Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I have a collection of reptiles and have helped keep many species and soon I'll be taking attending university for my zoology degree....but....I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ANOLES.......well, very litte.....

The story goes........we live in Canada, and have a greenhouse. We order tropical plant shipments for our reptiles from Florida....two days ago we found the tiniest anole you've ever seen.....he can't be more than an inch and a half long from snout to tail. He is so tiny!!! I don't even think he'd fit a pinhead in his mouth.

He is wild caught, (obviously) brown, and he appears to be a hatchling or really undernourished.

right now I've got him in a very small critter keeper beside a heat lamp for warmth, he gets misted good twice a day....

how do I keep this poor little guy going???

what do we feed him and do anoles carry any diseases that may spead to other reptiles in the house???
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Chris

1.2.0 Bearded Dragons
1.2.0 Green Basilisks
1.1.0 Crested Geckos
1.2.0 Veiled Chameleons
1.1.0 Corn Snakes
1.0.0 Tokay Geckos
0.0.1 California Kingsnakes
2.5.1 Leopard Geckos

Congradulations! You now have one of the easiest, most underrated anoles available. The brown anole, in my opinion, is a better deal than the green anole, namely because the brown seems hardier.

Brown anoles are easy to maintain. They are more terrestrial than green anoles and can live under slightly dryer conditions, though they still like at least moderate humidity (50%). A ten gallon tank or standard 20 gallon will suffice for one adult brown anole. Give the animal full spectrum lighting and a basking light. I recommend a light timer to control the photoperiod. Temp range should be 95-90 F in warm end under the basking light, 78-82 in the cool end. Substrate can be orchid bark or Repti-Bark, although a layer of topsoil/organic potting soil (that is free from chemicals, perlite, and foam rubber) over a layer of pea gravel will really help maintain humidity. Provide climbing branches and some plants for cover (pothos are a nice choice for anole vivariums). Diet is, of course, insects. young animals should be fed daily, adults every other day. Generally, 3-5 suitably sized crickets or mealworms will be enough. Mist the terrarium to maintain humidity and provide water. Anoles rarely drink form water bowls. If you like, drip systems can be used to provide moisture.

50% humidity really sounds too low for a Brown anole. Maybe Browns can *survive* lower humidity than Greens (would never try such a thing), but they're meant to be in higher humidity--80-100%, although 70-90% is probably better suited for captivity.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

I was recently in the same boat as you after rescuing a young (although not as young as yours) brown. The story is posted down below under 'Amazing Anole Survival Story'. Fruit flies sound like what you need right now. I got the larger flightless (with wings) off the web but I noticed that Petco has been carrying the smaller type. If you have trouble finding them, for the time being, you could get some wax worms (since it sounds like it needs some fattening up) and cut a very small piece of and use a tweezer to feed it. That's how I saved this one. Now it is hunting the smallest of crickets.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Andy

Here is a fabulous site covering tons of information on anole care:

Anole Care

It leans more toward green anoles, but does talk about browns, too. Good luck!!
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Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
0.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

I also just rescued a brown anole. I work at a science center and we often have folks show up at our door with reptiles that have hitched a ride to CT and that they cannot care for. Yesterday some folks brought in a brown anole that had arrived with some family from FL for the holiday. The poor fellow has lost his tail, but seems to be in good health otherwise. Does anyone have any advice about tail loss in anoles? Is there any medical attention I can provide and will it grow back at all? I'm familiar with autonomy in leopard geckos, but not anoles. Thanks!

-Eric-

1.0 leopard gecko
2.1 firebelly toads
1.0 green anole
1.0 brown anole

I have never had one without a tail but I know they do grow back. I don't think you have to do anything at all. I have read that they don't grow back quite as nice as the original though.

Andy