Reptile from Bayport?

Question

This morning, we had a small reptile which was
found in a shipment from Bayport, Texas. My boss thinks its a gecko. His is very slender, fairly light green and about 7 inches long, including tail.

It would probably be inhumane to release him here in Niagara Falls, NY so I would like to keep him here at work, and plan on going out at lunch and getting an aquarium or something.

Does anyone (maybe someone from that area of Texas) know what this is? I am unsure of a) if in fact, he's a gecko and b) what to feed him & how to care for him.

Thank you

Thanks for all the answers so far. I went yesterday to the only pet store I know of in this city (!?!?!), and they had a terrarium kit for small reptiles. I bought a few extras to spoil the little guy, like a reptile hammock and additional plants.

I'll buy a mister & heater today (left the light on all night last night - ooops).

One additional question, is it okay to have the heater in the same corner as where his day light is?

I brought my camera today, so when he decides to come out I will get a picture.

Answer 1

If you can take a digital picture of it and upload it to kingsnake.com at the below link, the people there will be glad to help you ID the lizard. Sometimes you can even describe it and they can ID it for you.

Answer 2

You're going to have to get a positive identification on this animal before any really helpful advice can be given, however, if the lizard can walk up glass walls, your boss is probably right, it's very likely a gecko.

In any case, you'll need a cage at least 12 inches long with a secure lid. Your best bet is a glass terrarium with a locking screen top. Place an old towel, one that has not been used to clean up any solvents or cleaners, down as substrate. This is what the lizard will poop on, so you'll want to have a second one to change out when you clean this one.

Reptiles need light and heat. A radiant spot heater will enable you to heat one side of the cage while leaving the other cool. A hot spot of around 75-85 deg would be a good safe bet for a domestic reptile, but be aware that you may need to get a stronger heater. After all, you have reason to believe this lizard is from Texas where it can get quite hot indeed.

Depending on the species, you may need a full spectrum UV light as well. Many species require full UV to metabolize vitamins A and D as well as calcium. This light should be turned off at night and on during the day. I use a timer on my tanks.

As for food, I'd start with some 2 week old crickets, about a dozen per week. You may want to get some powdered reptile vitamins such as repti-vite to coat them with. The staff at a pet store that sells reptile supplies should be able to show you how to "shake and bake" the crickets to get the powdered vitamins on them.

A small dish of water, large enough for the lizard to climb into but not too deep that he can't get out is also necessary. Water should be changed every three days or more often if it's dirty. Many lizards like to poop in their water dishes.

Spray misting the cage in the evening is also helpful as it will allow the lizard to absorb moisture into his skin and facilitate shedding.

Above all, have someone identify the species for you so you know specifically what your new friend needs to stay healthy and happy. Good luck!

Answer 3

Without seeing the lizrd, there's no way to tell you what it is. The best I can do at this point is give you a website and see if the lizard you have matches the pictures.