Datasheet Red-throated Anolis
German name:
Red-throated Anoles
Scientific name:
Anoles carolinensis
Origin:
USA, Mexico, Caribbean
Body length:
up to 20 cm
age expectation:
up to 8 years
Behave
Lining:
insectivor (insectivore)
Behave:
territorial, shy
Number:
small groups
Difficulty level:
Beginner Anonymous, Green anole, CC BY-SA 3.0
The red-throated anole is also known as American chameleon or green anole. Its home is the subtropical deciduous forests in the USA, Mexico and the Caribbean. There he lives on trees and in high bushes and hunts insects. It belongs to the family Dactyloidae and the genus Anoles.
It is about a smaller lizard species with a very slim body. The length measures about 20 cm, of which the trunk already accounts for 8 cm. The shape of the head is pointed and the mouth is quite large. The eyes can be moved independently of each other like a chameleon. Depending on the state of mind or warmth, the color changes from green to brown. The basic color of the body is green and the belly is white. The juveniles and especially the females also show a white stripe along the spine.
Similar to the gecko, the lizard possesses adhesive strips on the toes. These give her the ability to move on steep and slippery surfaces. The special trademark of the animal is the eponymous red throat pouch. Its function lies in the imposing or threatening gesture. If the male is courting and meets a female, he will attract her attention by throat pouch clearly inflated. As a threatening gesture, it serves to deter competing conspecifics or enemies. Both sexes use it for this.
Anolis carolinensis is a diurnal and agile ambush. When hunting, he sits rigidly in one place and waits for the prey. If it comes close enough to him, he snaps at lightning speed and eats it up skin and hair.
acquisition and maintenance
When purchasing at least two conspecifics or better one small group to plan The social animal needs other conspecifics to communicate. It only feels comfortable in the community. Group behavior is subject to a fixed hierarchy.
However, males must not be kept together in one terrarium! they form territorieswhich they take to the extreme combative defend. On the other hand, keeping one male and several females together or only females does not pose a problem.
The size of the terrarium should be adapted to the number of animals. An addition to the base area of at least 20% is necessary for each copy. The facility must provide sufficient climbing, sitting and retreating opportunities for each resident from the beginning of the keeping.
Terrarium requirements
The species-appropriate terrarium has a portrait. A minimum size of 80 cm length x 60 cm depth x 100 cm height is ideal for keeping one male and three females. The substrate consists of a slightly moist mixture of sand and coconut fiber humus or terrarium humus or bark mulch. The substrate must not contain any fertilizer or pesticides! For the Climb, lurk and hide Stable climbing branches and robust plants are used.
A rain forest rain should be initiated in the terrarium once or twice a day. For this purpose, the device is sprayed with lukewarm water. This is how the high humidity is created and the lizards can naturally take the necessary liquid from the water droplets. A sprinkler system is a good purchase.
For the brightness provides additional UV lighting (e.g. fluorescent tubes with UV-B content). The lighting duration is about 14 hours in summer and 12 hours in winter. The right temperature in the pool is between 28 and 35° Celsius. A heat lamp can be used to raise the temperature.
gender differences
The red-throated anolis has a distinctive sexual dimorphism. Male adult specimens measure about 20 cm, while females are only a maximum of 18 cm. The throat pouch is also significantly larger in males. In addition, predominantly the females carry a white stripe along the spine.
feed and nutrition
The food supply includes all bite-sized arthropod. These include flies, crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, arachnids. Mealworms are also taken. Since the Red-throated Anoles is an ambush hunter, it should be natural hunting behavior can also live in the terrarium and are mainly given live food.
A balanced diet includes additional Vitamins and calcium crumbs (e.g. from sepia school). These are administered at every second feeding and can be sprinkled on the feed animals, for example.
Some of the lizards will also accept pieces of peeled bananas or other soft fruits. However, the amount should only be administered very sparingly.
acclimatization and handling
The red-throated anoles is a real master climber and sun worshiper. In winter he keeps a two-month hibernation away. He turns dark brown and retreats to a quiet and hidden place.
With a little patience, the shy reptile can even do it tame become. With species-appropriate husbandry and good nutrition, its life expectancy is up to 8 years.