Lichen anole (Anolis pentaprion)

Short answers

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

60×50×80 cm for an adult animal or a pair, as a tall enclosure with thick, bark-covered branches, epiphytes and dense foliage. The official minimum size under the 1997 expert report (anoles, tree- and shrub-dwellers, 6 × 6 × 8 times the snout–vent length) works out, at a snout–vent length of 7.7 cm, at 46×46×62 cm.

Lichen anole: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Lichen anole: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB is needed, but in moderation: Ferguson zone 1–2, meaning a UV index below 1 in the main living area and at most 1–2.6 at the brightest spot.

Lichen anole: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: uncertain, probably ~4–7 years.

Lichen anole: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C

Humidity

70–90 %

UVB

UVB is needed, but in moderation: Ferguson zone 1–2, meaning a UV index below 1 in the main living area and at most 1–2.6 at the brightest spot

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×50×80 cm for an adult animal or a pair, as a tall enclosure with thick, bark-covered branches, epiphytes and dense foliage. The official minimum size under the 1997 expert report (anoles, tree- and shrub-dwellers, 6 × 6 × 8 times the snout–vent length) works out, at a snout–vent length of 7.7 cm, at 46×46×62 cm.

Substrate

Damp tropical or bioactive substrate, leaf litter, plenty of fine branchwork and moss

Feeding

Food

Small insects (small crickets, flies, fruit flies, aphids), invertebrates

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily (small feeder insects!)

Key facts

Adult size

snout–vent length up to 7.7 cm (males) or 7.4 cm (females); with the comparatively short tail about 15–19 cm total length

Life expectancy

uncertain, probably ~4–7 years

Origin

Southern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and northwestern Colombia; lowland rainforest, predominantly in the canopy

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; no German registration duty as a non-native species; prefer captive-bred animals

Brumation

None (tropical)

Cohabitation

Territorial. NEVER keep males together. At most one male plus females in a large, densely planted enclosure

Notes

UNCERTAIN: a twig anole specialist with barely any published keeper data – the size figures and values are derived from its ecomorph and general anole care. It needs plenty of thin perching branches and fine feeder animals; trickier than the standard anoles.

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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 Lichen anole (Anolis pentaprion) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×50×80 cm for an adult animal or a pair, as a tall enclosure with thick, bark-covered branches, epiphytes and dense foliage. The official minimum size under the 1997 expert report (anoles, tree- and shrub-dwellers, 6 × 6 × 8 times the snout–vent length) works out, at a snout–vent length of 7.7 cm, at 46×46×62 cm.), substrate (Damp tropical or bioactive substrate, leaf litter, plenty of fine branchwork and moss), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.