Green anoles (Anolis carolinensis) are popular pet lizards and one of the first reptiles kept as pets in North America. Originally marketed as American chameleons, they are very different from the true Old World chameleons. Green anoles are from the southeastern United States. These small green lizards are naturally found in a variety of habitats and are adapted to live in urban areas. They are commonly found in and around the Fluker Farms property and locations throughout Louisiana! It is important to always learn about the life history and needs of any pet reptile to ensure they have what they need. Here, we will provide some basic information on green anoles to get you started.
By doing your homework ahead of time, you will ensure that you will have the best habitat and nutrition prepared for your green anole before their arrival at your home.
Quick facts
- Green anoles are native to the Southeastern United States.
- Green anoles are ectotherms and depend on environmental temperatures to regulate their core body temperature.
- Green anoles are arboreal and naturally found in shrubs, trees, and on houses/buildings.
- Green anoles are insectivores.
- Male green anoles are typically larger than females and have a red dewlap. Females can have a lighter to blue dewlap and a white line along their back (spine).
- With appropriate care, green anoles can live for 5-8 years.
Enclosure
Green anoles should be provided the largest enclosure possible to ensure they have ample room to hunt and exercise. Green anoles can be housed in glass tanks or reptile specific commercial enclosures. It is preferred that the height of the enclosure is at least 6-8 times the length of the green anole. When selecting an enclosure tank for a green anole, the vertical height is most important because these lizards are arboreal.
The type of material used for the enclosure is an important consideration for disinfection. This is generally not a major concern for glass tanks or commercially made reptile enclosures but can be an issue for home-made enclosures made of wood. Because wood is difficult to disinfect, it is not recommended as building material for an enclosure.
Substrate
Green anoles are arboreal and thus don’t spend a great deal of time on their substrate. Astroturf can be used to help monitor their feces and is easy to clean. While wood mulches are aesthetic, they can impact the humidity in the enclosure. The substrates should be spot cleaned daily to remove waste and changed regularly (based on type and how soiled they become).
Accessories
Green anoles should be provided a variety of branches with plastic or live plants for hiding spots. Live plants can also be used to increase environmental humidity.
Weighted food and water bowls should be provided. The water bowls should be large enough for the green anole to enter and soak. The bowls should not be too deep, especially for juvenile animals, to prevent drowning. Fresh, water should be provided daily.
Temperature and Lighting
Green anoles should be provided with supplemental environmental heat to ensure they can meet their needs. As poikilotherms or ectotherms, they depend on their environmental temperature to regulate their core temperature. For green anoles, heat can be provided using a basking lamp. A basking lamp should be situated over one side of the enclosure to provide a gradient of temperature. The daytime temperature range for green anoles should be 82-88oF. By having a gradient of temperatures, the green anole can move from warmer to cooler temperatures based on its preference. The nighttime enclosure temperature can drop by 10oF; this is often achieved simply by turning off the heat lamp. The environmental humidity for green anoles should be 60-80%.
An ultraviolet B (UVB) bulb would also be beneficial for a green anole. These bulbs can help diurnal reptiles increase their vitamin D concentrations. Vitamin D is an essential hormone that regulates bone health, immune function, and heart health, among other factors.
Green anoles should be exposed to basking and UVB lighting for 12 and 2 hours per day, respectively.
Diet and Nutrition
Green anoles are carnivores, and like us, diversity in their diet is the key to providing them with balanced nutrition. Providing a variety of live gut-loaded insects using Fluker Farms specific gut-loading diets for crickets, mealworms, and dubia roaches will ensure their diet has sufficient calcium (positive calcium to phosphorus ratio).
Juvenile green anoles should be fed daily, but as they age that can be altered to every other day. Because green anoles don’t get much exercise in captivity, they can become too heavy if fed daily. Smaller meals that they must search for can increase their daily exercise.
Handling and Safety
Green anoles are gentle animals and can be handled by supporting their body in your closed hand. They tend to want to move forward at all times, so be sure they don’t fall and injure themselves.
Because green anoles can carry Salmonella, it is important to thoroughly wash your hands after handling these animals or their enclosure. Children should always be supervised when handling any reptile and observed closely to ensure they thoroughly wash their hands after handling the lizard or anything associated with their enclosure.
Contact a veterinarian if you notice any signs of illness or distress such as more time spent hiding in the cage, eating less, weight loss, swollen joints, discharge from the eyes or nose, or abnormal feces.
Shopping List 
Diet- Crafter cuisine- garden diet
Freeze-dried bugs
Live bugs
UVB lighting
Heat lamps
Thermometer/hygrometer
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