| General Information | | | | a basking site to reach their optimum temperature, |
| Green anoles are the most commonly seen of the | | | | and a light which emits UVA and UVB rays. Ideally, 2 |
| anole lizards in captivity. They are regularly exported | | | | or 3 basking sites should be set up in your enclosure. |
| from Florida and surrounding states. They are cheap | | | | These should be simply 60W spot bulbs placed |
| to buy, but contradictory to popular belief are | | | | approximately 8" away from where the lizard/s will |
| actually not ideal for a beginner. Green anole lizards | | | | bask. By placing more than one basking site in the |
| are temperamental to their surroundings, and require | | | | enclosure you will allow lizards to choose their |
| the correct temperature, humidity and surroundings | | | | favourite spot, and allow several lizards to bask in at |
| to remain healthy. They are a short lived lizard, | | | | the same time, as they would do in the wild. These |
| averaging around 4 years of age in captivity, | | | | basking sites should reach approximately |
| however have been known to live for up to 10 | | | | 86-94˚F, allowing for a more overall air |
| years. Adult males are larger than females, reaching | | | | temperature of 80-84˚F and lower down in |
| approximately 20cm, females only 15cm. Many people | | | | the enclosure, a cool area of approximately |
| call these 'Chameleon Lizards', due to their ability to | | | | 74-78˚F. |
| change colour. However, unlike chameleons they | | | | It is possible to replace the spot bulbs with UV spot |
| cannot actually change their colour to match their | | | | bulbs. However, providing several of these is a very |
| surroundings. They will however, turn a darker green | | | | expensive on-going cost which is not necessary. |
| brown when either stressed or basking. The darker | | | | Instead, place a UV strip light across the top of the |
| colour will raise their body temperature quicker when | | | | enclosure. This should be as long as your enclosure |
| basking; once they reach their optimum temperature | | | | allows, with a reflector behind it so that UV rays are |
| they will begin to turn green again. Most anole lizards | | | | not aimed in the wrong direction. UV bulbs should be |
| are communal species, living in highly populated areas | | | | replaced every 6-8 months, regardless of whether or |
| of perhaps hundreds of individuals. Males are highly | | | | not they are still emitting light. |
| aggressive towards each other when confined in a | | | | Do not use heat mats or heat rocks with green |
| small terrarium with a number of females. However, a | | | | anoles. They are completely un-natural and serve no |
| larger terrarium with a ratio of 1 male to 5 females is | | | | purpose. If extra heat is needed during the night time |
| ideal. | | | | hours, an infra-red bulb will act perfectly. |
| Housing | | | | Humidity & Water |
| It has been published and said many a time that | | | | Coming from Florida and surrounding states, a high |
| green anoles can live in a small terrarium with minimal | | | | humidity range is a must. An ideal range is 60-70%, |
| requirements. I must stress that this is far from the | | | | although fluctuations either way will rarely harm your |
| truth, and will lead to a short lived, unhappy and | | | | lizard. This can be achieved in a number of ways. |
| unhealthy pet lizard. Although this is a small species of | | | | Firstly, a large water bowl placed as near as possible |
| lizard, they are incredibly active and curious creatures. | | | | to a heat source will aid in the overall humidity. One |
| They need to regulate their temperature and have | | | | step better is to then add air bubbles, commonly |
| access to UVA and UVB rays normally omitted by | | | | used in aquariums for fish. The bubble effect will |
| the sun. Humidity is another important factor, this will | | | | continually circulate the water and burst small water |
| help in the sloughing of their skin and generally aid in | | | | vapours into the air. Similarly, a small waterfall will give |
| the health of the lizard. | | | | the same effect. |
| It is recommended that one male is kept to a | | | | Offering plants such as bromeliads is another way to |
| minimum of three females. Alternatively, if you only | | | | increase humidity. These plants hold water within the |
| want two or three animals, then just buy females. | | | | pockets at the base of the leaves, allowing for more |
| Green anoles are a communal species and should be | | | | surface area of water to evaporate. They also make |
| kept in groups. Keeping a single specimen will deprive | | | | a great addition for a display terrarium. |
| it of the much needed stimulation offered by the | | | | Spraying the terrarium with cool water once a day, |
| surrounding lizards. An ideal group consists of one | | | | preferably in the mid-morning will certainly help the |
| male to five females. This size group should be | | | | humidity, and at the same time allow the anole lizards |
| housed in a terrarium L90cm x H90cm x W45cm. | | | | to drink the water droplets that gather on any |
| The larger the terrarium, the further you will enrich | | | | leaves or other surfaces. If you have a larger |
| your lizards life. A larger group of two males to 10 | | | | budget, a timed misting system will be perfect for |
| females should be kept in a terrarium L120cm x | | | | when you are not around and would like the |
| H90cm x W45cm. | | | | terrarium sprayed at regular intervals. These are |
| Many keepers choose to house their green anoles | | | | becoming fairly inexpensive and are a perfect addition |
| with other species, such as brown anoles (Anolis | | | | to a wonderful anole display tank. One word of |
| sagrei) and numerous day gecko species (Phelsuma | | | | advise though; direct the spray nozzles away from |
| sp.). This is not recommended for a number of | | | | the front of the terrarium, as the spray will obstruct |
| reasons. Brown anoles for example are more robust | | | | your view into the terrarium and the glass will need |
| than green anoles and will dominate the terrarium. It | | | | to be cleaned more often. |
| may not be so obvious, but the brown anoles will | | | | Food & Feeding |
| predominate the higher grounds of the terrarium, | | | | Green anoles are predominantly insectivorous (insect |
| have first place under the basking site and may even | | | | eating). However, I say predominantly because they |
| push the green anoles aside when feeding. Day | | | | are also known to eat pollen, nectar and other tasty |
| geckos can be rather aggressive and may nip the | | | | liquid type fruits. They may not eat a banana for |
| green anoles. A number of geckos are also nocturnal, | | | | example, but may lick the juices. Try offering your |
| meaning that at night time these geckos may literally | | | | anole some of these tasty fruit options, if it eats it, |
| walk all over the sleeping green anoles. This will add | | | | great. |
| much stress to the green anole and should be | | | | Offering a variety of insects will stimulate the anoles |
| avoided at all costs. There is one animal however | | | | natural feeding responses and aid in the general |
| which I feel will add use to a green anole tank; that is | | | | health of your animal. As we humans need a balanced |
| an American Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea). These | | | | and varied diet, so do anole lizards. Do not simply |
| are nocturnal frogs which will help clear up any | | | | offer the same crickets all the time. Although there is |
| uneaten insects during the night, they cohabitate with | | | | not the best selection of foods available within the |
| green anoles in the wild and require the same | | | | UK, there is still enough to satisfy the needs of your |
| temperature and humidity fluctuations. | | | | anole. Offer a mix between crickets, small locusts, |
| Green anoles, when kept in an optimum environment | | | | mealworms, wax worms, small earthworms, small |
| will breed readily; and therefore will need a deep | | | | cockroaches, flies and even moths, butterflies and |
| substrate which is easy to dig in. Potting soil is ideal | | | | spiders you find in your own home. Not only will |
| and is completely natural. With this substrate, it is also | | | | giving a variety offer a more balanced, nutritious diet, |
| possible to place live plants directly in the substrate | | | | but will also make the anole adapt its hunting |
| rather than placing them in pots within the terrarium. | | | | methods for each food item. An anole lizard won't |
| It is important to balance your planting and | | | | have to chase a waxworm, but will run like mad to |
| décor with space. Green anoles will often like | | | | chase a fly or daddy long legs spider. This will give |
| to get out into open space along sticks and branches | | | | your anole a chance to exercise and aid in the overall |
| and onto open leaves to bask and get a good look | | | | health and longevity of it. |
| at their surroundings. However, being able to crawl | | | | It is important to supplement the food with calcium |
| away into a bush to get cover is also a necessity. Be | | | | and mineral dusting powders. This should not be done |
| sure if using live plants not to use anything which is | | | | at every feeding, but at least once every two or |
| either toxic to eat, or releases toxic fumes. For a list | | | | three feeds. An ideal dusting powder is Repton, a |
| of safe plants, see our plant list. | | | | specially formulated powder for insectivorous lizards. |
| Heating & Lighting | | | | As long as this is combined with the appropriate |
| As already mentioned; green anoles are a diurnal | | | | foods and UV rays your anole should be perfectly |
| species and will bask in the sun. Therefore they need | | | | healthy. |