How to Make a River in My Anole Tank

Highly active in vivariums, anoles make fascinating pet reptiles. You can improve the quality of this little lizard's living environment and enhance the aesthetic appearance of the tank by installing a small waterfall and river in your vivarium. Water features help maintain humidity levels --- important for keeping anoles healthy --- as well as provide a constant source of clean, fresh water for your anoles to use.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic egg crates
  • Pliers
  • 1-inch diameter PVC pipe
  • Hacksaw
  • Submersible water pump
  • Aquarium tubing
  • Window screening
  • Scissors
  • Aquarium gravel
  • Large rocks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the plastic egg crate to the same size as your vivarium using pliers.

    • 2

      Cut eight pieces of PVC pipe off using a hacksaw --- the pieces should be longer than the submersible water pump that you will use. Sandpaper the edges to remove any loose portions and create smooth surfaces.

    • 3

      Hook up the aquarium tubing to the submersible water pump and place near the place where you want the river to originate in the vivarium.

    • 4

      Place the cut PVC portions along the base of the vivarium and space them out evenly.

    • 5

      Lower the egg crate evenly onto the PVC pieces and snake the aquarium tubing through the holes so that it stands freely in the corner of the vivarium.

    • 6

      Cut the window screening so that you create a piece that is at least 2 inches larger than the perimeter of the vivarium and set on top of the egg crate. Ensure that the window screening is folded up along the edges of vivarium. The window screening creates a fine, permeable layer that allows water to trickle through, but not the vivarium soil or aquarium gravel.

    • 7

      Fill the bottom of the vivarium with water until the water level is at the same height as the egg crate. Its important to ensure that the water level is deep enough so that the water pump is fully submerged. The motor in the pump quickly burns out if the water is too shallow.

    • 8

      Place aquarium gravel over the window screening and excavate a course for the small vivarium river.

    • 9

      Place several large rocks around the end of the aquarium tubing to hold the tube in place and create a natural-looking water fall.

    • 10

      Turn the submersible pump on and adjust the rocks as needed to create the type of waterfall and river you want.

    • 11

      Add soil, plants, lighting as well as a secure top and allow the vivarium to stand for a week before adding anoles. Observe the vivarium closely and ensure that the waterfall and river function properly and appear as you want before introducing anoles.