Ghost anole (Anolis lemurinus)

Short answers

Ghost anole: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A pair ~50×50×80 cm (tall format).

Ghost anole: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot Small warm spot ~30 °C, at night 20–23 °C.

Ghost anole: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Needed (low to medium UVB, e.g. 5.0). This species lives in the shade and doesn't need a glaring lamp, but without UVB, rickets develops.

Ghost anole: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: ~4–6 years.

Ghost anole: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

Small warm spot ~30 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Needed (low to medium UVB, e.g. 5.0). This species lives in the shade and doesn't need a glaring lamp, but without UVB, rickets develops.

Enclosure

Minimum size

a pair ~50×50×80 cm (tall format)

Substrate

Damp forest floor with leaf litter, densely planted

Feeding

Food

Insects (soft-bodied prey preferred: caterpillars, spiders, small crickets)

Feeding interval

Several times a week

Key facts

Adult size

~15–18 cm total length (SVL 5–7 cm)

Life expectancy

~4–6 years

Origin

Central America from Veracruz (Mexico) through Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to Panama and Colombia; humid and dry lowland forests as well as premontane wet forest, around 80–880 m, occasionally up to 960 m altitude

Protection status

—

Brumation

None (a slight drop is possible)

Cohabitation

In pairs; males are territorial. The reason: several males fight over territory and basking spot until one is injured or ends up permanently sitting in a corner. Two females do not work together long-term either: one occupies the basking spot, the other sits in the corner and loses weight — usually without a single visible bite wound.

Notes

A shade-loving forest anole, rarely kept. There are no specific care sheets — the figures are derived from general anole husbandry and its home climate.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• 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
• Barahona giant anole (Anolis barahonae) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ghost anole (Anolis lemurinus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a pair ~50×50×80 cm (tall format)), substrate (Damp forest floor with leaf litter, densely planted), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.