How to catch a freeloader.......

[Saldarya]

So here is my situation and I am open to suggestions.

There is a native Anole that is loose in my chameleon room. Loose well gutloaded insects everywhere, basking lamps and plenty of UV everywhere. Life is good for one lucky Anole......

Although he doesn't present any physical threats to the chameleons, I am concerned about parasites when he poops on the cages (while basking in that awesome basking light!!)

Any thoughts on how to catch him. I have tried to grab him, he just runs around the cages and such...

Its kinda fun, and if it wasn't for the threat of parasites I wouldn't worry about it, but I kind of want to catch him and move him back outside.

Thanks

 

[Carlton]

So here is my situation and I am open to suggestions.

There is a native Anole that is loose in my chameleon room. Loose well gutloaded insects everywhere, basking lamps and plenty of UV everywhere. Life is good for one lucky Anole......

Although he doesn't present any physical threats to the chameleons, I am concerned about parasites when he poops on the cages (while basking in that awesome basking light!!)

Any thoughts on how to catch him. I have tried to grab him, he just runs around the cages and such...

Its kinda fun, and if it wasn't for the threat of parasites I wouldn't worry about it, but I kind of want to catch him and move him back outside.

Thanks

That's a tricky one...is there a sunny window in the room? What about leaving all your cage lights off one day and leaving the window open? Then trying to "herd" him toward the warmth/light and let him escape on his own?

That being said, maybe the parasite risk isn't actually all that bad. Healthy chams usually have some anyway from the same feeders, so periodic fecal checks would let you just monitor it over time. That and cleaning the poop when you find it.

 

[Saldarya]

That's a tricky one...is there a sunny window in the room? What about leaving all your cage lights off one day and leaving the window open? Then trying to "herd" him toward the warmth/light and let him escape on his own?

That being said, maybe the parasite risk isn't actually all that bad. Healthy chams usually have some anyway from the same feeders, so periodic fecal checks would let you just monitor it over time. That and cleaning the poop when you find it.

Thanks Carlton for the response,

No windows and it is getting cold outside ( i know you know that!!). Actually, I am concerned that if I move him outside he may not make it.

Anyhow, I am sure I will be able to catch him one day.

Kind of funny really. My wife called me one day and said we had a freeloader living off the land in the room!

 

[laurie]

Just one more pet for you, your wife and kids. Set up a cage, leave the door open, and your anole may head into his new digs.

 

[deerharvester]

Lol, i have many more than 1 freeloader. Spiders. Good luck, i dont have anoles in my area but, the kids would love that. Thanks

Scott

 

[Saldarya]

Just one more pet for you, your wife and kids. Set up a cage, leave the door open, and your anole may head into his new digs.

I dont think he'd go in the cage. Right now he has his choice of say 30 basking spots, tons of UV, drippers, misters, random bugs on the loose....

LIVING THE DREAM!!!

 

[jannb]

We have 100's of them here in FL. Just do regular fecals and your chams will be fine.

 

[eat2muchrice]

I used to catch wild blue belly lizards to feed my king snake and my trick might work for you. Get a very thin and long rod, use some fishing string to make a slip loop and attach it to the end of the rod. When I go out lizard hunting I make one out of a special long weed that grows everywhere sorry but I don’t know the name of it. Go fishing for the lizard, slip the loop around his head and give it a jerk. If the rod is thin enough the lizard will ignore it, thinking it’s a twig or weed. Good luck fishing, I hope you give it a good home.

 

[junglefries]

Lol, i have many more than 1 freeloader. Spiders.

Scott

Deja vu

 

[junglefries]

Set loose an adult tokay. Wait...... afterwards, box up tokay back to shop or keep. CAUTION: They have tempers

 

[dragonscales]

I rescued a sick anole from my office building and was planning on releasing him in the spring. Well that was almost 3 years ago and now I have 5 anoles because I found him a lady and I have 3 of their babies.

It takes me about 5-10 minutes to catch them when they are in a cage. I use as small fishing net use in aquariums and try and to corner them then drive them in the net. It does not always work but that is the easiest way I found because I don’t want to grab them and cause them to drop their tail.

Here is a 1 day old anole that I had to catch with the net to get him out of his parents cage and in with the other babies.

 

[absolutbill]

It's so odd that you posted this, because I'm having the exact same problem right now with one major difference - I've never seen my freeloader! I noticed some poop (and he's very well hydrated, I might add) about a week or so ago. I've not been able to find this anole, though I'm positive that's what it is. I figure that time will bring him around, and I'll spot him eventually. Until then he's helping to keep my cham room a little cleaner

 

[RyU]

I don't know how you would fight the urge to feed it to your chameleon....lol.