Cuban green anole (Anolis porcatus)

Short answers

Cuban green anole: How big does the enclosure need to be?

50×50×80 cm for one animal; ~60×50×100 cm for a pair (emphasise height).

Cuban green anole: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–30 °C, basking spot 33–38 °C, at night 21–23 °C (drop at night).

Cuban green anole: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–4; sun-loving); an HQI or metal-halide lamp is ideal.

Cuban green anole: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 6–8 years in captivity.

Cuban green anole: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–30 °C

Night temperature

21–23 °C (drop at night)

Basking spot

33–38 °C

Humidity

60–70 % by day, up to ~80–90 % at night

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–4; sun-loving); an HQI or metal-halide lamp is ideal

Enclosure

Minimum size

50×50×80 cm for one animal; ~60×50×100 cm for a pair (emphasise height)

Substrate

Bark mulch, coco humus or forest floor, climbing branches, a back wall, planting

Feeding

Food

Insects: house crickets, crickets, roaches, flies, wax moths; occasionally a little fruit; calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

up to ~23 cm total length (SVL ~7–8 cm)

Life expectancy

approx. 6–8 years in captivity

Origin

Cuba (native); naturalised in Florida, the Dominican Republic and Tenerife among others. A trunk and crown dweller

Protection status

No CITES or EU regulation protection; not specially protected. Prefer captive-bred animals.

Brumation

A cooler rest period of 2–3 months is recommended (gradually reducing temperature, photoperiod and food); it has a positive effect on health and breeding

Cohabitation

Keeping them in pairs (1.1) is safest; never keep males together — they fight until one is injured or permanently sits in a corner. One male with two females is possible in a large, structured enclosure with visual barriers, but females also defend their own territories, and a lower-ranking female can be pushed aside, eat less and hide permanently. Visual contact with conspecifics enhances colour intensity.

Notes

Very similar to A. carolinensis/allisoni in care. It needs basking spots and height. Common mistakes: no basking spots, too little UVB.

Do you keep this species?

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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 Cuban green anole (Anolis porcatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (50×50×80 cm for one animal; ~60×50×100 cm for a pair (emphasise height)), substrate (Bark mulch, coco humus or forest floor, climbing branches, a back wall, planting), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.