Unusual Exotic Pets: The Cuban Knight Anole

My family has always been a home for unusual pets. Perhaps it was my background, growing up on a rural farm, that helped to open my mind and allow me to take in all forms of creepy-crawlies; we've had pets with 8 legs, pets with no legs and even pets with pinschers! One of my weaknesses has always been lizards, however. I had a gorgeous 4 foot male iguana that I was forced to give up shortly after my son was born because I was worried about the risk of injury (both to my son and to my iguana). Morgan was so fascinated with this iguana. Every chance he got, he was trying to open up and crawl into the large cage we'd constructed.

Morgan inherited my love of reptiles and, throughout his childhood, frequently talked about getting one. Of course, being a mom, I had to do the parental thing and make him wait until I was sure he was responsible enough to take care of his own pet. While lizards are generally pretty low-maintenance, they are still living creatures who should never be abused or neglected. It was important to wait until I was sure the lizard would be well cared for.

As I always urge people before purchasing or adopting a pet, I made my son research many different kinds of lizards and allowed him to go to the pet store frequently and speak with the owners about their reptiles. When the day came to pick out his new pet, my son surprised me - He passed by the iguanas, moved past the monitors and skirted the skinks. Even the popular bearded dragon failed to catch his attention. He had his lizard all picked out. He wanted a Cuban Knight Anole.

What Are Cuban Knight Anoles?

When I first moved to Florida, I was amazed by the number of wild geckos and anoles that you see running around outside. Step out of your door and you're apt to find about 10 of them, sunning themselves on your sidewalk and, if you're squeamish, don't risk a glance at the sunny side of the house. Wild lizards are very common down south.

Fortunately, most of the anoles that we see in the wild are little brown common anoles. They're pretty harmless and usually run when you get close to them. The Cuban Knight Anole, however, is a whole new bag o'lizard!

Reaching an average of 14-20 inches (with some individuals even getting a little bigger), the Knight Anole is the largest species of anole in the world. In addition to this, they are also one of the more aggressive species of anoles, and are notorious for attacking anything that enters their territory. If a Knight Anole sees something he doesn't like, he will instantly puff up and stiffen his legs, raising himself up to look even larger. Massive little jaws, filled with small but sharp teeth, gape open and it's not uncommon to see them bob their heads in a threatening challenge and they often turn a very bright shade of green. The males will also flash their red and white dewlap (a large flap of skin along the neck and chest), making themselves seem all the more intimidating.

Just one look at the Cuban Knight Anole and you know this little powerhouse means business! Not only is he large, but he's built like a lizard pit bull, with a very powerful chest and jaws that are strong in proportion to the rest of his body. This is because they are diurnal predators, hunting during the day in their native Cuba. Wild Cuban Knight Anoles are impressive enough that the adults commonly thrive on a diet of geckos and other anoles, baby birds and even tarantulas!

Housing the Cuban Knight Anole

Knight Anoles are arboreal, or tree-dwelling, lizards that are native to Cuba, but have since spread into Florida as well. Care should be taken to imitate their natural habitat as closely as possible. This means providing him with a cage that provides your Cuban Knight Anole with ample room and the materials needed for him to climb. In the wild, they prefer to either cling to the side of tree trunks or to sprawl out on branches and enjoy the shade. Both options should be given to your Knight Anole, so he can relax in the way he is most comfortable with.

If you have the money (and the building ability), I highly recommend building your own cage. This way, you can create a cage that fits well into your home, grants your Knight Anole the comfort he deserves, and is far more customizable. Building a wooden frame and then using a high-quality plastic mesh for the sides helps to ensure you have proper ventilation and it makes for more climbing space for your Cuban Knight Anole as well. Unlike some of the weightier lizards, this works well for them as they are not heavy enough to tear through the mesh. I also prefer this because you don't get the lizards who rub or bang their noses against the glass if they get frightened. If you use branches and sturdy artificial foliage, you can create a habitat that a Knight Anole will love.

Another thing I highly recommend for a Knight Anole, is that you use artificial grass/outdoor carpeting in the bottom of the cage. Not only is this easier to clean out than other substrate, it can be washed and disinfected thoroughly, rinsed and dried well, then reused. It's also a quicker method of cleaning the cage out - We discovered that it was very tedious and stressful (both for us and for the Anole), to have to remove him from his cage and clean it. It was far easier to just pull out the bottom and put the new in (we kept a spare cage lining, so we could just quickly swap them out). Fortunately, Cuban Knight Anoles tend to be rather clean on the lizard scale.

Feeding the Cuban Knight Anole

Knight Anoles are mainly predators and exist, quite happily, on a diet of crickets. I occasionally suggest giving a mealworm as a treat (remove the head first), or you can even try pinky mice, which they love. The Cuban Knight Anole is a very healthy eater, but you never want to leave crickets in with any lizard for an extended period of time. They do bite and can injure your reptilian friend - even a big guy like the Knight Anole. Ideally, I usually recommend just feeding what your Anole will eat, dropping the crickets in, 1-2 at a time. While mass-feeding can be interesting to watch, it's far better to promote your pet's natural instincts and let him hunt for his prey.

A shallow dish of fresh, clean water should be given every day. Be sure to check this and change the water dish frequently because many Cuban Knight Anoles will defecate in their water.

The Cuban Knight Anole As a Pet

If you want a snuggly cuddly pet, you'll definitely want to go with something warm and furry. However, if you enjoy a low-maintenance and low-cost pet with a predatory look, you might find a cold-blooded companion to be more your preference. This does not, however, mean the Cuban Knight Anole is for you.

Cuban Knight Anoles do require misting twice again and do much better in warm and humid environment. Be sure to do your research and read up on the proper care and nutritional needs, so you have a full understanding before you add one to your family. Also bear in mind that these are very aggressive and very territorial lizards. They are not friendly and they are not something you can 'tame.' While they may become a little less aggressive in captivity, this does not make them any more friendly. This is definitely an exotic for the experienced lizard handler and, at that, only for the fancier who prefers to look but not touch.

Sources
- First hand experience keeping Cuban Knight Anoles as pets
http://www.lizards.com/index.php/cubannightanole.html - A great brief on the Cuban Knight Anole with a beautiful picture of a vivid green hatchling
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/lizards/sight/anole.php - The American Museum of Natural History has some great educational programs about the Cuban Knight Anole.
http://www.the-lizard-lounge.com/content/species/cuban-night-anole.asp - Caring for the Knight Anole