Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus)

Short answers

Puerto Rican crested anole: How big does the enclosure need to be?

60×60×60 cm for 1 animal, 15% more floor area for each additional animal; floor space and vertical climbing surfaces in equal measure.

Puerto Rican crested anole: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–32 °C (top), 24–29 °C at the bottom, basking spot 33–35 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Puerto Rican crested anole: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–4; sun-exposed).

Puerto Rican crested anole: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 4–7 years in captivity.

Puerto Rican crested anole: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–32 °C (top), 24–29 °C at the bottom

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

33–35 °C

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–4; sun-exposed)

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×60×60 cm for 1 animal, 15% more floor area for each additional animal; floor space and vertical climbing surfaces in equal measure

Substrate

Coco humus or forest floor with leaf litter, bark, climbing branches, planting

Feeding

Food

Insects: house crickets, crickets, flies, small roaches; calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

10–20.5 cm total length (males SVL up to 7.5 cm, females up to 5.7 cm)

Life expectancy

approx. 4–7 years in captivity

Origin

Puerto Rico and the surrounding area (naturalised in Florida and the Dominican Republic); a trunk-ground ecomorph that perches low

Protection status

No CITES or EU regulation protection; not specially protected.

Brumation

No real winter rest; only a slight seasonal variation

Cohabitation

Territorial. Keeping them singly is the standard; at most one male plus one female in a large enclosure with visual barriers. NEVER keep males together. Housing several animals together is not recommended.

Notes

A robust, sun-loving trunk-and-ground anole; it needs both floor area and climbing structure. Common mistakes: too little UVB or basking, and overstocking.

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 Puerto Rican crested anole (Anolis cristatellus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×60×60 cm for 1 animal, 15% more floor area for each additional animal; floor space and vertical climbing surfaces in equal measure), substrate (Coco humus or forest floor with leaf litter, bark, climbing branches, 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.