Anole - Bahaman

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Brown Anole, de la Sagra's anole Scientific Name: Anolis sagrei

Basic Info

Bahaman Anoles are fairly small lizards, averaging between five and nine inches (13-22cm) in length. Their head, with medium-sized brown eyes, is triangular and small. They appear in a great variety of body patterns, including lines and triangles, and an equally large range of colors, from black to pale brown to tan. The dewlap is usually either yellow or bright red. Females often have a white stripe running down the middle of their back, which makes it easy to distinguish females from males. Other ways of sexing the Anoles is by noticing the large crest on the neck and back of the males. Males often fade to a uniform tan color when mature, and their dewlap is larger than that of the females.

Health

A single Bahaman Anole should be kept in an aquarium of at least 10 gallons. One male and two females could be housed nicely in a 20 gallon terrarium. There should be several plants, either live or artificial, and several hiding places within the aquarium. Males should not be kept together. If they must be in the same enclosure, they must be introduced at the same time so they can choose their territories early and they enclosure needs to be very spacious with lots of hiding places and visual barriers. Rocks and branches should also be provided for climbing. Anoles should have full spectrum UV light exposure for about 13 hours a day. Common food for captive Anoles is crickets. Many Anoles also enjoy flightless fruit flies. Some Anoles in captivity will eat bits of fruits and vegetables. It is recommended that the foods be dusted with a vitamin supplement. Most Anoles will not drink standing water, so the walls and leaves in the aquarium should be misted daily. In this droplet form, the Anoles recognize the water and will lick it up drop by drop. Breeding In the wild, Bahaman Anoles breed in the spring months. To breed them in captivity, it is necessary to simulate winter and than spring so the lizards will breed. Beginning in November, decrease the temperature in their living environment to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. At this time, the daily misting of the aquarium should continue, but feeding should be greatly decreased or stopped entirely. The following week, the temperature in the enclosure should be lowered further, to around 55 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The aquarium should only be lit for about eight hours per day, and it should be misted about once per week. Continue these conditions for around two months before raising the temperature and resuming the regular feeding and watering schedule. When this happens, the lizards will think it's spring. For several weeks, the males will court the females. Place a small plastic container with moist mulch or peat in the aquarium for the female to lay eggs in. After the eggs have been laid, they should be removed from the tank. Females will usually lay two clutches of eggs. The eggs should be incubated at between 83 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit in moist medium. When the babies hatch, they should be given their own living environment separate from that of the adults. The cage should be misted at least twice a day and they can be fed very small crickets and flightless fruit flies.

Habitat

Common in the United States as pets

Behavior

The Bahaman Anole, also known as the Brown Anole or De La Sagra's Anole, is a moderately small lizard that is native to the Caribbean. While shy towards large animals, including humans, they are less timid than many other species of lizards and can make an excellent pet. A terrestrial species, the Bahaman Anole rarely climbs more than two meters off the ground. But since they do climb a little, rocks or climbing branches should be provided in their enclosure. They are territorial creatures: males will often fight each other if they feel their territory is being invaded. The males will often display aggression towards another male that's in their territory, by displaying their dewlap and doing pushups and head bobs. Similar behavior can be observed when the male is courting a female. Bahaman Anoles generally live in forested areas and, being carnivorous, feed on small insects, although some captive Anoles will feed on plant matter. Many do not drink standing water but will instead lick water drops off leaves. Because the Anoles live in the semi-tropical environment of the Caribbean, they are most comfortable in temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (22-26C) in the day and no lower than 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18C) at night. They enjoy basking in the sun. Bahaman Anoles usually breed in November.

Origin

Caribbean

History

If properly cared for, the Bahaman Anole can live up to eight years in captivity. They are native to the Caribbean, hence the name "Bahaman Anole," but are quite common in the United States as pets.

Common Foods

N/A