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The effect of cage size on stress levels in captive green anole (Anolis carolinensis)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

G Borgmans ,
R Palme ,
A Sannen ,
H Vervaecke  and
R Van Damme
G Borgmans*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
R Palme
Affiliation:
Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1,1210 Vienna, Austria
A Sannen
Affiliation:
Ethology & Animal Welfare, Agro- & Biotechnology, HUB-ODISEE University college, Hospitaalstraat, 21, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
H Vervaecke
Affiliation:
Ethology & Animal Welfare, Agro- & Biotechnology, HUB-ODISEE University college, Hospitaalstraat, 21, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
R Van Damme
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
*
* Contact for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Reptiles are often used as model species in scientific research and are popular in the pet trade, yet how they cope with captive conditions has not been well studied. Stress caused by captivity could affect the endocrinology, physiology and behaviour of animals, resulting in a general decrease in welfare and could confound the results of scientific experiments. One of the factors that could influence stress in a captive environment is the size of the cage. However, the effect of cage size on stress has rarely been investigated in reptiles. In this study, the effect of cage size on the behaviour, morphology and physiology of the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) was quantified. We were unable to find an effect of cage dimensions (range 0.05 to 0.2 m3) on body mass, tail-base width, heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (H/L ratios), behaviour and faecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) levels.

Keywords

animal welfarecage sizecaptivitygreen anolereptilesstress
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , November 2019 , pp. 455 - 464
Copyright
© 2019 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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