Green Anole Information

Green Anoles

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General Info

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The green anole is the only anole native to the United States. It grows up to 7", snout to vent length.

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Anoles are sometimes incorrectly called chameleons. This is due to the green anole's color-changing ability which, when severely stressed or ill, will turn dark brown. (They may also turn a lighter shade of brown if sitting on a brown branch.) However, they are not true chameleons, which look very different than anoles and come from different parts of the world. If your green anole is not trying to blend into a brown background, and it is always brown, it is a sure sign of stress.

 

Origin, Habitat And Habits

Anoles are commonly found in southeastern USA, Cuba, Jamaica, and other Caribbean islands. The vast majority of green anoles sold in the pet trade are wild-caught in the southeastern United States. There are over 36 species of non-native anoles breeding in the wilds in Florida (out of an estimated total of 250 anole species in the world), and there has been considerable interbreeding, so markings may be considerably altered from the true wild types.

 

Unfortunately, recent incursions of larger and more aggressive brown Cuban anoles are killing or displacing the gentler green anoles. In many areas, they have been totally exterminated.

 

Anoles are most commonly found in bushes, trees (not above 15 feet), in and on rock walls, in the woods, and clinging to any portion of houses and other structures. They are primarily terrestrial, and love to bask on exposed walls and branches.

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Diet

The wild anole's diet includes grubs, crickets, cockroaches, spiders, moths, and any arthropod which will fit in their mouths. This makes them extremely good neighbors to have, and they should be encouraged to live near human homes, because they will kill and eat many insects that humans find particularly annoying or destructive. In captivity, avoid feeding them 'sowbugs' (aka potato bugs, pill bugs) and beetles. Even though anoles will go for bigger prey, the size fed to them should be no bigger than the space between their eyes.

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The captive anole's diet should be as close to their wild diet as possible. Most people feed them small crickets. Avoid feeding them mealworms, which are mostly composed of a hard shell that is difficult to ingest. Stomach impactions can occur, and must be surgically removed. As with many reptiles, anoles may be scared of prey that is too large for them to handle.

 

Wild-caught bugs may be accepted eagerly. Make sure the insects are collected from pesticide-free areas, and areas that are not impregnated with auto exhaust particulates. Stay away from bugs you are not certain of, and ones known to be toxic, such as fireflies.

 

Feed your anoles daily, letting them have as much as they will eat. If crickets are left uneaten in the enclosure, be sure to provide them with proper cricket food and moisture. Otherwise, they will eat whatever is handy--like your anoles!

 

Captive Housing

Anoles can be kept singly or in groups. The minimum tank size for a group of two adult anoles should be a tall (arboreal) 30 gallon tank, or a hanging web cage at least 2' high. Three or four anoles (one male and up to three females) may be kept in a 60 gallon aquarium, or a medium- to large-sized hanging web cage at least 3' high. The more lizards there are, the more hiding places and basking areas are needed, so tanks must get correspondingly larger.