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ReptileTerrestrialEasy
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Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
Green Anole (15-20 cm). Famous for its ability to change color from bright green to brown. Males showcase a prominent pink dewlap during territorial displays.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Dactyloidae
Genus:Anolis
Species:Anolis carolinensis
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
24 - 26 °C
Ambient temperature
25 °C
Night temperature
20 - 22 °C
Basking spot
30 - 32 °C
Adult size
7.5 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Medium
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the southeastern United States, particularly abundant in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Inhabits humid forests, suburban gardens, shrubs, and trees, leading a strictly arboreal life.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A small, slender lizard reaching 15-20 cm in total length. Known for changing its body coloration from bright emerald green to dark brown depending on temperature, mood, and health. Possesses adhesive toe pads.
Behavior and Habits: Active, diurnal, and arboreal. Excellent jumper and climber. Males are highly territorial, performing head-bobbing displays and extending their pinkish-red throat fan (dewlap) to deter rivals and court females.
Morphology: Males are significantly larger than females and possess a large, prominent pinkish-red dewlap and a small crest behind the head. Females often feature a light stripe down their spine and have a very reduced or absent dewlap.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a vertically oriented terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm for a small group). Provide climbing branches, vines, and live foliage (Pothos, Sansevieria) for shelter. Substrate should consist of moisture-retaining coconut fiber or peat moss.
Lighting and Heating: Provide a thermal gradient with a basking spot of 30-32°C, and a cool zone of 24-26°C. Night temperatures should drop to 20-22°C. High-quality UVB lighting (5.0) is essential for calcium synthesis and preventing MBD.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain relative humidity between 60% and 80% via twice-daily misting. Anoles rarely drink from water bowls; they lick water droplets from leaves, making daily spraying critical for hydration.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed daily on size-appropriate live insects, such as crickets, small roaches, mealworms, and flies. Dust prey with calcium powder 2-3 times a week, and a multivitamin with D3 once a week.
Compatibility: Keep in pairs or harems (one male with multiple females). Never house multiple males together, as they will fight aggressively. Do not mix with other reptile species.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly susceptible to metabolic bone disease (MBD) due to lack of UVB or calcium. Stress-induced color changes (remaining dark brown constantly) indicate issues with temperature or dominance. Mouth rot and respiratory infections can occur in cold, damp setups.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the southeastern United States, particularly abundant in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Inhabits humid forests, suburban gardens, shrubs, and trees, leading a strictly arboreal life.
Origin
North America
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 7.5 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 7.5 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 7.5 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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