Green Anole
(Anolis carolinensis)
Distribution
These animals are found in many areas of the United States especially southern areas. In the last 10 years or so populations of Green Anole have also been appearing in Belize, Hawaii and Japan. There are currently two subspecies of Green Anole recognized and these are;
Anolis carolinensis carolinensis and Anolis carolinensis seminolus. Remember as with all reptiles captive bred is best so search out breeders of the species if you are looking to purchase them.
Size
These are small lizards, which grow between 15 to 20cm (6 and 8 inches) in length.
Diet
Anoles are mainly insectivorous animals. Although they will eat smaller anoles if the chance arises. They should be offered a variety of insects (Gut loaded and dusted with Calcium Carbonate) including mealworms, Wax worms, wax worm moths, Brown crickets; black crickets, buffalo worms, earthworms and some even take pinkie mice. Sweet over ripe fruits can be offered occasionally but not all Anoles will eat this. Beetles and Pill bugs/woodlice should be avoided.
Requirements
- Heat Source: - This should be a guarded reflector spot bulb (red, green or blue) or a ceramic heater. Heat mats may also be used as an extra source of heat, but they are not essential.
- UV Light Source:- Require a UVB Reptisun 5.0 light. This should be left on for 8 to 12 hours a day and replaced every 12 months unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer. This will create a day and night time effect as well as give your green anole sufficient levels of UV. This should be positioned no more than 30cm away from the reptiles basking area for optimum exposure.
- Housing: - This should consist of a dark wooden vivarium with glass frontage and adequate ventilation. A vivarium measuring 60cm by 45cm by 45cm (24 inches in length by 18 inches deep by 18 inches high) is sufficient for a small colony of anoles (3 or 4). However, males are notoriously aggressive and should not be kept with other males. Hatchlings should be kept in a smaller container which can be housed in their future vivarium. In warmer rooms reptarium style enclosures can be used to good effect as long as they are kept out of drafts.
- Thermostat: - An essential part of any vivarium and is required to regulate the internal temperatures of the vivarium and to prevent your pet from becoming too hot or too cold.
- Wire Mesh Guards:- These should be fitted over all heat sources used in order to prevent thermal burns.
- Thermometers:- One should be placed at each end of the vivarium in order to give an accurate reading of the temperatures within the enclosure. Never go by the temperature on the thermostat as these are often inaccurate.
- Hides:- These are essential to prevent stress and allow your pet to hide away from the outside world. Artificial plants, boxes, plant pots, caves etc. all make excellent hides. This species can also have netting hung down the walls of the vivarium to give extra climbing areas.
Water
Green anoles arise from dry, hot areas of South America and therefore require medium levels of humidity, usually around 50 - 60%. These animals in particular do not require a great amount of water, spraying on a daily basis is often sufficient. However, it may be wise to supply a shallow bowl of water to enable the animal to use it when needed. Alternatively a drip watering system can also be set up as these animals rarely drink still water and instead drink the droplets of water from the mistings as they run down the plants.
Temperature
A basking area of 30C (86°F) should be provided at one end of the vivarium. A background temperature ranging from 23 to 26C (75°F to 78°F) is also required.
Longevity
If kept under the correct conditions and given the correct diet green anoles can live for 3 - 5 years with some exceeding this.
Substrate
This can be anything from newspaper, brown paper or even astro turf. Whatever you use remember that it must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent contamination from disease. Bark mulch can be used to good effect as long as the pieces are too large to be ingested whilst the animal is foraging for insects.
Distribution Map taken from http://www.reptil-zoo.dk/UDB_Anolis_carolinensis_UK.html
Photograph taken from - http://www.cowboy.net/~shipman/ANCA2.JPG (nolonger online)
Further Contacts/websites/Further reading
Stuart Dodsworth –
stuartandlynette@dodsworth2005.wanadoo.co.uk
The International Herpetological Society –
www.international-herp-society.co.uk
The British Herpetological Society –
www.thebhs.org
Taxonomy Information -
http://srs.embl-heidelberg.de:8000/srs5bin/cgi-bin/wgetz?-e+[REPTILIA-Species:'Anolis_SP_carolinensis']
Melissa Kaplan’s Herp Care Pages -
http://www.anapsid.org/anole.html
www.reptilekeeper.co.uk
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