Two green anoles, planted vivarium, had them since August. The smaller one has gone very dark brown, nearly black, and has stayed that way for four days rather than shifting back to green like he used to.
He is still climbing and I think he is eating, although with two of them it is hard to be sure. They are both male, which I am starting to suspect is relevant. What does staying dark actually mean?
Cover part of the glass while you are reorganising. An anole that can see its own reflection is looking at a rival that never leaves, and the same goes for a cat or a dog watching from the room.
Also measure the temperatures properly with a digital thermometer at the basking end and the cool end. A cold anole goes dark too, and in October a vivarium that was fine in August often is not.
Minimise handling as well. They do not enjoy it and a hand into the enclosure is itself a stressor.
Worth ruling illness in or out since he has been dark for days: a sick anole often stays dark and loses the ability to change colour at all. Come in if there is lethargy, no eating beyond a short gap, weight loss showing as visible hips or a thin tail, swelling, sores, stuck shed, or trouble climbing.
And check the husbandry trio while you have the lid off: UVB with a proper day and night cycle, reasonable humidity, and misting daily so he can drink droplets off the leaves rather than expecting him to use a bowl.
@males_apart · 5d ago · 3 replies
Two males is the whole answer and you worked it out while typing. Anoles shift between green and brown normally, but very dark brown or nearly black, held for days, is usually stress, and another male in the same enclosure is the most reliable way to produce it. They fight, and the loser stays dark.
Separate them today. The smaller one is the one paying for the arrangement. Some stressed males also show dark spots behind the eyes, so have a look.
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@went_dark_and_stayed · 5d ago
He does have marks behind the eyes, now that I know to look. Will he go back to green once he is on his own?
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@males_apart · 5d ago
Usually within days, once nothing is intimidating him. Give the new enclosure dense planting and plenty of hiding places so he has somewhere to be out of sight, which is most of what reduces stress in this species.
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