Questions about Anoles

Hurley

Hurley

aka Bunny13
Oct 2, 2005
1,644
0
36
Baltimore, Maryland
www.freewebs.com
I came home from being away this weekend and discovered my boyfriend bought an Anole. :headshake2: We are going to buy it it's habitat today but I really have no idea about its needs and I want to do this right. The only reptiles we have owned are turtles so this is completely new to us. I orginally thought my extra 5gallon tank would be large enough but in reading it sounds like they need more room. Would a 20gallon be ok for a single anole? What about bedding and places to hide? How should the habitat be set up? Whats the best way to heat the area when we turn the light off? A heating pad or rock? Any and all information would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Anoles are very cool - I really like them. They are quick, though. When you feed them and/or clean the cage - be careful. I had to chase one all over the store on my knees once.
You might enjoy doing a terrarium with live plants - I think the anole would also enjoy that. They do need a humid environment with a "basking spot." They like greenery and places to hide.
I think that a 20 gallon would be "anole heaven" and I am sure that you will enjoy the anole once you learn about them... :)
 
I think I will too. It's cute I just wish I had some time to do research and set things up for it before my boyfriend went out and bought it. I would like to use a glass tank but my boyfriend likes the idea of using a clear tupperware container and building a screened top for it and maybe cutting a window in the side and screening it as well. I'm not crazy about that idea but would it work? Also, I have some philodendron I am growing. Would that be ok to put in with the lizard?
 
A 20 gallon tank is good for one, maybe 2 anoles. Keep the tank around 80˚F during the day and provide a basking light around 90˚F. At night the temps in the tank can drop to around 70˚F. These guys are diurnal and need to have access to UVB lighting.

Green anoles are not a terrestrial species so provide lots of branches and plants (live or fake) to climb on. A substrate like EcoEarth or orchard bark works well with them and helps hold in humidity. You should make sure to mist the cage twice a day. They will drink the dew drops off the glass and plant leaves. They need live prey like crickets, grasshoppers and mealworms. Make sure you remember to dust the food with calcium/vitamins.
 
I agree with vicous.

A 20g is good for 2. A 20g tall would be the best as they like to climb. This also if the heating lamp is placed on one side of the cage give them a wide range of temperatures to relax in.

Some plants that do good are philodendron/pothos, diffenbachia, most kinds of dracenae, lucky bamboo.

Also try you hardest to only have one male, they will fight and the weaker one will refuse food and die if you have more than 1. In the wild they have huge territories. A 125g tank won't even support 2 males.

Good luck.
 
Theres a link to one of my posts, it should show you a good habitat for them, it doesnt need to be that complex at all and doesnt need the water part, but they will enjoy things like that.
 
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