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Green Anole Care Sheet
There is more to Green Anole care than might first meet the eye. The Green Anole, also known as Anolis caroliensis is one of the most abundantly found reptiles in the pet trade. Green Anoles are native to the South East united states, and can grow up to approximately 8 inches in length.
It is very misleading because their needs in captivity are quite complex and require a sizable investment in equipment for such a "cheap" lizard. They die very quickly without proper care. One might argue they die fast anyways because most green anole stock is loaded with parasites. The truth of the matter is that no one wants to go through the trouble to deworm such a cheap reptile. Expect your anole to live between 3-5 years. Some reach 6-10+ years when they are properly cared for and free of parasites. This reptile is something one should be interested in if they want something pretty to look at. They don't fair well with handling, and unfortunate owners have discovered for themselves that the tails break off with ease.
Green Anole Care Sheet : HousingBecause Green Anoles are relatively small and cheap, most people end up buying 3-4. A 20 gallon tank with a sliding and locking mesh top should be a suitable enclosure. These little guys are skilled escape artists!This species really does have an affinity for climbing. It would be a good idea to provide as many secure branches and shrubbery as possible. Two suitable substrates are newspaper, and coconut fiber. The newspaper is the easiest to clean up after and the cheapest to obtain, but the coconut fiber is much more aesthetically pleasing and helps maintain humidity. There are some things you will need before you bring your anoles home: Be sure to pick up the poop whenever you see it. It is a good idea to fully clean out the enclosure and clean it with a 1 part bleach 25 part water solution every month or so to prevent a bacteria build up.
Green Anole Care Sheet : Heating, Lighting, and HumidityBecause reptiles rely on their surroundings for thermo regulation, we need to provide a temperature gradient. The basking light and full spectrum lighting should be positioned outside of the cage so that the anoles cannot burn themselves on the bulbs.The basking area should idle around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the enclosure as a whole should be in the ballpark of the mid 70's to low 80's degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with a drop in temperature to no lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Some keepers like to use under the tank heating pads with this species. This is entirely up to you. Most anoles do just fine without one. Full spectrum lighting UVA and UVB should be provided so that your reptile can synthesize vitamin D3. Without this form of artificial sunlight, the green anoles bones would become brittle. This condition is what we call metabolic bone disease, and it has claimed many reptiles in the past. Make sure to replace the bulb every 6 months because they lose their effectiveness over time. Proper Green Anole care calls for a high level of humidity. You should mist the enclosure daily to prepare your lizards for the shedding process.
Green Anole Care Sheet : Food! What do they eat?Acceptable Food Items:The golden rule of Green Anole care is to never feed an insect that is wider than your lizards head. We want to make sure the food doesn't become lodged anywhere! All insects should be lightly dusted in an appropriate vitamin powder. This powder will be available for purchase at most all pet stores. In addition to vitamin dusting, the food items should be fed a nutritious feed. Remember, you are what you eat, and the same thing goes for reptiles. Most stores sell a type of cricket feed to make 24 hour gut loading nice and easy. Be sure to remove any of the insects your anoles doesn't eat. They tend to chew on lizards in their spare time, and dirty any clean water they can find. I hope this Green Anole care sheet has addressed any questions you might have had. Good luck!
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