Barbour's anole (Anolis barbouri)

Short answers

Barbour's anole: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Wide format, at least 80×50×50 cm for a pair — floor space and a deep leaf-litter layer matter more than height; flat hides, pieces of bark and low branches instead of a climbing wall.

Barbour's anole: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–27 °C ambient temperature, local basking spot up to about 32 °C; a montane forest species, no permanent heat, basking spot Basking spot 32–35 °C, at night 19–22 °C.

Barbour's anole: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0).

Barbour's anole: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 4–8 years.

Barbour's anole: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–27 °C ambient temperature, local basking spot up to about 32 °C; a montane forest species, no permanent heat

Night temperature

19–22 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 32–35 °C

Humidity

65–85 %, mist in the morning

UVB

Essential (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

wide format, at least 80×50×50 cm for a pair — floor space and a deep leaf-litter layer matter more than height; flat hides, pieces of bark and low branches instead of a climbing wall

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate with live plants, plus thin branches and bamboo at all heights

Feeding

Food

Crickets, house crickets, flies, firebrats and wax moths, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

10–13 cm

Life expectancy

4–8 years

Origin

Hispaniola: southern Haiti (Massif de la Hotte, Tiburon Peninsula) and western Dominican Republic (Sierra de Bahoruco); montane cloud forest, documented at around 1050–1150 m

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

No winter rest; somewhat cooler in winter with a shorter photoperiod

Cohabitation

In pairs (1.1); never keep males together — they fight until serious injuries occur. Additional females are not recommended: a lower-ranking female can be pushed aside, eat less and hide, and there is no experience with groups for this rarely kept species.

Notes

Unusual: it lives on the forest floor rather than in trees. It needs a deep leaf layer rather than climbing height.

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Related species

• Ghost anole (Anolis lemurinus) – Intermediate
• Ahl's anole (Anolis ahli) – Intermediate
• Aliniger anole (Anolis aliniger) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Allogus anole (Anolis allogus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Bahaman green anole (Anolis smaragdinus) – Beginner
• Bahoruco anole (Anolis bahorucoensis) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Baleatus giant anole (Anolis baleatus) – Intermediate
• Baracoa giant anole (Anolis baracoae) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Barbour's anole (Anolis barbouri) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (wide format, at least 80×50×50 cm for a pair — floor space and a deep leaf-litter layer matter more than height; flat hides, pieces of bark and low branches instead of a climbing wall), substrate (Forest-floor substrate with live plants, plus thin branches and bamboo at all heights), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.