Anoles are rather hardy and easy to care for pets, however, they might stop eating due to various reasons and factors. In this post, you will find out various possible reasons why a pet anole is not eating or drinking, and what you can do to make your anole eat again.
The main causes for a pet anole to stop eating include external stress factors, lack of humidity, low or high temperatures, lack of UVB, sickness. Other reasons for pet anoles not eating are aggression, lack of hides, unsuitable tank sizes and more.
Before you are sure your anole is not eating, check to see if your pet lizard is pooping. If it is and you find poop in the tank, then you might just not see your pet eating.
Reason 1: Aggressive tank mates/too many tank mates
Anoles are territorial lizards, and you must not keep male anoles together. If you keep them together, they will fight over food, space and basking spots. However, even female anoles might want to dominate over other weaker female anoles. Any aggressive behavior in the tank will make weaker/more nervous anoles to stop eating.
Beside you pet anole stopping eating, it might cause some physical altercations between them, which is not safe anyways. You will notice aggressive behavior if you see anoles head bobbing, flaring of dewlap, and even change of body color without any other reason.
The best thing to do in order to avoid aggression in the tank is to keep only 1 male and a few females together (maximum). Also, make sure to have more than one basking spot so there’s no need to fight for it.
Reason 2: Insufficient space
Make sure to provide at least 10 gallons for each anole in a tall tank like this. However, as your anole grows, it is advisable to provide at least 20 gallons for each anole. This way it can have enough space to climb and more around. What is more, it is very important to put the tank on a table or shelf, because being on the ground will stress your anole a big deal.
Make sure that the tank is big enough for all the anoles, or limit their number if there’s a lack of space. Adding lots of barriers, such as plants and vines, will also help reduce aggression between tank mates.
Having said that, it might be better to keep anoles separately or in smaller groups of maximum 2-3, as they can get easily stressed when there are too many of them together in a confined space.
Reason 3: Very low or high tank temperatures
In order to be healthy and properly digest food, your anole needs optimal tank temperatures. Ideal temperatures for anoles are approximately 75-86 Fahrenheit (24-30 Celsius). Basking temperatures need to reach around 90 F (32 Celsius). However, basking temperatures can even go up to mid 90’s (35-36 C) temporarily (bot make sure there’s a gradient), if your anole is not eating and you want to trigger a feeding response.
The cooler spot in the tank should be at around 75 F (24 Celsius). This will allow your anole to move around and cool down when needed. Night time temperatures can drop to as low as 68 Fahrenheit (20 Celsius). If your green anole is cold, you can notice its skin becoming more brown in color.
Any sudden temperature changes or temperatures that are out of range might cause your anole to stop eating. It will also cause problems with digestion, activity levels and nutrient absorption. Make sure to have at least 2 thermometers inside the tank (digital ones like this more accurate).
Place one thermometer in the lower part of the tank, and the other one a bit higher, off the ground. Another great tool to check temperatures in any spot of the tank is a non-contact infrared thermometer like this.
Reason 4: Lack of humidity
Another possible reason why your anole is not eating is lack of humidity in the tank. Anoles require good misting of the tank (1-2 times a day) to keep humidity levels in check. If you don’t have time to mist your anole’s tank (plants etc.), then you can use an automated mister or a drip system. Optimal humidity levels for anoles are 55-70%, but ideally aim for 60-70%.
What is more, anoles often prefer to drink water droplets from their surroundings, rather than water that’s in the water dish. That’s why it’s important to spray the glass and other accessories in the tank so that your anole can stay hydrated. On top of optimal humidity levels, anoles really appreciate fresh air, so make sure that the tank has enough openings for air exchange.
Reason 5: Small tank or lack of climbing accessories
If your anole is not eating, this might be because the tank it’s housed in is too small. Anoles are known for their love for climbing (especially green anoles), so they need enough vertical space to do so. If you house multiple anoles in one tank, then there might not be enough space for everyone to climb freely.
Lack of climbing accessories and decorations might also stress anoles out. Accessories and decorations also provide physical barriers for a sense of security. Make sure to include enough climbing trees and vines for your anoles. A tank that is at least 36″ x 24″ x 12″ (90 x 60 x 30 cm) will provide enough space for around 2 anoles. A bare minimum for one anole is 10-15 gallons and 18″ (46 cm) in height, but aim for 20 gallons at least per animal.
Reason 6: Food is not moving
Anoles heavily prefer food that is moving. If you offer your anole frozen/dried insects, then it won’t likely to be interested in feeding at all. When placing food in the food dish, make sure that the insects are moving actively. You can also wiggle the food in order to cause the feeding instinct to kick in.
Reason 7: You are handling your anole too often/too roughly
Anoles are small and delicate lizards, so you should be careful with how you handle your anole and how often you do it. Make sure not to handle your anole too roughly, or grab it for the top. This will only make it think of a predator and will cause tremendous stress.
When you want to handle your anole, let it come on to your hand instead. You can also offer it treats so it can sit on your hand. This technique will also reinforce the idea that you are friendly and can be trusted. When moving your anole, don’t drab it, but grip it with minimal force.
Reason 8: Offering wrong food or other feeding mistakes
Your anole might also be not eating because you are offering it wrong foods that are causing digestive issues. For example, you should avoid feeding your anoles any mealworms, as they might not be digested properly.
Generally, an anole can be fed 4-7 times a week, with at least a few insects per meal. Make sure that insects are not bigger than the width between your anole’s eyes. Allow no more than 15 minutes per feeding, to avoid overfeeding.
If you are offering much more food than this, this can cause digestive issues and obesity in your anole (adult anoles). Plus, it might not want to eat if it has overeaten the day before.
Reason 9: Lack of UVB lighting
Your anole requires UVB lighting to stay healthy. Because UVB helps synthesize vitamin D in the skin and absorb calcium in the body, UVB lighting is essential. Please remember, that UVB lights need replacing every 6 months (smaller bulbs) to a year (larger fixtures). 12-14 hours of UVB light per day is optimal.
If you have a general basking bulb in the tank, then make sure to get a separate UVB bulb or a fixture that runs along the tank (covering around 70% of the length is optimal). Make sure to also use calcium and multivitamin supplements as well as gut-load your insects (read more about it here in a new tab) before offering to your anole.
Reason 10: Your anole is sick
Another reason why an anole is not eating is because it might be sick. Examine your pet anole for any changes in color, behavior, or for any sores and blisters on the skin. For example, if humidity levels are too high in the tank, it might cause a respiratory illness in your anole. Signs of a respiratory illness include troubled breathing through an open mouth, reduction in movement and eating.
Other illnesses include metabolic bone disease, when your anole hasn’t been getting enough UVB, leading to decreased calcium levels in the body. Signs include reduced mobility, puffed or soft jawline, weak (sometimes puffy) back legs and generally skinny body. If you have got your anole from another owner, ask them if there was a UVB light in its tank.
Another thing to watch out for is internal parasites and infections. Is your anole’s poop different in color or consistency? For example, runny poop might indicate parasites. Parasitic infections might lead to your anole losing weight, being lethargic and not eating and growing properly. Poop sample checked out at the vet is needed to diagnose internal parasites.
Reason 11: Winter period
If your house gets cold in winter period and you have not changed the lamp, it might become colder in the tank too. In that case, your anole might sense lower temperatures and start getting into brumation (winter resting period).
In general, it’s good to allow your anole to rest during winter. During this time, your anole will generally eat less food and move around less than usual. 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit (18.3-21 Celsius) is the temperature that will make your anole go into brumation.
Reason 12: Your anole is scared of live food
Does your anole seem to be scared of live food, especially crickets and other fast moving bugs? If yes, you can start by offering pre-killed crickets and other insects to trigger the feeding response. What is more, you can squash the insect to cause its insides to come out a little. The sight and smell will make your anole want to eat. Also, try to remove their legs, as this might help relieve anole’s stress and encourage a feeding response.
Reason 13: No hiding spots
As it was mentioned earlier, anoles can get easily stressed if there are too many tank mates, due to rough handling etc. Another serious reason for stress in anoles is lack of hiding spaces, which can stress them out and make them stop eating.
Make sure that you have multiple hiding spots for your anole, especially if it’s a few of them in the same tank. For hides, you can use both artificial and live plants and other type of foliage, caves and many more.
How long can anole go without food?
Depending on anole’s age, weight and health, it can go up to a month or two without food. Younger anoles might last even less than 1-2 weeks without food, while sick, old or injured adults – as little as 2-4 weeks.
Don’t forget about anole’s another requirement – drinking water. Drinking water is even more important to your pet anole than food. It will not go more than a few days without drinking water. While your anole can adapt to lack of food by reducing activity levels, lack of water will become deadly rather quick. That’s why it’s important to mist your anole’s tank 1-2 times daily for water droplets and humidity, or get a dripper if you are busy or forget to do it.
Thank you for reading this post. If you would like to learn more about caring for anoles, please see this page.