Are you thinking of keeping an anole lizard as a pet but wondering about the lifespan of an Anole lizard?
Anoles can be a great pet for beginners as they are easy to take care of. You should know their lifespan and lifecycle to keep them healthy and safe.
Average Lifespan of an Anole Lizard
Anole lizards in the wild can live up to 4 years, and in captivity, they can live up to 8 years.
- In their natural habitat,
- Anoles usually have shorter lifespans due to many environmental factors and predators.
- Many Anoles do not even survive till their adulthood due to predators and competition.
- In captivity,
- Anoles can live longer, provided they get proper care and nutrition.
- If you care for your Anoles well, they can live easily up to 8 years.
- They do not have any predators in captivity which makes their lives longer
There are many species of Anoles, Let’s now see how long green, brown, and knight anoles live, their lifecycle and how can you increase their lifespan.
Green Anole Lifespan in Captivity
In captivity, Green Anoles can easily live up to 7-8 years if they are provided with good care and the right nutrition.
Green Anoles are easy to keep pets, they do not require much attention, you just need to provide them with good food and care.
In the wild, the lifespan of Green Anoles depends on various environmental factors, and on average they may live for 1-3 years.
Green Anoles are easy food for their predators like hawks, snakes, and other lizards.
The Lifespan of Brown Anole How long do Brown Anoles Live
Brown Anole, also known as Cuban Brown Anole, can live up to 2-4 years in the wild while in captivity, if cared well, can easily live up to 3-5 years.
Brown Anoles have shorter lifespans compared to Green Anoles and their life in the wild also depends on various factors such as threats in the wild including predation, competition, and other environmental challenges.
We’ll talk later in the section on how can you increase the lifespan of Anoles but now let’s see the lifespan of Knight Anoles.
Lifespan of Knight Anole
The average lifespan of Knight Anole in the wild is 6-10 years similarly in captivity they can live up to 10 years or more easily.
Knight Anoles can live longer as compared to their other species like Green Anoles and Brown Anoles.
Knight Anoles are bigger in size and have a robust nature due to which they can survive in the wild environment and with good care in captivity they can live longer easily.
Anole Lifecycle
The lifecycle of an Anole lizard including Green Anoles, Brown Anoles, and Knight Anoles goes through five stages.
Let’s see all the stages and then we’ll discuss the factors that can influence an Anole lifecycle.
- Egg Stage (2 to 4 weeks)
- Hatchling Stage (0-3 days)
- Juvenile Stage (Several weeks to several months)
- Subadult Stage (Several months to a year or more)
- Adult Stage (Several years)
Female anoles usually lay their eggs in a hidden and damp location such as a leaf or soil to protect it from predators. The egg takes 2-4 weeks to hatch.
After hatching, the young anoles, also known as hatchlings, are very small and for the initial nourishment, they absorb the egg yolk sac before they start to actively hunt for their food.
As the hatchlings grow, they enter into juvenile stage where they start to hunt small insects actively. At this stage, Anoles grow rapidly, and their coloration and marking changes.
At the subadult stage, their adult characters start to develop, their dewlap (throat fan) becomes more visible and they continue to grow for a few more months or a year.
Anoles usually reach their adulthood within 1-2 years and live up to 8 or more years depending on the environment and Anole species.
What Affects the Lifespan of Anole Lizard
The lifespan of an Anole lizard, be it Green Anole, Brown Anoles, or Knight Anole, depends on many factors such as shelter, and availability of food.
Predators include birds, snakes, and other bigger lizards. Climatic conditions such as extreme temperatures will affect their ability to find food and regulate temperature.
In captivity, proper shelter, temperature, UV light (if required), and a good diet are required for their long lifespan.
How To Increase the Lifespan of Your Anole Lizard
If you have a pet anole, irrespective of the anole species you have, you can easily increase their lifespan by just providing them a good balanced diet and shelter.
Anoles are not hard to keep pets, that’s why they are called a beginner’s pet.
Providing them with a good diet and supplementation, a good enclosure with hiding spots, maintaining temperature and lighting conditions, clean water, and veterinary care will surely increase your pet Anole lifespan.
To Wrap Up
Now you must have got your answer to the lifespan of an anole. If you are thinking of keeping an Anole lizard as a pet, I can tell you they can be a good pet as a beginner.
They are shy but can be tamed easily. Make sure to provide proper care and nutrition to your pet Anole.
If you have any questions, you can ask in the comments or can contact us.
