They may not be the biggest or the most impressive, but green anole lizards have a lot of intelligence. They are easily one of the most fun and engaging lizard species out there, although their fast and skittish nature can be a challenge.
Those of you who live in the southeastern U.S. have probably caught many of these lizards, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone to find out that they make great pets.
In this article, we will examine some of the best anole food on the market and help you to determine which is the best food for green anole lizards.
8. Zilla Munchies Mealworms Reptile Food
This is just a simple package of dried mealworms, which suits the anole just fine. Bugs are the main element of their diet, and mealworms are some of the most nutritious choices around. Even when they aren’t alive and wiggling, these worms make a great treat.
The resealable package is handy, and the ingredient list doesn’t seem to contain anything suspicious. We just wish this product came in larger packages for a better overall value.
- No strange ingredients
- Makes a great treat
- Resealable package
- Only available in small packages
7. Zoo Med Can O’ Crickets
If you have thought about raising some crickets for your anole, you might want to consider this product instead. At a very low price, you can buy a whole can of preserved crickets. Unlike most of the products on our list, these bugs have been cooked.
This makes the exoskeletons (outer shells) softer, making the crickets easier to chew and digest. A can will keep for a long time but will spoil quickly once opened, which is truly the only problem here. This might be the best food for green anole lizards that are known to be heavy eaters.
- Excellent value
- Cleaner than raising crickets
- Outer shells are softened
- Short life once opened
6. Zoo Med Anole Food
As you already know, an anole’s diet consists of bugs, bugs, and more bugs. Thus, it is not surprising that the only dedicated anole food on our list is basically just a jar of dead flies. They have been fortified with quite a few added vitamins and minerals, so they are nutritious flies, but flies are disgusting nevertheless.
In terms of protein content, this one might be the best food for green anole lizards. Still, this is a very nutritious and high-protein food if you can handle the sight.
- Specifically made for anoles
- Really high in protein
- Lots of added vitamins
- Unpleasant to handle
5. Fluker’s Freeze-Dried Crickets
This is another jar of dead bugs, and this time they’re crickets. These have been freeze-dried, which is a good thing. Freeze-drying does a better job of locking in the nutrients than regular dehydration, so that gives the product a few points in the nutrition category.
Still, we think these crickets might be gut-loaded with too much calcium, and that can be harmful if combined with other calcium supplements. This might not be the best food for green anole lizards who already get a calcium supplement. Still, this is a lot less noisy and smelly than a cricket-breeding project.
- Freeze-drying locks in more nutrients than drying
- No noise or stink
- Easy to feed
- Might have too much calcium
4. Wormy Worms Dried Superworms
A superworm is basically just a giant mealworm. Since their nutritional profile is very similar to that of a mealworm, this food is a natural choice for an anole.
Still, you might have to cut them up because of their larger size. This package is a little bit on the expensive side, but you should be able to make it last for a long time.
- Each worm is a full meal
- Fully sealed and dehydrated
- High in both protein and fat
- Might have to be cut up
3. Exotic Nutrition Wax Snax
Like superworms, these worms are a little bit larger. Like the superworms, they might also have to be cut in half for your anole to eat them. Still, their soft and fleshy bodies provide a lot of fat, and most lizards seem to jump at the chance to eat them.
These nasty-looking little worms may be unpleasant to look at, but they will keep your anole fat and healthy.
- Lots of extra fat
- Very economical
- Lizards find them very tasty
- Might have to be cut
2. Tasty Worms Freeze-Dried Mealworms
This one is a bag of dried mealworms, and it is a big bag, indeed. You can bet that this sack will last you a long time before you need another.
That works out fine because these dried little worms have a very long shelf life. Most buyers say that they have never had a problem with spoilage. Most anoles will eat these readily, but if not, you can re-hydrate them for a little bit of extra appeal.
- Great value
- No worries about them going to waste
- Can be rehydrated for extra appeal
- Might be too much for some
1. Fluker’s 15000 Dried Soldier Worm Chicken Treat
This product consists of soldier fly larvae, which look a lot like adult mealworms. As we have already seen from one of our previous products, flies are loaded with protein and make a great anole food.
Their larvae are actually even more nutritious and have a lot more fatty tissue than the adult flies. If you can handle the thought of feeding maggots to your lizard every day, then this is the best food for green anole lizards.
- Naturally loaded with calcium and omega fatty acids
- No funny additives
- Very good reviews
- Maggots are disgusting
Conclusion
When you look at the choices above, you can see a theme: Bugs, bugs, and more bugs! In general, dried bugs are the best food for green anole lizards.
Unlike Iguanas or Bearded Dragons, these lizards don’t need a complex diet or a lot of different vitamins. They can live for years on the creepy-crawlies that most of us try to avoid.
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