How to Care for an Anole Lizard as a Pet

Anole lizards are very common in the wild. Many people have them in their homes as pets. You can also find them in many pet stores. Most of the anoles you find in pet stores are caught in the wild. Once you have decided you'd like to observe and care for an anole as a pet, you should know the basics of caring for them. As someone who has owned anoles in the past and now owns an anole once again, I have studied and observed their proper care immensely. You will discover the basics by reading below.

Proper cage/enclosure:
To find out what size cage you will need, measure or estimate the length of your anole from the tip of it's mouth to the tip of its tail. The cage should be at least twice that length longwise and at least the same length as your anole in width. A proper anole cage should either have fluorescent lighting or be placed in an area that is well-lit from the sun during the day. However, avoid sun lamps and heating lamps, as these can bake your anole. If you live in a warm, humid climate, you may opt for a plastic cage, rather than a glass aquarium, and keep your anole outside, thus eliminating the need for the lamp.

Once you have chosen your cage, you will need to make it into a home for your lizard. First, put regular, non-fertilized potting soil into the bottom of the cage. Slightly dampen the soil until it is moist, but not muddy or clay-like. This is an area that not all pet-care professionals agree on. Some recommend the soil and others will recommend a substrate made up of small wood chips or even specially-formulated substrate just for reptiles. With experience, I have found that the anoles prefer the soil. Many professionals have also agreed with me.