Over a year ago, a lizard got in our house. I was unable to shew him/her out the door. DD wanted to keep her. I told her it would die. I told her I had had this happen before several times. She suggested we put water out. DUHHH! I never did THAT before. So we did. And surprise, that lizard has been living in our house ever since.

I feed it dead flies and moths from time to time. Sometimes months go by without seeing her. We keep water out for her. She makes me smile when I see her run across the floor.

However, I think she got dehydrated recently. I have given her water and she has taken it. I offered her moth and fly, but she is not able to eat. She looks very skinny and not good. Better now than she did this morning when I found her. She is still alive.

Can anyone give me any ideas on how I can feed her? Squishing up a fly just doesn't sound like something I am willing to do. But is there anything I could squish and try to get her to lick it off her nose? I told DD the situation, but she is at Grandma's now. I'm hoping to get some nurishment into Lisa before DD gets home. Oh, and I have left fruit out for her before, but she has never touched it. Not sure if she would eat squished fruit.

Thanks for your help.

By Happynerdmom on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 04:46 pm:

My only experience is with an iguana. We didn't realize it was sick when we got it, and about a year later, it died. We had ours at a reptile specialist to try and save it. They even gave it an IV! When it got really bad, we had to feed it with a syringe. I can't remember what we fed it, though. I think it was something the vet gave us. You could call a pet store or something, I guess. I'm not an expert, but it doesn't sound good. I'm sorry I can't be more help. I share your fondness of lizards. They are just so cool. Good luck.

By Dana on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 05:38 pm:

I doubt I'll be calling around. I mean I enjoy this lizard more than I ever expected. But it is just an ordinary outdoor type. Not one of those big pet types. I keep thinking fly thru the syringe, but I just don't think I'm ready for that. I don't even know how long it should live in the outdoors. She's moving around now, but still not interested in the fly. I think I could squish and earth worm, but I don't know where to look for one of those. I only find them from time to time in our yard. Thanks for your post, Happynerdmom!

By Truestori on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 06:04 pm:

Dana,

We just adopted an out-door lizard...We feed her crickets that we buy at petco or petsmart for 7 cents a piece. She also loves meal worms. Our lizard was captured at my daughters school. She has a little 10 gallon tank with a heater and a UV light. Your lizard may need to be put in the sun and warmed up a bit before she eats. HTH's

By Shellyg on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 07:26 pm:

I have a friend who is a "specialty vet". He deals with birds, snakes, bunnies, lizards, etc. He said to feed it meat baby food thru a bulb syringe. Is the lizard getting sunlight?

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 07:33 pm:

Any idea what kind of lizard it is? How bit is it, what color, what is it's skin like.

Scott says he may be able to give some advice but not until he knows more about the lizard.

By Dana on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 08:59 pm:

It is a regular outdoor florida lizard. He/she used to be a light brown/tan color w/ darker markings on it's back. However, the skin is now all dark

She is quite small, about 5 in long nose to tail. She is about 1.5 years old.

She appears to be getting much worse. I will be surprised if she lasts the night.

She is on the marble window seal, and was getting sun all morning. Still on the seal but it must be cold for her now. Our temps are nice outside...probably in the 50's. It was actually hot enough to run the AC in our car today. No air running in the house.

By Bea on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 11:53 pm:

It might just be old age is claiming her. I don't know the life span of a gecko. Here's what I've found on line about House Geckos

House geckos
Hemidactylus ssp (h. frencitus, h. mabouia, h. turcicus, h. garnotii)

RATING: Novice/beginner
FOOD: crickets, mealworms, roaches, flies, moths, larvae
WATER: mist daily- licks moisture from leaves
DAY TEMP: 88 F (31.1 c), 94 F (34.4 c) basking site
NIGHT TEMP: 74 F (23 c)
LIGHTING: incandescent
SUBSTRATE: 1 - 2" of fine sand or leaf litter
NOTES: nocturnal, rocks, live plants, hardy, 10 - 15 gallon tank with secure lid

By Ladypeacek on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 04:02 am:

Well you could also try a little fruit, they can get some vitamins through that and they like it.

By Janet on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 09:49 am:

Dana, I have nothing to tell you, but I got a smile when I read your post. Such a kind-hearted person you are! Isn't it funny how attached you can become, once you start paying attention to it? I hope your lizard pulls out of this and you can enjoy him again. Good luck!

By Dana on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 02:09 pm:

Lisa is up and about the window screen today....much to my amazement! She is still very very thin and won't eat. I've never seen her avoid food so much. Usually those flies are gone instantly when I put them out. If she won't eat, I don't care how much she drank, she won't recover. She is so boney Guess I just have to let nature take its course at this point.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 06:41 pm:

How about getting a few mealworms or crickets from a pet supply store and offering them to her?

Scott says it may just be her age, and if she is a "wild" lizard, they often have parasites which eventually do them in.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 06:44 pm:

Is this the kind of lizard you are talking about? It is a brown anole lizard, very common in Florida.

By Dana on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 07:02 am:

Yes, Ginny, that looks just like Lisa.

Can you believe I have spent this much time worrying about her? A regular old yard lizard! But she has just been so darn cute, running across our living room floor from time to time. Hanging out on the front window. I am still amazed at how long she has survived living indoors.

Even more surprising are the REPLIES I've gotten to my request for help. I really thought I MIGHT get one, maybe two replies from those w/ Iguana's or something, but certainly not the response I did get. Thank you, all of you for caring enough about our lizard.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 09:27 am:

I will check further with Scott, but he says anoles have a short life span. Lisa may just be old.

Here are a couple of web sites:
http://www.icomm.ca/dragon/anoles.htm

http://users.erols.com/ziring/guido.html

The second one has some other links.

By Mrsclark on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 10:00 am:

I suppose there's no chance lizards slow down (possibly somewhat hybernate?) in the winter? Maybe not...just wishful thinking. How cute, though, and to name her Lisa. Maybe her daughter will find your home next!

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 01:03 pm:

Here's what I said to Scott:
> The lizard is definitely a brown anole. It is at least a year old. It has > become more active and is drinking but will not eat dead flies or moths. I
> suggested it may just be getting old, and suggested mealworms or a few > crickets. Any thoughts?

Here's what he emailed me:
Re lizard: sounds about right. It may be just full of worms. Is its belly distended? Or it's just getting old. I can't think of anything else to feed it, and I'm surprised it ever ate dead flies. Mealworms sounds like a treat.

By Trisa on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 05:15 pm:

How is the little thing? I am almost afraid to ask. So sweet of you to care so much. When we lived in Fl they would alwats get in our house. I wouls always cathc them, NOT EASY! and put them back outside. They are cute little things!!

By Janet on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 10:06 am:

I used to have a lizard like that when I was in college...she ate mealworms I bought at a pet store and kept in the fridge

By Dana on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:17 pm:

She looks okay today. Moving much more quickly. She has not eaten the bugs I gave her, but she seems to have eaten something. OR her tummy could be distended as mentioned in Ginny's post. However, her tummy looks far more normal today than yesterday. And the day before that, it was completely suken in. She still has not left the window sill, which is not normal for her. Usually, she just goes there to get sun and then head for our phycus (sp?) tree or under the TV the rest of time. But since this past weekend, she has remained day and night on the sill.

Oddly enough, reading the links provided, they are not supose to eat dead bugs or know how to drink from a container. Lisa does LOL. Even when I found her the other day and gave her water, I puddled some water right next to her and placed the small lid next to that. I've always put water in that lid. Much to my surprise, she worked her way over to the lid and was drinking from the lid. That is how I was pretty sure it was Lisa and not just some lizard in the house. I wouldn't think any other would know what was in the lid. So, for now, I still have no clue how she is doing health wise. She is far more active today, and her body looks better than before. However, she still doesn't look like she used to.

Here is a photo I took just now.

By Mommyathome on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:27 pm:

Yikes! I would be freaking out if that was in my house LOL I would scream and spend the day on the table until someone came to help me. I am so paranoid of little things like Lisa. Kudos to you for being a good owner to her. She is lucky to have found you guys! I hope she gets better real soon.

By Dana on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:35 pm:

She's quite tiny, Mommyathome. And very cute when you see her run across the room

By Janet on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 01:02 pm:

Awwww...isn't she a sweetie! My kitty would love to have her run across the room... LOL

By Sue3 on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 02:17 pm:

Awwww . She is so cute Dana. My sister lives in Fla. and she just loves those little lizards also.
I hope she continues to get better.
I bet your DD likes her also.

By Vicki on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 07:34 pm:

Ok, I have been thinking about this since you first started posting about it!! I am finally going to ask! Might be a dumb question, but where does this little creature go potty???

By Bobbie on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 08:04 pm:

LOL Vicki.. Good point. But I am sure that the mess that that little creature creates in no more of a mess than a horse fly (or any other insect or rodent we might have in our houses) would. I think this is one of those cases of we are better off not knowing all the facts about. One of those don't ask because the answer is something that you won't want to hear. LOL

By Vicki on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 08:12 pm:

LOL...I couldn't help but wonder! Then it started driving me nuts, so I finally had to ask!! Your right though, maybe I don't want to know! LOL

By Bobbie on Friday, February 27, 2004 - 08:35 pm:

Well ya know if we knew all the facts in life we would probably never eat, drink, or leave our houses again (and even staying home would make our skin crawl). It is some times best not to try to even guess just pretend it doesn't happen...

By Dana on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 07:37 am:

ROFLOL.....WHO KNOWS! Well, actually, when the little gal stays on the window sill, she poops there. They are tiny little brown things. If you have ever seen roach poop, similar to that. The bigger lizards that live outside have much bigger ones that look more like rat poop. So, the window sill is easy to clean. There is never much. If it is on the floor, I never see it, and my Roomba probably picks it up . Other than that, it must be under the large TV, in our tree pot, behind furniture I never move....just where ever she wanders. But I figure she is eating other live bugs, so lizards are much better to have in the house. In Florida, bugs just happen no matter what you do. So I do like the idea of knowing there is something around to eat them.

BTW, she is still alive! I have no idea what she is eating. She hasn't left the window area and the fly I gave her is still there. She hids most of the time. She has got to be cold. Marble slab is never warm the last two days. The sun hasn't come out. I'll keep you all posted if you are interested.

By Happynerdmom on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 08:56 am:

We are interested! This is as good as a medical drama on the Discovery Channel!

By Sue3 on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 10:18 am:

LOL Michele !!

By Bobbie on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 07:26 pm:

LOL sure we are interested. Heck the saga of your little guy life is one of the highlights of my day.. LOL

By Melana on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 08:06 pm:

I would tell you just for clowdy days, get a little heat lamp for her, she'll love it, and I have to say, you "She" is probably a he, in most cases with animals other than humans, the male is more lavish than the female, and I'm pretty sure it's the same with anoles, and he's got some really pretty paterns on him! Hope all is going well, and I'd say he's probably leaving the windowsil at night and finding his own food.

By Melanie on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 08:13 pm:

Yes Dana, please keep posting about her! I haven't responded until now, but I keep checking this post to see how she is doing.

By Dana on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 08:31 pm:

Here is a photo of her hanging out between the hand crank of the window and the wall of the window. Poor thing, I bet she is blind now from the flash!

By Dana on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 08:34 pm:

She has some dry skin on her face. Not sure if she is just shedding (do they call it that?) or if it is a result of the dehydration.

I took some dry rice and placed it in a cloth. Heated it and put it under her resting area. Not sure if it made her feel better. There is no where to put a little lamp over there for her.

By Bobbie on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 09:26 pm:

LOL, about the blinding. Good idea about the rice.