Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a anole that we rescued about 2 months ago. The previous owner had it for about 4 months so it is at least 6 months old. (don't have history prior to that). It was pretty skinny, dehydrated and overall brown when we got it. Now it is plump(ie well fed, not fat) and green!! It currently lives in a 10 gallon set up with live plants, vines,rocks and branches. We have A UVB bulb and a basking light and a pretty good heat gradient. The husband and kids want to get another anole. Since it is a 10 gal tank we figure we can probably get only 1 more. Now for the question. I don't see a dewlap(i think that's what the throat thing is called) and it has a lighter colored line along its spine. I think that makes it female but have read that juveniles also have similar features. Given its poor care and nutrition early on, do you that we can tell sex at this point or should we wait longer. thanks

Until you get another one, you're not likely to know for absolutely certain. Personally, I wouldn't recommend two anoles in a 10 gallon - not enough space (20H is minimum). Another thing to consider is that if either your first or second turn out to be male, they WILL breed, and LOTS. This can be very stressful for the female in a small enclosure with nowhere to escape.

I ended up having to set up a whole third enclosure since my "female" turned out to be just a young male. This was AFTER mating had already taken place. Then I had to deal with catching (and removing to yet ANOTHER enclosure) and feeding babies that hatched out in the tank. Huge pain.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Saharan Uros (Joe and Arthur)
3.1 Mali Uros (Spike, Turtle, Tank, and Lilly)
1.1 Ornate Uros (Scuttlebutt and Shazzbot)
2.1.2 Green Anoles (Bowser, Sprocket, Leeloo)
1.1 Felis domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)