Green Anole
(Anolis carolinensis)

Green anoles are one of the most common lizards kept. They are often found in pet stores and are given away as carnival prizes. Green anoles are small green lizards, usually reaching only nine inches in length, though some green anoles have been known to reach one foot in length. The green anole has a pointed nose, and a tail that is about twice as long as its body. Green anoles change color to brown when cold or stressed. Both males and females have red throat fans called dewlaps though the male's is generally bigger and brighter than the female's. Green anoles have long skinny toes with ridges on bottom for gripping. Juvenile and femle anoles have a bluish-white stripe down their back, but males will lose this stripe as they mature.

Green anoles can be found in the wild in southeastern United States from Florida to eastern Texas and north to Oklahoma and North Carolina. Green anoles can also be found in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico.

Difficulty

NOVICE to MODERATE: Despite the green anole's inexpensive price tag it does require specialized lighting and may not be the best reptile to keep if you are new to keeping reptiles and amphibians.

Requirements

An enclosure, such as:

• Glass or acrylic aquarium (20 gallons or larger, depending on the number of green anoles kept) with a secure lid with clamps

Substrate, such as:

• Bark mulch
• orchid bark
• ground coconut fiber
• peat moss

A heating element, such as:

• UVB emitting bulb
• Incandescent heat bulb
• Ceramic infrared heat emitters

Enclosure

A pair of green anoles should be kept in an enclosure no smaller than a 20 gallon aquarium. Taller enclosures are better as they allow you to fill your enclosure with plants or other types of ornaments to allow the anoles space to climb. Male green anoles can only housed together in large enclosures as they are territorial and will fight over the limited amount of enclosure space in smaller aquariums. Male anoles can be kept with one or more female anoles and any number of female anoles can be kept together. Obviously, larger enclosures are needed for larger groups of anoles. Since anoles have the ability to climb sheer surfaces, a secure top should always be used with the enclosures.

Green anoles come from a semi-tropical to tropical area and require a relative humidity level of 60% to 70%. To achieve this part of the screen top can be blocked off to help prevent evaporation. The anoles' enclosure should also be misted twice daily to help maintain humidity levels. Anoles generally do not drink from standing water which is why it is vitally important that the enclosure be misted daily. Anoles will drink from the water drops that form on the cage ornaments. An aquarium bubbler can also be used in the water dish to simulate moving water to encourage the anole to drink from the bowl.

Substrate

The substrate or bedding that you use is one of the most important parts of your green anoles's home, since your anole will be spending much of its time on it. Bark mulch, orchid bark, ground coconut fiber, and peat moss can all be used to help create a naturalistic enclosure for your anoles. Indoor/Outdoor carpeting can also be used as an effective substrate for your anole. Be sure to have at least two identical pieces so that you can simply place the clean piece of carpeting in the enclosure while you rinse and disenfect the soiled piece. You can then allow the newly cleaned piece of carpeting to dry for the next days use. It's important to note that you should completely rinse the carpet after cleaning it to be sure there is no residual chemicals remaining on the carpet that could irritate your green anole. Other substrates such as newspaper or paper towels can also be used. If using naturalistic substrates be sure to clean it often to prevent mold and bacteria growth.

Heating and Light

Daytime temperatures for green anoles should be 75°F to 80°F with basking temperatures of 85°F to 90°F. Nighttime temperatures should be 65°F to 75°F. Green anoles also require ultraviolet (UV) light which can be provided with fluorescent UVB bulbs or mercury vapor bulbs that can also provide heat for the basking spot. Basking temperatures for your anoles can also be achieved using incandescent bulbs, infrared bulbs, or ceramic emitters if using fluorescent bulbs for UV light. Under the tank (UTH) heaters can be used to raise the ambient temperature of the enclosure if needed. Heat rocks, heat caves, and other similar items should never be used under any circumstance since they can cause serious burns to your green anole.

Diet

Green anoles are insectivorous and will eat crickets, mealworms, waxworms, cockroaches, fruit flies and other small insects. All feeder insects should be properly gut-loaded prior to feeding to your anole. Offering a variety of different insects will offer the best diet for the anole since different insects have different nutritional values. Avoid overfeeding anoles by only be offering only as much food as they can eat inone sitting.