too curvy for him, even with the grass and sticks we put in there to make him feel at home. After a couple days, since he was still alive, we took the plunge and bought a real terrarium for him, complete with gravel and orchid bark (apparently anoles really like orchid bark, which, just so you know, is not the actual bark of orchids). We added a couple small potted plants and voila! Instant green anole happy habitat!

Only he didn't look so happy to me. Anna thought he looked like he was smiling. But to me, Lucky seemed to be a bit depressed... the way he gazed endlessly out the window, the way he looked at me with suspicion. He appeared to be longing for the world outside. For freedom.

Freedom. I began to feel conflicted about keeping our little friend. Is it better to live long in a new place in safety? Or to live free, risking a shorter life and even traumatic death? "Live free or die!" Right? But I don't know... he's an anole after all so maybe he doesn't really mind so much or think so deeply.

So for now, we take care of him, and I think he has perked up a bit. Maybe it's the crickets that have won him over...