Okay so before you all blast me for trying to drown a lizard... The current plan is to run with a fire belly toad setup!! But, I am very very curious as to the aquatic nature of certain small lizards and would love to pick the experts brains here. As you can see, I am working on a small paludarium. It is an 18x18x18 exo terra with about 60% land and 40% water. There is a filer surrounding the pump (hidden) in the back corner, which slowly flows around the tank in a "bog filter" sort of fashion before dumping into the main pool. The water area is not very big at any one point and wraps around to the side. It really could only house some small shrimp and few guppy size fish if any aquatic life were to be included. Underneath the land area is a false bottom area filled with lava rocks which should also, hopefully, act as a sorta natural filtration agent.
Now, on to my question, is there small, semi aquatic reptile that could be pulled off in a tank like this? I got really excited about the prospect of a crocodile skink, but then I read several nightmare drowning stories. These stories were echoed through most day gecko discussions, which landed me with anoles and a few other varieties of skinks (spiny water). The tank seems too small for a spiny water skink (especially the water portion), and just about most anoles. But I have found a fair amount of online evidence that a Bark Anole (A. distichus), Big headed Anole (cybotes), or Bearded Anole (pogus) could work. I have personally seen A. Carolininses handle water very effectively in the wild as my brothers who loved fishing (and knew I loved lizards) would throw them out on the lake a little topwater torture for me. I have also read some very cool exotic stories of underwater breathing anoles (A. Aquaticus) who use their hydrophobic skin for some insane scuba diving but these animals seem inevitably endangered and impossible to get a hold of (and maybe unethical?).
Are there any small reptiles that do well in the arena of water deeper than 2-3 inches is my real question? A basking spot could easily be provided, as well as hides and tons of live plants will be added. If not, I have no qualms going back to fire belly toads or any other reptiles/amphibians you might recommend, but I know that's for another forum and I am really in a lizard mindset right now!
Thank you!
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Now, on to my question, is there small, semi aquatic reptile that could be pulled off in a tank like this? I got really excited about the prospect of a crocodile skink, but then I read several nightmare drowning stories. These stories were echoed through most day gecko discussions, which landed me with anoles and a few other varieties of skinks (spiny water). The tank seems too small for a spiny water skink (especially the water portion), and just about most anoles. But I have found a fair amount of online evidence that a Bark Anole (A. distichus), Big headed Anole (cybotes), or Bearded Anole (pogus) could work. I have personally seen A. Carolininses handle water very effectively in the wild as my brothers who loved fishing (and knew I loved lizards) would throw them out on the lake a little topwater torture for me. I have also read some very cool exotic stories of underwater breathing anoles (A. Aquaticus) who use their hydrophobic skin for some insane scuba diving but these animals seem inevitably endangered and impossible to get a hold of (and maybe unethical?).
Are there any small reptiles that do well in the arena of water deeper than 2-3 inches is my real question? A basking spot could easily be provided, as well as hides and tons of live plants will be added. If not, I have no qualms going back to fire belly toads or any other reptiles/amphibians you might recommend, but I know that's for another forum and I am really in a lizard mindset right now!
Thank you!
