Green anoles are small to medium size lizards native to the southeastern United States. They are becoming more popular reptile pets.
But are green anoles poisonous to humans?
In this article, we have listed everything you need to know about this reptile and how to keep yourself safe while looking after it. Check it out.
Key Takeaway:
Green anoles are not poisonous to humans as they do not have venom. They do, however, have the potential to carry a disease like salmonella and pass it on to their owners. Washing your hands after touching the animal is essential.
How can you keep yourself safe while owning a green anole? Does it like handling, or will it bite?
Find out the answer to these questions and more in the full guide coming up next.
Table of Contents
Are Green Anoles Poisonous?
The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is a species of green lizard that belongs to the Dactyloidae family. Green anoles eat insects and need feeding once every other day.
The green anole lizard is becoming an ever more popular reptile pet. But some reptile enthusiasts are a little reluctant to choose anole lizards as pets because they believe they are poisonous.
Is this true? Are green anole lizards poisonous?
Green anoles are not toxic or venomous lizards. They are not poisonous to humans or animals.
So, if concerns about whether green anoles are venomous or not was stopping you from getting a new pet lizard, rest assured!
Diseases
So, we’ve already established that green anoles are not poisonous lizards, but you may still have a few concerns before taking this pet home.
Do anole lizards carry diseases?
Green anoles transmit disease. They carry salmonella bacteria, so you must wash your hands after touching your pet.
Other safety precautions include washing your hands with warm water after touching your pet’s enclosure, for example, after cleaning it. You must also wash your hands after touching anything inside the terrarium.
Green anole lizards can spread salmonella to household pets like cats and dogs, so you must keep them away from these reptiles.
Biting
We now know that green anoles are not venomous creatures, but it is time to get to know their character a little better.
Do green anoles bite?
Green anoles are very docile, good-natured pets. They will tolerate handling for a short time but will not seek human companionship.
Green anoles are not aggressive animals. They only bite when they feel threatened or when they do not like the way you are handling them.
These reptiles are small, their teeth are not sharp, and their bites are not powerful nor venomous. Your green anole’s bites rarely break the skin and cause only a mild sting.
Cats
The Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) is a lizard species that originated from the southeastern United States and is a popular household pet. But some households are reluctant to get one of these lizards as they worry about the effect it will have on their pet cats.
Are anole lizards venomous to cats?
The anole lizard is not venomous to cats. It will not poison dogs or other household pets.
Although they are not poisonous lizards and do not carry harmful venom, these reptiles do carry disease. They are often associated with salmonella, which they can pass on to your household pets.
Because of this, it is best to keep your American anole away from your other pets. But due to the nature of the living requirements of an anole, it should be impossible for the two to cross paths anyway.
Make sure you keep the lid shut tight on your lizard’s terrarium and keep your cat out of the room where your green anoles live. Cats prey on the green anole species. They are easy targets for them, so you must keep your feline friends away from your reptile at all costs.
If your cat were to eat your green anole, this could be dangerous for it. Green anoles carry parasites that could cause liver flukes in your cat.
The parasite attacks the cat’s liver, bile ducts, and gall bladder. This often causes liver inflammation and bloody diarrhea.
Your cat might go weeks or even months without showing symptoms, and in some cases, it will never show symptoms. If your cat begins to look unwell, you must take it to the vet immediately.
Is Green Anole Poisonous FAQs
Green anoles are reptiles native to the southern US. Since they’re not overly common pets like cats and dogs, many people wonder whether these anoles are safe to take home.
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about green anoles and your safety.
Do Green Anoles Carry Salmonella?
Yes, green anoles do carry salmonella. With good hygiene practices, you can still safely own a green anole.
After handling them, cleaning the terrarium, or touching anything inside it, make sure you wash your hands with soap and water.
Is the Anole Lizard Friendly?
Yes, the green anole, or, as it is often called, the American chameleon, is a good-natured lizard. It will only bite when it feels threatened or when it doesn’t like how you handle it.
What can you do to prevent your lizard from biting you?
Here are some tips.
- Do not make loud noises. Your lizard is shy, and you will frighten it if you are too noisy when you approach it.
- Keep handling sessions short. Your pet will tolerate you handling it for a short time, but it does not need human contact.
- Handle it gently. This species does not like it when you handle it and will avoid you altogether if possible. So, be gentle when you touch it.
Will One Green Anole Attack Another?
Yes, male green anoles are extremely territorial. Adult males in the same enclosure will constantly fight one another, using biting as a defense.
One male will even attempt to fight his own reflection in mirrored glass. Because of this, a male anole must never live in the same enclosure as another male.
The only pairs that can live together are two females or a male and a female. Only put mixed-sex pairs together if you want them to mate.
Are Brown Anoles Poisonous?
No, the brown anole, like the green anole, is not poisonous to humans.
Even still, you must be careful when handling them as they can release toxins. They can spread salmonella to humans and other animals in the home.
Which Lizards Are Poisonous?
This is a list of the most common lizards in the animal kingdom that are poisonous and dangerous to humans.
- The Gila monster
- The Mexican beaded lizard
Safety and Your Green Anole
The green anole lizard makes a great pet, but you might be a little concerned about adopting one out of fear that they are venomous and will do you some harm. Thanks to this article, we’ve seen that green anoles are not venomous lizards and do not harm humans.
But since this lizard species carries salmonella, you must always wash your hands after touching it.
Did you find this article interesting?
At Oddly Cute Pets, we always strive to provide you with the best information about lizards and snakes and how to look after them. For more guides on what green anoles eat and how to set up a basking spot or heat lamps, visit our website.
Thanks for reading!
