Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum. I live in a good spot for anoles here in Miami. I have caught 6 species so far and one of them yesterday. It was a large-headed anole. I thought the male was the coolest lizard I have ever seen. I am now looking to try to get one as a pet. I am not sure of their requirments, though. Of course they will need the light and sizable cages. I can take care of that since I have pet Carolina Green and Cuban Green Anoles, Brown Anoles and Dominican Bark Anoles. How well do they do in captivity.

Hello Alex:
Large Head Anoles (Anolis cybotes) are usually very hardy in the terrarium. Just make sure they get good light and have good perching sites. One male with two females per cage is a good mix.
Bark Anoles (Anolis ditichus) are very gecko-like in their actions. They are vertical perchers so care should be taken to be sure they have this type of perch site available to them. I have six of them I am raising right now and I find they rarely come to the ground ecxept to feed. Unlike many anoles they shy away from larger prey. They need to be fed smaller food items which they will readily go after. They like 1/3 grown crickets and very young mealworms. Once acclimated they are voracious feeders. They also eat small moths and leafhoppers (small ones).
I hope this info helps. Good Luck!!!

Thanks for the info on the large-headed anoles. My bark anoles
indeed love to be up high. I already knew that since I noticed they are always on the trees, usually above ten feet off the ground. I also feed them pin-head crickets and ants. I always have to make sure the ants are not fire ants or carpenter ants, or any other ant that can hurt them. Moths are always a good treat. I catch them all the time by hanging around street lamps at night. Thanks again for the info.