Green Anole

The Green Anole, also known as the Carolina Anole, is a small green lizard with a pointed nose found in the southeastern parts of the United States.http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek001101.html This compact lizard is anywhere from 5-12 inches from head to tail.http://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/reptiles/green-anole/ Many green anoles kept as pets are not bred in captivity, but are captured in the wild and then re-sold to pet stores.http://lizards.suite101.com/article.cfm/green_anole_right_pet_for_you If you are considering an anole as a pet, make sure it is captive-bred. It will be much more manageable.

Anoles are sometimes mistaken for chameleons, as anoles change color. However, while a chameleon can change to many different colors, anoles can only change from bright green to gray-brown and back. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080128-chameleon-color.html This lizard tends to be bright green when warm or sexually aroused, and brown when cold or stressed. http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/lizardsaspets/a/greenanolecare.htm

In addition to their bright green color, anoles have a flap of skin beneath their chins known as pink throat fans or dewlaps. Both male and female anoles have the bright pink fan, but it is larger on the males. Many lizards have throat fans, which are primarily used as a display during anole courtship or territorial disputes, and is accompanied by a lot of head bobbing and what look like “push-ups”. You have probably seen this behavior in small lizards in the wild. http://saltgrassflats.mustangg.com/wildlife/green_anole.html Anoles are arboreal and spend most of their lives in trees, searching for insects. They are well adapted for life in a tree, often chasing one another and subsequently falling without injury. Anoles can live up to 10 years in captivity if properly cared for, although their average lifespan in the wild is closer to 5 years, likewise captivity if they are malnourished.http://www.wnyherp.org/care-sheets/lizards/green-anole.php

An anole that is brown all the time is usually a sick or stressed anole. Another sign of illness or stress is a black spot behind each eye. Anoles' tails snap off with pressure, and though they do regenerate, a regenerated tail is not as functional as the original tail.http://www.herpcenter.com/anoles/22884-brown-anole-tail-injury.html They are also skittish about being handled, and in general it is best not to hold them, as one can injure them.

Anoles are very territorial. It is generally recommended that there be only one anole per ten gallons of tank space. Two males should not be kept in close proximity; in general, when keeping multiple anoles, one male should be kept with two or three females. They usually eat crickets, grubs, cockroaches, and other bugs. Anoles are inexpensive and easy to care for, making them great pets for the first time and experienced reptile owners.

These lizards are arboreal and need a vertical tank and things to climb on.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ARBOREAL Because they come from a place with a warm, humid climate, it's wise to buy the necessary equipment to keep your green anole healthy. If you do, the can live up to 8 years.

What do green anoles eat? Crickets are readily accepted, and mealworms may be offered, even though they might not get eaten. Make certain the mealworms are the smaller size, not the super worms.

It's always advisable to gut load the prey insects, feeding them healthy food which is then transferred to the pet lizard in the way of nutrition.http://www.anapsid.org/anole.html The best way to do this is to get the crickets ahead of time and keep them in a small habitat while tending to them properly. For more information about this, please reference How to Care for Crickets.

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