Can I Take Care Of Green Anole?

Are you aware that green anoles are common carriers of salmonella?

Are you aware that green anole males are territorial and difficult to tame?

Can you provide a 10-gallon aquarium or larger for a green anole?

Do you know how to maintain humidity in the enclosure at around 70%?

Can you provide daytime temperatures of 75 to 82 degrees F and a basking spot of 85 to 90 degrees F?

Can you provide 12 to 14 hours of light and 10 to 12 hours of darkness?

Can you provide gut-loaded insects like mealworms and wax worms daily?

Do you have an exotics veterinarian that specializes in reptilians?

Remember that all reptiles are common carriers of Salmonella bacteria, so proper hygiene is necessary when handling them and cleaning their equipment, especially if children or people with weakened immune systems live in the same house.

Green anole males are territorial and may display and fight with one another, so a group is best composed of females with no more than one male. Green anoles are skittish and shy, but with consistent and gentle handling, they will become somewhat tame. They prefer not to be handled too much so owners should avoid it if possible, and always handle them gently.

An appropriately-sized aquarium with a tight-fitting screen top makes the best home for green anole. An absolute minimum tank size would be a 10-gallon aquarium for one or two anoles, but larger is better and necessary for groups of three or more. The preferred substrates in the enclosure include soil (without perlite), peat moss, or orchid bark.

Use a hygrometer inside the enclosure to measure the relative humidity. Maintain the humidity for this anole enclosure at 70 percent by misting daily with dechlorinated or bottled (not distilled) water. A dish of the same water should also be provided.

A semi-tropical environment should be created with daytime temperatures of 75 to 82 F for 12 to 14 hours per day. The temperature should not fall below 65 F at night. During the day, a basking area with a basking light should cover only 25 percent of the surface of the enclosure. Aim for a basking temperature of 85 to 90 F during the daytime.

A variety of lights are needed, some for heat, some for white light, and some for UVB light. Green anoles generally need 12 to 14 hours of light and 10 to 12 hours of darkness. Turn off all light sources at night. No artificial light is as good as sunlight for providing UVB, so when the outside temperature on a sunny day is over 70 F, owners should place their anole outside in a secure screen or wire cage with a locking door. Some shade and a hiding place should be provided.

Green anoles do best on a variety of gut-loaded insects including mealworms and wax worms. Feed two to three appropriately sized prey items, about half the size of the anole's head, every other day. A calcium and vitamin supplement should also be dusted on the insects.

You can take care of a green anole!

Before you purchase your green anole, be sure there's a veterinarian in your area who specializes in exotic pets such as lizards. Like many reptiles, green anoles are susceptible to an ailment called mouth rot or stomatitis. Green anoles are also susceptible to metabolic bone disease, which comes from a poor diet or lack of UVB exposure.