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Care sheet

Green Anole

Anolis carolinensis

Also known as: Carolina Anole

Dactyloidae · Squamata

BeginnerIUCN LC
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Temperament
Hands-off
Adult length
5–8 in
Lifespan (captivity)
4–7 yrs
Native range
Southeastern United States — woodland edges and shrubs

Care guide

Overview

Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) — a small, active, affordable diurnal lizard that changes between green and brown. Best kept as a planted display animal with UVB and droplet hydration; too delicate for regular handling.

Environment

Climate

Cool side
72–78 °F
Warm side
80–85 °F
Basking spot
85–90 °F
Nighttime
65–72 °F
Humidity (ambient)
60–70%

Environment

UVB lighting

Required?
Yes — provide UVB
Fixture type
T5 HO
Replacement interval
Every 12 months

Housing

Enclosure

Orientation
Arboreal
Bioactive setup
Suitable
Minimum size by life stage
  • HatchlingNot specified
  • JuvenileNot specified
  • Adult18x18x24 in for 1-2 animals; planted with climbing branches

Housing

Substrate

Safe options
bioactive soilcoco fiberleaf litter
Avoid
cedarpinedry-only substrate

Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Dietary type
Insectivore
Feeding frequency by life stage
  • JuvenileDaily
  • AdultEvery 1-2 days (small feeders)
Supplementation

Dust small feeders with calcium; multivitamin lightly. Gut-load crickets/fruit flies.

Care

Water & behavior

Water

Mist 1-2x daily; anoles drink droplets from leaves rather than a bowl.

Legal & ecology

Conservation

IUCN Red List
LC · Least Concern
Wild populations

Least Concern; not CITES-listed. Small, active, and inexpensive but delicate — a display lizard, not a handling pet.

Citations

Sources

Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.

  1. Anolis carolinensis — species account

    Animal Diversity Web, U. Michigan

    academic

    SE US range, arboreal insectivore biology, color change.

    Published: 2020-01-01

  2. Anolis carolinensis — IUCN Red List (LC)

    IUCN

    government

    Least Concern; not CITES-listed.

    Published: 2019-01-01

  3. Green Anole Care Sheet

    ReptiFiles (Mariah Healey)

    breeder community

    Planted arboreal setup, UVB, temps, misting, small-feeder diet.

    Published: 2022-01-01

Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) care sheet — Herpetoverse