Green Anole ♀ (Anolis carolinensis)

Green Anole ♀ Anolis carolinensis
Name	Green Anole ♀
Name Lat.	Anolis carolinensis
Family	Anoles
Family lat.	Dactyloidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	North America
Habitat	Shrubland
Diet	Insects, fruits
Humidity	50-60 %
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Individual, pair, harem
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Dry terrarium
Life Span	5-7 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	18 cm
Temperature	25-30 °C
Temperature Local	35 °C
Housing Size	60 x 60 x 80 cm
US Units
Size	7"
Temperature	77-86 °F
Temperature Local	95 °F
Housing Size	25" x 25" x 30"

Distribution and habitat

The diurnal red-throated anoles are originally from the southeastern United States and are native from Florida through Alabama and Louisiana to Texas. They live on trees and shrubs as well as in gardens and parks.

Maintenance

Minimum dimensions for the terrarium, according to the size and number of animals

1-2 animals

6KRL x 6KRL x 8KRL (L x W x H)

Head-torso length (KRL) is measured on the largest animal. For each additional animal, increase the footprint by 15%. A terrarium of e.g. L 60 x W 60 x H 80 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

They need a well ventilated terrarium with branched climbing branches and hiding places, structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering) as well as many plants (climbing plants and epiphytes), a soft substrate of forest soil-peat mixture (15 cm deep) and a small elevated water container or drip trough. Part of the substrate should always be kept slightly moist. Several times a day the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better.

Temp.day: 25-30 °C

Temp.night: 18-22 °C

Temp.local: up to 35 °C

humidity: 50-60

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. Lighting duration must be 10-14 hrs depending on the season. They need a high light intensity. Special lamps that produce the necessary heat and UV light are ideal. Daily UV irradiation is essential.

Diet

The diet consists of live insects, such as crickets, crickets, grasshoppers, mealybug larvae and cockroaches, alternatively commercial ready-made food for insectivorous reptiles, supplemented with sweet fruit (bananas, strawberries or fruit pulp) and flowers or flower pollen. Wax moths should rarely be fed in very small amounts due to their high fat content. Young animals should be fed daily, adults 4-5 times a week. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins is important. Drinking water must always be available, but is preferably taken in droplet form from leaves or furnishings.

A varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

Males are significantly larger and have an intensely red throat pouch.

After a gestation period of about 20 days, a maximum of 2 eggs are laid in a suitable place in the substrate or a moss ball. The young hatch after 45-70 days and must be separated from the adults.

Important

Their adhesive lamellae on the toes allow them to move safely even on glass panes. They can change their body color relatively quickly. This color change depends on temperature and humidity as well as on the mood of the animals. Adult males are very territorial and incompatible with each other. Males use the throat pouch for threatening, courtship, and territory marking

For the resting phase, the lighting duration is shortened by 2-3 hours and the temperature is lowered by 3-4 °C for about two months.

The quality of the food can be enhanced by giving fruit and honey water.

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Peter F. Keymar; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1997): Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung-Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF