VERY OLD anole questions. *long*

[marisa]

Hi!

My roomates have a Green Anole named Zippy.

Zippy lives in a 20 gallon tank on *sand* he has no UV light and never has.

My roomates got Zippy at the same size *exactly* 8 years ago this year. They had no interest in reptiles at the time, but Zippy was going to be fed to a snake and that upset them I guess so they "saved" him. Since they have lived here I have been trying to teach them about proper anole care but I can't force anyone to do anything and Zippy still has no UV and still is on sand.

My question is how can this anole be doing so good in these conditions? I asked on the "other" forum but people wouldn't even belive he was a green anole! They said no Green anole could live 8 years without UV. But I am starting to think they are all idiots over there because they just won't believe me without a "photo to prove" One person even suggested my roomates are switching Zippy with new young anoles!!! Its totally ridiculous.

Anyways what I want to know is A. Why has their anole done fine without UV light for 8 years (8 years is far longer than most people get anoles to live) and B. Would anything *bad* happen if they were to get a UV light now?

My roomate is somwhat worried about changing his conditions now that he is 8, this is part of the reason he has no UV. I haven't been able to give them the answer as to what will happen so I am hoping someone here will. thanks.

Marisa