What are some good minis?

[tulasi132]

So I have a 15 gallon tank in a bright window. Right now all t has in it is an anole (a gecko like lizard.) There is plenty of room for some small orchids to be mounted or to sit on the floor of the terrarium. What varieties are small? What varieties are really small?

[dravenxavier]

Is the window lighting the only lighting available to the tank? If so, keep in mind that window glass filters out UVB radiation, which will cause problems for the anole in the long run, and must either be supplemented with a UVB fluorescent, or a D3 supplement. Also, they should have a basking area as well, and with a tank that small, you'll have to be careful, since an incandescent basking light can burn orchids.

That being said, as for small orchids, you can look into Schoenorchis fragrans, Mediocalcar decorata, Epidendrum longirepens (or similar Epi species), some of the small creeping Dendrobiums like lichenastrum and prentecei, and small Pleuothallids like P. grobyi. I would try to avoid anything with longer leaf structures, as the anole may damage them as it hops around the tank.

For what it's worth, I'd suggest something larger for the anole, like a 29...light it with some coiled CF's (1 being a UVB reptile bulb), and a low-wattage incandescent bulb. Give the anole some climbing branches that reach up to the basking lamp. Then you can mount orchids, and have enough space to get them away from the incandescent if you have to. Windows can also cause glass tanks to overheat rather easily, especially during the summer.

[cb977]

You might get some good ideas here:
Orchids that do well in terrariums.

[tulasi132]

Wow, thanks for the advice. Ill certainly make some alterations for my lizards sake. I use a basking lamp that shines from the outside of the tank, but didnt know that he needed the uvb. He was a hand down from a sixth grade class pet.

[dravenxavier]

Most people don't care to realize what they need, so you're definitely making far more of a commitment than most people. I've worked in retail pet stores for over 5 years now, and I almost never get people to believe that their new $6 lizard needs a $150+ setup :P.

You can cut costs by not buying everything as being intended for reptiles. You'll be working with low wattage stuff, so the cheap $5 5.5" clamp lamps from Home Depot/Lowes will work just fine. And other than the UVB, you can use a regular household incandescent bulb for basking, and household CF coil lights for any additional lighting. That alone will save you quite a bit. The only 'reptile' thing you'll need is a UVB CF coil bulb, which will probably run you about $30-$40.