
- Feed your anole 2-3 insects once per day. Anole lizards are insectivores and tend to eat small insects such as crickets, mealworms, and wax worms.
- Provide water for your lizards by spraying plants in the tank 2-3 times a day. Anoles prefer to get their water in the form of droplets off plant leaves.
- Monitor your anole for common health problems. The most common ailments that afflict anole lizards stem from overcrowding in their cages (leading to fights) and vitamin deficiencies.
- Consider adopting multiple anoles if you want them to breed. ...
- Handle your anole rarely and with caution. It is possible to handle an anole and even have it eat from your hand.
How to care for your Cuban knight anole?
Quick Facts About the Knight Anole
- Species Name:
- Common Name:
- Care Level:
- Lifespan:
- Adult Size:
- Diet:
- Minimum Tank Size:
- Temperature & Humidity: Do Knight Anoles Make Good Pets? The Knight Anole is not commonly kept as a pet in the United States or in many other places, for that ...
What can live with green anoles?
What can green anole live with?
- Another green anole. The green anoles can be kept with or can live with another green anole in groups that consist of one male and several females.
- Crested geckos. ...
- Green tree frog. ...
- Fire-bellied toads. ...
Can anoles eat fruit?
Anoles are insectivores, so feed small crickets, a few mealworms, and flightless fruit flies. Anoles are also nectar drinkers, and can be fed small pieces of fruit and small amounts of fruit puree, such as baby food. These foods must be removed soon or they will attract fruit flies (which can be eaten by the anoles).
What do green anoles eat in the wild?
- Bugs are their preferred meal in nature. They’ve been seen eating everything from beetles, spiders, sowbugs, flies, gnats, ants, worms, grubs, maggots, snails, slugs, crickets, and some arthropods.
- Green anoles will also eat plant matter like flower petals, grains, seeds, and leaves.
- Various fruits, vegetables, and herbs are also fair game.

What can I feed my anole besides bugs?
In the wild, these lizards naturally eat grasshoppers, spiders, crickets, moths, small beetles, slugs, worms, ants, termites, butterflies, and flies. They do not eat any kind of plant in the wild and have great difficulty breaking down anything other than insects.
Can you feed anoles fruit?
Anoles are insectivores, so feed small crickets, a few mealworms, and flightless fruit flies. Anoles are also nectar drinkers, and can be fed small pieces of fruit and small amounts of fruit puree, such as baby food.
What can you feed a wild anole lizard?
Anoles eat insects and typically hunt spiders, crickets, beetles, flies, worms, and ants. Anoles are insectivorous and eat spiders, crickets, beetles, flies, worms, ants, and termites. As insectivores (a subset of carnivores), green anoles eat only insects.
Do anoles need live food?
Buy live prey. Crickets are the most common meal for an anole, but it is important to provide a variety of live prey, including small mealworms, small roaches, fruit files, and other small insects to ensure that your green friend has a well-rounded diet.
How long can anoles go without eating?
In the wild, a green anole can go without eating up to 7-30 days. This is highly variable depending on the age, location, species, and ecosystem it exists in.
Can I feed wild anoles?
Feed your anole food that's half the size of the head Anoles will eat anything really. But bigger insects will make them chew a lot more than something smaller and easier to digest.
Do anoles need a water dish?
While green anoles will seldom drink from a standing source of water, a small and shallow dish should always be present and kept full. This will only provide your lizards with drinking water (should they desire it) but more importantly will aid in increasing the ambient humidity within the enclosure.
What can I feed a lizard in my backyard?
They can eat anything from spiders, flies, and aphids to crickets, mealworms, and dubia roaches. Some species have a diet similar to turtles and are omnivores. Omnivores eat insects too, but they also need fruits and vegetables in their diet.
Can I keep a lizard I found outside?
0:152:04How to Care for a Lizard Found in the Yard : Exotic Pets - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI do not recommend keeping a lizard as a pet. It's against federal law actually to take and thatMoreI do not recommend keeping a lizard as a pet. It's against federal law actually to take and that native animal out of its natural habitat. So you don't want to do that plus. They can carry parasites.
Can you overfeed an anole?
These anoles will keep eating, and you will want to make sure that you do not overfeed them. Overfeeding will shorten their life span, and they will be lethargic, and will behave differently.
Do green anole bites hurt?
Green anole bites can be startling and painful depending on the size of your finger, where it bites, and how big the jaw is. Some anoles bite harder than others, so don't assume they all feel the same.
Can green anoles eat mealworms?
Two to three insects per day is an appropriate amount for a Green Anole to eat. These insects should be dusted with a good vitamin and mineral supplement to add nutritional value to the food. You can supplement their food further with the occasional serving of worms such as mealworms and waxworms.
Can brown anoles eat fruit?
Their diet mainly consists of a variety of insects which is supplemented with fruit. While rare, they are also known to eat baby birds and small lizards, even other anoles.
Do anoles eat tomatoes?
After reading more about them, I wish we had them. Anoles, found in the large area of the southern States, eat caterpillars and grasshoppers. Those would be perfect to encourage around the cabbage, tomatoes, and really most everything.
Do anoles eat seeds?
Figure 1. Knight anoles (Anolis equestris) are large, arboreal, and highly frugivorous lizards native to Cuba and introduced to Miami, Florida in the mid-20th century.
What does it mean when a anole lizard turns green?
The green anoles' bright color indicates a healthy animal in a leafy green habitat with a minimum amount of stress. They turn brown in cold, when they're frightened or when they're stressed. The brown anoles can't turn green, but they can switch from brown to gray or black.
Can you overfeed a baby lizard?
Anoles have been known to eat more than they need as they’re not picky eaters.
Do I need to worry about live prey hurting my anole?
Pinhead crickets also have a VERY low chance of doing any harm to your anole.
How to know if anole is stressed?
You can count by number or weight or volume. This is helpful for determinig if your anole is stressed, as they eat less when they are. For example, if you notice that your anole usually eats 3 crickets within 3 minutes, but then it suddenly drops to 1 cricket every hour, you may suspect that it’s stressed.
What should baby anoles be fed?
gif (1×1) Baby anoles should be fed small, live insects. Preferably, they should be gut-loaded pinhead crickets. These contain a delicious glob of nutrients anoles need to develop a proper skeletal system.
What are baby crickets called?
These baby crickets are often called “pinhead crickets, ” which is referring to their small size. You may see them sold as miniature, mini, or small crickets in pet stores. Since they’re so small, your newborn anole can easily fit them inside their mouths.
What to do if your anole doesn't eat?
If your anole doesn’t eat and refuses the food, you can offer alternatives to crickets.
How big is a baby anole lizard?
So, you got yourself a baby green anole and you have no idea what to feed it. Baby anole lizards are just a wee under 2 inches in size. And their mouth is less than a few centimeters at this point! They don’t have that big, smiling face to gargle down large items (yet).
What do anoles eat?
Anoles eat insects and typically hunt spiders, crickets, beetles, flies, worms, and ants.
Do anoles make good pets?
Anoles are common pets in the United States as they are small and easily kept. Although green anoles are known to be easily stressed, proper care can help mitigate this. Many first-time reptile owners purchase anoles because of their low maintenance and easy care.
What to Do If You’re Green Anole Doesn’t eat?
So, if your green anole is not eating then there is probably something bothering it. Finding and removing the cause of irritation is crucial to maintaining your anole’s health.
Can green anoles eat fruits?
Greens anoles prefer eating live and moving insects. Some can be fed ripe fruits like banana, orange, etc. But I think it’s best to only feed live insects.
What do anoles eat?
Anoles will eat basically anything that’s alive and moving as long as they can fit it in their mouth. Besides eating insects like crickets they’ll happily eat worms, spiders and even small snails.
How to keep green anoles from drowning?
Provide enough water. Make sure the water container isn’t so deep that your green anole can drown in it. Change the water daily. Anoles also likes to lick water from plants and wet surfaces. So, try spraying water on the glass of your enclosure and leaves of plants. Source: Instagram.
Why are my green anoles not eating?
Green anoles like hunting their food. So, feed them live crickets or mealworms. Your anole might not be eating because you’re serving dead food. ● Provide more space. Green anoles are small but require lots of space to live in. Not providing enough space may be a reason for your anole to not eat.
What is the best reptile for beginners?
Green anoles are one of the best reptiles for beginners. They tolerate handling quite well compared to most other reptiles. They are quite good looking too with their bright green body and pink dewlap. All of this makes green anoles one of the most popular reptiles as pets. But as a new reptile owner, you might ask – what does a green anole eat? ...
How long can anoles live without eating?
Being reptiles, green anoles are no exception. Generally, green anoles go on without eating for 2 to 8 weeks. But it really boils down to their age and how well they are fed before starving.
How do green anoles catch their food?
Green anoles have multiple techniques to capture their next tasty meal.
Why are wild anoles so stressed?
Also, as mentioned earlier, wild-caught anoles may exhibit extreme stress levels due to the sudden change in the environment. It’ll lose its territory (if it’s a male) and have to succumb to fake lighting.
What do bugs eat?
They’ve been seen eating everything from beetles, spiders, sowbugs, flies, gnats, ants, worms, grubs, maggots, snails, slugs, crickets, and some arthropods.
What does "insectivores" mean?
They’re considered to be insectivores, meaning they eat live bugs. Whatever fits in their mouth is fair game.
What to do if you catch a wild caught?
However, if you catch a wild-caught, consider using a larger tank and feeding insects that are native to your area where you found it because these are the bugs it was previously eating.
What do wolves eat?
They eat everything they can get their jaws on.
Where are green anoles found?
They’re native to the neotropics, and some are found in the Nearctic regions of the Earth. Here in the US, green anoles are natively found in North Carolina (as you may be able to tell by the scientific name). They’re also found rummaging in the yards of Texas, Florida, Hawaii, California, and coastal regions.
How to keep anole feeders healthy?
The way to avoid this is to dust your feeder insects with multivitamins. This will provide your anole with everything they need to stay happy and healthy.
How many bugs should an anole eat?
In general, adult anoles should be fed 2-3 bugs every other day. (Some sources say every day, so you may have to find the right balance based on your anole’s individual personality.) The 2-3 are referring to crickets or roaches that are about half the size of your anole’s head.
How to keep anoles from choking?
Feed them insects that are half the size of their heads. This prevents them from choking on the insects. Do not leave feeder insects in with your anoles. It may seem silly, but crickets and other similar insects can kill an anole if left in its cage unsupervised. Anything that doesn’t get eaten should be removed.
Why do you feed anole worms?
Other worms that you can feed your Anole as a treat occasionally because these worms have high calcium and/or fat content.
Why do you feed bugs healthy food?
This is a process where you feed your bugs healthy foods so that your anole will get extra nutrition when it eats them.
What happens if you leave an anole in the terrarium?
If you leave one in your anole’s terrarium unattended, it will gladly kill your anole. (Even if it doesn’t kill the anole, it will start chewing on the anole given the opportunity.)
Why does my anole get weird?
Your anole can develop all manner of weird health conditions as a result of vitamin deficiencies. Even if you’re feeding it the right type of bug.
The Green Anole Diet: What Do Green Anoles Eat?
Green anoles eat mostly insects, with a diet that includes spiders, crickets, flies, and beetles.
What Eats Green Anoles?
The green anole falls prey to birds, snakes, and even larger lizards. In areas with human populations, cats are a dangerous predator for green anoles. Cats have an unfair advantage, as the two species did not evolve together. Like many lizard species, the green anole can detach its tail when threatened.
Are Green Anoles Poisonous?
Green Anole lizard ( Anolis carolinensis) showing off his bright pink dewlap.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
In the wild, green anoles can be found basking in trees and vegetation. They are sun-loving creatures and will spend their summers soaking in the heat. During cooler months, anoles can be found hiding inside of logs, under tree bark, and other warm locations. They are native to the southeastern United States, including North Carolina.
How do I keep my anole healthy?
Try not to handle new anoles for 3 or 4 days to give them a chance to get acclimated to their new surroundings. Whether your anole is new or settled-in, be sure to contact a vet if you notice any of these symptoms of illness or distress:
How many anoles can live in a tank?
Anoles can live alone or in groups, but there should be no more than 1 male per tank. A male anole may display his dominance by bobbing his head and flaring his dewlap if he encounters a male rival or even if he sees his own reflection. For 1 anole, choose a terrarium that’s a minimum of 10 gallons.
How to keep anole water moist?
Use a hygrometer (a humidity gauge) to keep track. Create and maintain humidity by keeping the anole’s water dish full and by misting your pet and the habitat 2 to 3 times a day. Or use an automatic fogger, mister or drip system. You can also utilize moisture retaining substrate such as coconut fiber and moss.
How to keep a terrarium from getting too humid?
Line the bottom of the terrarium with 2 to 3 inches of coconut-fiber, moss or bark bedding. Additional moss can help raise the humidity in the terrarium if necessary. Spot-clean the bedding at least once a week and change it completely once a month.
How big should a terrarium be?
Increase the size if there will be more than 1 anole. Because anoles are climbers, the terrarium should be at least 18 inches high, with a screened lid.
What color do anoles change?
Behavior: Male anoles are very dominant and territorial. Exercise: They love to climb. Did You Know: Anoles change color from bright green to brown, yellow or gray depending on their mood and the temperature and humidity of their environment. However, anoles change color much slower than chameleons.
How to feed anoles?
Insects should be no more than half as big as the anole’s head. Dust your anole’s food 2 to 3 times a week with a calcium supplement and once a week with a multivitamin. Provide a shallow dish of water. (Anoles will drink from this and also lick moisture from their skin and habitat.)
How to help anole lizards?
The most common ailments that afflict anole lizards stem from overcrowding in their cages (leading to fights) and vitamin deficiencies. Keep an eye out for the symptoms of vitamin deficiency, such as lethargy, weight loss, or mucus in the mouth and nose, and feed your lizard a nutritious diet or vitamin supplements to minimize its risk of not getting enough vitamins.
What do anole lizards eat?
Anole lizards are insectivores and tend to eat small insects such as crickets, mealworms, and wax worms. Provide 2-3 individual insects every day for each young lizard in your terrarium and 2-3 insects every other day for each adult lizard.
How to keep anole lizards healthy?
Use a UVB to light your terrarium and keep it lit for 14 hours every day to keep your anole healthy. You can also expose your anole lizard to UVB light by temporarily placing its terrarium outside on sunny days when the temperature is over 70 °F (21 °C).
What is the best reptile to have as a pet?
A delightful small lizard, the green anole ( Anolis carolinensis) makes a popular choice for a reptile pet. They're the kind of pet that will entertain you with their busy antics during the day and their beautiful color is lovely to behold.
How to keep lizards from getting anxious?
Elevating your lizard tank is a good way to simulate this lifestyle for your lizard and help prevent them from becoming anxious. This is especially important if you plan to keep your lizard in a part of your home where there is a lot of activity and foot traffic.
What are the signs of a fight between anole lizards?
Symptoms of fights breaking out between male anole lizards typically include small lesions and/or bite marks that appear on a lizard’s head or back.
What to put in a lizard terrarium?
Inside the terrarium, be sure to supply plenty of plants (either real or artificial, or a mixture of both) and basking items such as branches or smooth rocks. Items that your lizard can climb on, such as vertically mounted pieces of driftwood or grapevine, would also be appropriate.
