Mestre's anole (Anolis mestrei)

Short answers

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

From 60x50x80 cm for a pair. What matters is not height but vertical rock: rock structures, cork bark and rock crevices from the floor up to half height, plus leaf litter, moss and only a few horizontal branches. The official expert report calculates 6 x 8 x 6 times the snout–vent length for ground- and rock-dwelling anoles, i.e. about 36 x 48 x 36 cm; the figure given here is well above that.

Mestre's anole: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 23–27 °C, with noticeably cooler shaded areas; a small warmer spot is enough, a strong basking spot is wrong, basking spot Basking spot 32–35 °C, at night 19–22 °C.

Mestre's anole: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0).

Mestre's anole: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 4–8 years.

Mestre's anole: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

23–27 °C, with noticeably cooler shaded areas; a small warmer spot is enough, a strong basking spot is wrong

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

From 60x50x80 cm for a pair. What matters is not height but vertical rock: rock structures, cork bark and rock crevices from the floor up to half height, plus leaf litter, moss and only a few horizontal branches. The official expert report calculates 6 x 8 x 6 times the snout–vent length for ground- and rock-dwelling anoles, i.e. about 36 x 48 x 36 cm; the figure given here is well above that.

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate with leaf litter and moss, plus stone slabs, cork bark and crevices as vertical surfaces; live plants for humidity and visual cover

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

13–16 cm

Life expectancy

4–8 years

Origin

Western Cuba

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

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

Cohabitation

Pairs (1.1) are the safest option; never keep males together — they fight until seriously injured. Females also defend their own, smaller territories: a second female is often harassed so much by the dominant one that she eats less and hides. One male with two females only works, if at all, in a considerably larger, densely structured enclosure and only with a spare enclosure ready.

Notes

A rock dweller in limestone country.

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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 Mestre's anole (Anolis mestrei) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (From 60x50x80 cm for a pair. What matters is not height but vertical rock: rock structures, cork bark and rock crevices from the floor up to half height, plus leaf litter, moss and only a few horizontal branches. The official expert report calculates 6 x 8 x 6 times the snout–vent length for ground- and rock-dwelling anoles, i.e. about 36 x 48 x 36 cm; the figure given here is well above that.), substrate (Forest-floor substrate with leaf litter and moss, plus stone slabs, cork bark and crevices as vertical surfaces; live plants for humidity and visual cover), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.