Green Anole Supplies List (Budget Friendly)

One of the main reasons why people buy green anoles is their budget friendly cost. While the anole itself is cheap (spans $10-30 on average), their equipment will be the same as any other small reptile.

Green anoles are relatively easy to care for. They don’t get big, can be paired with other species, and they can even be tamed.

We’ll go over how you can save on supplies, plus the necessary things you’ll need to buy for your anole habitat so you can set it up properly. Making the green anole habitat is the fun part. Shopping isn’t.

The following is a near-complete shopping checklist for green anole supplies. It’ll make simplifying your purchases much easier to keep track of.

Of course, you don’t need to buy EVERYTHING on the list. Some items are completely optional. I’ve separated it into necessary equipment for proper setup of your anole enclosure plus handy, but optional, items.

Feel free to print it or save it as a PDF on your phone for easy shopping. Let’s shop!

Necessary equipment

• 10 gallon terrarium or aquarium (vivarium) for 1-2 lizards (larger sizes are necessary if housing multiple anoles)
• Mesh screened lid (needs to be tightly secured)
• 2 thermometers (one for the warmer basking side, one for the cooler side, digital preferred with probe)
• 1 hygrometer (humidity is important to monitor)
• Fake branches for climbing or basking (waterproof, no resin/paint leaks or sharp edges)
• Substrate that can’t be ingested (coconut fiber, peat moss, reptile bark, etc.)
• UVA/UVB light with high output, full spectrum, high efficiency (T5 or T8 strip lights preferable over bulbs)
• Light fixtures (one per light, check wattage ratings)
• Heating element (ceramic heat emitter or overhead heat lamp)
• Reptile hide (fake wood, rockwork, branches, etc.)
• Spray bottle (increasing humidity)
• Calcium supplement (especially important for babies)
• Cricket gel (for gut loading food)
• Dubia roaches, crickets, or mealworms (find out what your anole likes to eat with varied meals- keep in mind that baby anoles will require a different diet)

Optional equipment

• Temp gun
• Fake decorations (no sharp edges)
• Driftwood
• Fake or live plants
• Water bowl
• Multivitamin powders
• Misting systems
• Ambient lighting
• Background poster
• Rocks
• Dried leaves
• Nighttime viewing LEDs
• Power strip with timer

Some important things to note

Here are some tips you should know about this shopping checklist. There are a lot of ways to save money on expensive gear.

Lighting

There has been a lot of discussion over strip bulbs (the long tube lights) vs. compact fluorescent lights (CFL). The CFLs look like single bulbs that are coiled, while the strip bulbs are those long white tubes you often see in commercial buildings, except made for UVB output.

The issue is that compact UVB bulbs don’t have the same output as strip lights. This was a major problem back then, but now modern coils are decent. It’s ultimately up to you.

T5 or T8 or compact?

Ideally, you should grab a T5 or T8 strip light. Depending on which one you get, it’ll need to be mounted differently.

• T5 lights are strong enough to penetrate the mesh sitting on top of the tank. These can be mounted into a reflector and you should be good to go. Just use a basic fixture on top.
• T8 lights must be put inside the tank, so you’ll need a mount that hangs inside the roof of the enclosure since T8s can’t output enough UVB efficiently through the mesh itself. T8 tubes can’t be mounted on top of the tank!

There should be enough space between the reflector and the basking area so that it’s the proper distance. If your tank isn’t tall enough for a mount inside with proper distancing between the tube and the basking area, then stick with a T5 strip on top.

If your basking area is on a branch, you can easily adjust it to the proper distance from the reflector.

In the reptile community, the most popular choices are the ReptiSun 10.0 or the Arcadia 12%. These are favored for their high UVB output.

Use thermometers/hygrometers with probes

Don’t get thermometers or hygrometers that stick on the tank’s glass.

Even though they’re very cheap, they’re highly inaccurate readings. Use the gauges that go inside the tank- as in directly on the basking area. The temp difference from the center of the bulb as you move outwards will decrease exponentially.

Use digital readouts rather than analog. It makes it easier and accurate. Probed one will measure the exact temperature in the exact spot you put it. This is VERY important for accurate readings! Precision is important. The ambient, overall temperature in the tank isn’t as useful as the exact reading on the basking area.

The gold standard is the Accurite digital thermometer because it has everything you need in one unit, but it’s not cheap.

If you get a temp gun, you can quickly spot check anywhere in the tank for instant readings. This is handy when you have a big tank.

Domes or clamp lamps?

Dome fixtures for your heat emitters, UVB, or heat lamps are preferred over clamps. Clamps require something to clamp onto (obviously) which makes them more finnicky to secure.

The good part is that they can easily be adjusted for distance/proximity to adjust the output, but you’ll need something to attach them to. Dome fixtures are cheap, basic, and can be purchased at your local hardware store. They also direct heat because of their shape.

Fit a dome with a thermostat and you’re good to go. Some clamp lamps can be damaged if a CHE is drawing too much power. Make sure you review the wattage no matter what you do.

No basking pads

Don’t use those basking rocks or heated pads. These can scorch your lizard like crazy.

Only get the necessary gear

You don’t need to buy everything at once- some gear can be picked up over time.

What’s the difference between an aquarium or terrarium (or vivarium)?

You may come across pet stores selling aquariums, terrariums, or vivariums. It doesn’t matter.

They’re all suitable for green anoles. Just get the highest gallon per dollar you can get. Since you’re not going to fill it with water, it doesn’t need to be leak proof or sealed with sealant gel.

If you’re interested, here’s a brief rundown of the differences between the three tanks:

Aquariums: Made for water. Sealed with gel that prevents water leaks around the seams where the glass meets. Used for fish, reptiles, or other inverts. Usually the most expensive option.

Terrariums: Made from reptiles or any other non-aquatic pet. Not to be used with water. Same as aquariums, but doesn’t have the leak proofing. Usually used for reptiles, inverts, animals, or amphibians. It’s sealed and transparent. Sometimes used for plants or ornamental pieces.

Vivariums: General encompassing word that includes anything that’s used to house something- whether it be pets or plants. It can be an enclosure, container, or structure used for keeping animals for observation. Vivariums include both aquariums/terrariums.
Since your anole won’t have a pool of water outside of a water bowl, you can use any of these enclosure types to house it.

How to buy anole supplies on a budget

It can be scary to go to the local pet store to see those high prices on reptile gear. These retailers will mark up prices many times more than necessary to move these items. If you must buy from a giant chain, look for starter kits.

These will come with most of the things you need for a proper green anole setup. It’s usually cheaper to buy them in a kit than individually, but you’ll likely need to buy a few more items that aren’t included with the kit.

Read: See how much it costs to raise an anole.

Just because it’s a starter kit does NOT mean it has everything you need!

Do some math and see if it’s cheaper to buy the kit or everything individually. The quality of the items in the kit also matters. If it’s all generic cheap unreliable equipment, then ditch it.

The benefit of buying from a pet store is that you can often return it without hassle. Smaller pet stores or online shops may not offer this without incurring a cost. But you’ll pay more upfront.

Note that pet stores will often upcharge you like crazy on these items. Check local classifieds.

Buy generic brands

Some things are much cheaper when they’re generic. Think non-electronics like driftwood, tank decorations, or water bowls. No need to get a name brand for these items if they have decent reviews.

Independent pet shops

Some independently owned pet stores may have cheaper goods compared to the goliath chain stores. You may not think so, but the markups on some goods are just too darn high!

Check out your local shop and support the small business. You may even get to know the owner and get discounts for your loyalty or bulk buys. You’d be surprised at how many hobbyists know their “guy” for reptile supplies- and not from a chain store.

Buy it online

If your local stores are overpriced, check online. Check eBay, Amazon, and other large merchants. You can often find good deals on eBay for smaller items, but larger ones can be expensive due to shipping.

Check local classifieds

There are often good deals on used tanks or reptile supplies on local classifieds. Check craigslist, Facebook marketplace, Kijiji, etc.

People will sell their pet supplies for cheap if you know where to look. You can also negotiate for a cheaper price. When buying used supplies, check to make sure that everything’s in working condition before you buy.

Sometimes they don’t want the responsibility of caring for a pet so they ditch the entire set for a steal price. Ask any reptile hobbyist who’s been in the trade and they’ll tell you that deal hunting on classifieds is where it’s at.

Check for sales

Stores will have sales once in a while. You can pick up the necessary equipment, then slowly buy extra items when they go on sale. Petco and PetSmart both have tank sales ($1 per gallon). These are excellent times to spring on a deal to buy or upgrade your anole tank.

Giveaways

You may be able to get some reptile supplies or even a whole set for free! Check for people giving it away on local classifieds. Sometimes people need to get rid of their junk and don’t have time to sell it. You’d be surprised how often perfectly good tanks are given up for free. Check for curb alerts.

Further reading

• How to set up your green anole’s habitat
• Do you need a water bowl?
• Are green anoles good for beginners?

Green anole supplies for cheap

Now you know everything you need to know about what to buy, where to buy them, and how to get them for cheap.

This list covers 99% of what you’ll need to get for your anole setup. If you have questions about green anole setups (or anole care in general), post them below.

Let me know if this guide helped you out- or if there’s anything that can be added to the shopping list.