| Common Names: | Chameleon |
| Scientific Name: | Anolis carolinensis |
| Origin: | Southeastern USA, Cuba, Jamaica, and other Caribbean islands. |
| Size: | Seven to nine inches in length. |
| Sexing: | Males tend to be larger and have a dewlap, an bit of skin beneath the head that they fan when displaying to females or when threatened. Some males have dorsal crests. Males also have post-anal pores, which are two bumps located on the tail below the vent. Females and juveniles have a white stripe down the back. Some females have smaller dewlaps, which they don’t display as often. |
| Temperament: | Males may fight if housed together. Different anole species may be kept together if they are the same size, however, green anoles can not be kept with knight anoles. Not very tame though may be trained to sit quietly on the owners hand. Handle them very little, or they can become stressed and ill. If an anole bites you, don’t pull violently away, this can break their jaw and teeth. |
| Life Span: | About four years. |
| Habitat: | Tank: One or two anoles may be kept in a ten gallon. Three or four may be kept in a 20 tall. As you keep more anoles you need a bigger tank to allow for plenty of hiding places and room to run around. Anoles are escape artist so you need a tight fitting screen cover.
Substrate: A soil litter and moss is best. Anoles like to dig, so give them at least an inch of substrate. Clean regularly to prevent mold in damp areas of the substrate. Sand or gravel substrate are not good for anoles. Heating: Temperature should be about 75 to 80 degrees during the day, may drop to 65 degrees at night. Basking areas should be 85 to 90 degrees. A basking day light should be provided during the day and a nocturnal light at night. A ceramic heater may also be used at night in larger terrariums. An under tank heating pad may be used in conjunction with these. Heat rocks also may be used with these lights, but cover the rock with a fine layer of substrate so the anoles don’t burn themselves. Lighting: Use a UVB fluorescent light for 12 to 14 hours a day. Be certain that the basking light is only on during the time you have the UVB on, so there is as least 10 hours of darkness. Other: A couple potted plants are nice to maintain humidity and provide hiding places. Have logs and branches for basking and climbing. Humidity should be moderate. |
| Food And Water: | Crickets, earthworms, waxworms, and mealworms. Dust food with a vitamin powder. Feed every day, about as much as they can immediately consume in a couple minutes, about two or three crickets/worms. Food needs to be half the size of the anole’s head. Gut load crickets by feeding them fish food, cat food, or special cricket food and fruit. Supply water with a drip system or by spraying plants several times a day. Anoles very rarely drink out of dishes, but you may provide one. |
