Puerto Rican giant anole (Anolis cuvieri)
Iguanas · Difficulty: Intermediate
Key facts and care guidance for Puerto Rican giant anole (Anolis cuvieri) (origin: Puerto Rico). Adult size around 30–40 cm. Life expectancy 4–8 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Puerto Rican giant anole: How big does the enclosure need to be?
80×80×110 cm for 1 animal, 15% more floor area for each additional animal; at least 100×80×120 cm for a pair, with sturdy vertical and angled branches.
Puerto Rican giant anole: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot Basking spot 32–35 °C, at night 19–22 °C.
Puerto Rican giant anole: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0).
Puerto Rican giant anole: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 4–8 years.
Puerto Rican giant anole: Is it suitable for beginners?
Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 25–30 °C
- 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
- 80×80×110 cm for 1 animal, 15% more floor area for each additional animal; at least 100×80×120 cm for a pair, with sturdy vertical and angled branches
- Substrate
- Forest-floor substrate with live plants, plus thin branches and bamboo at all heights
Feeding
- Food
- Large insects: grasshoppers, large roaches, beetles and beetle larvae, wax moths; plus snails and occasionally soft fruit. Dust regularly with calcium and vitamins.
- Feeding interval
- adults 3–4×/week
Key facts
- Adult size
- 30–40 cm
- Life expectancy
- 4–8 years
- Origin
- Puerto Rico
- Protection status
- Not listed under CITES
- Brumation
- No winter rest; somewhat cooler in winter with a shorter photoperiod
- Cohabitation
- Pairs (1.1) or singly; never keep males together — they fight until seriously injured. In giant anoles the females are territorial too and often do not tolerate each other, and given the bite force of these animals, rank fights quickly end in serious bite wounds. Keeping several females with one male is therefore not recommended.
Notes
Puerto Rico's largest anole; it lives high in the canopy. It needs a markedly larger enclosure than the usual species.
Do you keep this species?
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Puerto Rican giant anole (Anolis cuvieri) currently offered
- Anolis cuvieri – green und striped · Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf · 1,500 €
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
What you need to start
To keep Puerto Rican giant anole (Anolis cuvieri) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×80×110 cm for 1 animal, 15% more floor area for each additional animal; at least 100×80×120 cm for a pair, with sturdy vertical and angled branches), substrate (Forest-floor substrate with live plants, plus thin branches and bamboo at all heights), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 9 October 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: Wikipedia EN, tropic-shop.de, eu_annex.txt (lokal, VO (EU) 2026/1383), gutachten.txt (lokal, BML 1997), karibische-anolis.de
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).