These putting anoles actually reside as much as their title, Large Blue Magnificence. They’re amongst the most important anole species and by far the bluest! Anolis equestris potior is a sub-species of the Cuban Knight Anole (Anolis equestris equestris) is barely discovered on the small island of Cayo Santa Maria, just some kilometers north of the primary island of Cuba.
Within the Large Blue Magnificence’s native habitat, they are often discovered on tree trunks and branches within the cover foraging for bugs, small lizards, and different invertebrates. Some omnivorous behaviors have been noticed in Blue Magnificence Anoles together with consuming fruits and even Pangea Gecko Weight loss plan. Their native local weather is heat and humid, typical of the Caribbean tropics.
Husbandry
These beautiful lizards have easy-to-moderate care necessities for many keepers. Whereas Large Blue Magnificence Anoles could be extra handleable then some Anolis species, they need to be thought-about show species with restricted dealing with.
Housing
Enclosure
Anoles are medium bodied arboreal lizards that spend most of their time in bushes. Selecting a front-opening enclosure with a screen-top that favors peak over flooring area is probably the most applicable enclosure design for these beauties. A pair of Large Blue Beauties will do effectively in 18″ x 18″ x 24″ enclosure however extra room is at all times higher. Juveniles could be housed in a 12″ x 12″ x 18″ enclosure for a number of months.
Glass, PVC, ABS, or HDPE can all work as enclosure supplies. Relying on the producer, it’s possible you’ll have to seal the seams to forestall leakage. Display tops or different air flow must be current to facilitate airflow. A entrance opening possibility will enable for simpler entry for cleansing, feeding, upkeep, and many others., however can even assist alleviate among the lizard’s stress when palms are within the enclosure as a result of most predators’ anoles face come from above.
Décor
Being arboreal lizards, a very powerful objects in your anole’s enclosure are climbing surfaces. Branches, like Pangea Ghost Wooden Branches, of various diameters that embody a number of choices of branches as thick or thicker than the lizard’s physique will facilitate their arboreal tendencies. Pangea Cork Backgrounds and cork flats could be included as effectively. Branches must be positioned vertically and diagonally with basking spots in thoughts. As you’ll be able to see within the image to the suitable they actually benefit from the Pangea Final Vine.
A wide range of substrates can be utilized however we suggest coconut coir like Zoo Med Eco Earth or a soil mix with some sand like Zoo Med Reptisoil. For instance, a 50/25/25 mixture of coconut coir, natural topsoil, and washed play sand can be utilized. The substrate could be 1” deep since these anoles will spend little or no time on the bottom, usually solely when searching. In the event you plan to include reside vegetation, plan on utilizing deeper substrate.
Crops are one other crucial merchandise to incorporate in your Large Blue Magnificence Anole’s enclosure. Foliage supplies cowl for the animal, assists within the formation microclimates, and provides a lovely aesthetic for you. You possibly can select to make use of synthetic vegetation in your enclosure however a wonderful possibility for these anoles is a bioactive enclosure with reside vegetation.
To learn to arrange a bioactive enclosure, take a look at our weblog (coming quickly!).
Ambiance
Coming from a small tropical island within the Caribbean, these anoles prefer it scorching and humid, particularly through the summer time months. Whereas Cuba isn’t equatorial, a day-night cycle with 12 hours of sunshine and 12 hours of darkish can work for them year-round, however seasonal simulation must be tried when attainable.
Within the wild, these stunning lizards have a moist setting and obtain common rain, particularly from Could-September. To attain comparable situations, the enclosure must be misted a number of occasions a day, together with the morning and night, with a hand mister or automated mister. Misting must be thorough and in case you are in a drier local weather, then it’s possible you’ll have to mist extra usually to attain applicable humidity ranges.
In captivity, these anoles will usually be seen basking, so you will need to set their lights up correctly for healthiest animals. This may be achieved with 2-3 lights. These beauties require pretty excessive ranges UVB for enough D3 synthesis. Anolis equestris are in Ferguson Zone 3 with an ultraviolet index (UVI) of 1.1-3.0. To attain this UVI you need to use a 10.0 UVB bulb from Zoo Med, a 12% bulb from Arcadia or a Zone 3 bulb from Reptile Methods. The required UV output will increase as distance will increase, changes to the bulb choice or basking spot must be made to accommodate the required UVI.
Along with UVB, these anoles require UVA and Infrared wavelengths from lighting. The easiest way to attain that is with a low-wattage halogen bulb just like the 50-watt Pangea Halogen bulb or the 35-watt Zoo Med Nano Halogen bulb for smaller enclosures however could have to be upgraded for bigger enclosures. You must select a bulb that’s applicable in your enclosure dimension. You could alter the peak of bulb or the basking branches to attain a basking temperature round 95°F however we broaden on the subject of temperatures additional down this care information. Mercury Vapor Bulbs just like the Reptile Methods D3 UV Basking Lamp can be utilized for each UV and Warmth and work nice for bigger enclosures.
The following parameters must be used in the summertime and winter, respectively, with a 1–2-month gradual transition for spring and fall.
Summer time
The summer time months in Cuba (June-Sept.) include warmth and heavy rainfall. To perform this, we suggest these parameters:
Mild: 14 hours of daylight – 10 dead nights
Basking spot of 90°F – 100°F
Ambient temperatures of 73°F – 80°F
Relative Humidity of 60 – 100%
Mist Every day (3x)- within the morning, mid-day, and night.
Winter
The winter months in Cuba (Dec-March) are somewhat cooler with rather less rain. To perform this we suggest these parameters:
Mild: 10 hours of daylight – 14 dead nights
Basking spot of 80°F – 90°F
Ambient temperatures of 70°F – 75°F
Relative Humidity of 60 – 100%
Mist Every day (2x) – within the morning, and night.
Weight loss plan
Most typical feeder bugs will likely be nice for Large Blue Magnificence Anoles. Crickets, roaches, hornworms, silkworms, and different reside bugs can all be fed to those lizards. Feeder objects ought to be capable to go via an area as vast because the area between the anole’s eyes. Previous to feeding your anole, the bugs must be fed an applicable gut-load like Pangea Insect Grub 24-hours prematurely. Feeder bugs must be dusted with a calcium complement a minimum of each different feeding and a multivitamin as soon as every week. Primarily based on our expertise observing basking conduct and analysis from different keepers within the interest we imagine that utilizing Calcium with D3 is extra useful than with out.
Conclusion
Following these tips will definitely set you as much as have success with Large Blue Magnificence Anoles however we suggest utilizing a number of sources and steady analysis as reptile husbandry and analysis proceed to advance. In case you have any questions please don’t hesitate to succeed in out to us and we are going to do our greatest that can assist you.
