Green anole care sheet

The Green anole is one of the more popular pet lizards. It might be because they're so inexpensive, and relatively easy to care for.

Or it could be because they're just a great pet to watch and enjoy.

Whatever the reason, make sure you get to know the anole lizard.

Cage

I would say a 20 gallon long aquarium is ideal for an adult anole. I'm sure they could survive in a 10 gallon, but as with any pet lizard, the more space the better.

Never house two males together, as most male lizards are very territorial and will probably fight.

Paper towels or newspaper could be used as a substrate. Provide two hides in the cage, one on the hot side one on the cold. This enables your anole lizard to self regulate its temperature. This will cut way down on the stress your Green anole will go through.

You also need to provide stuff for your anole lizard to climb on -such as branches and rocks.

Lighting

A Green anole needs a full spectrum of light. A UVB light plus a heat light is needed. A mercury vapor bulb will provide both UVB and heat. Most lizards need a UVB light to produce vitamin D3 in order to absorb calcium.

Place the heat light on one far end of the cage, this will create your temperature gradient. The cooler side of the cage should hover around 85°, whereas the basking spot should be around 95°.

Nighttime temperatures can safely fall to 70°. If your house falls below this temperature a ceramic heat emitter can be used.

You need to put the lights on a timer, with them being on 12 hours a day. An anole lizard needs a rather humid environment. The humidity level should hover around 60%. A device measuring the humidity level should be purchased to ensure a proper environment. Spray misting the cage once a day is a good way of achieving an accurate humidity level.

Food

Green anoles eat insects. Pinhead crickets -or up to two week old crickets are a staple food. You want to make sure you feed your crickets nutritious foods 24 to 48 hours before you feed them to your anole.

Small roaches are also a good item to feed as well as fruit flies. You want to make sure whatever insect you feed to your anole lizard, that that insect is about half the size of your anole's mouth.

A Green anole also needs a vitamin and calcium supplement. A way of incorporating this is to coat the insects in the powder supplement. Babies and juveniles should be given these supplements every day, whereas adults should be given this once or twice a week.

Anoles will generally not drink from a water dish. The best way to go about providing water is to use the spray your are already using to increase the humidity level. If you continuously spray one side of the tank in addition to the general spray, your anole lizard might know to go to that side and lick the water.

If you decide you are going to purchase an anole lizard, be sure and research a few different care sheets as well as a book or two, on the popular lizard known as the Green anole.