Out of all emails I get, this is this most frequent. Well, here's the answer: It depends on the Anole's size, age, how much it is being fed, and even humidity. Some Anoles may shed as often as every month, some as infrequent as once a year; it all depends on the above factors. Do not be alrmed if your Anole doesn't shed as frequently as another. Chances are, there is nothing wrong.
-My Anole is shedding, and it ate it's skin! What should I do?
Nothing! This is perfectly normal behavior. Anoles eat their shed skin all the time for the nutrients that it has.
-My Anole is in the process of shedding and a piece of the old skin won't come off.
First, you should always be patient and give the old skin a little more time to come off. Don't freak out and panic because you could injure the Anole if you try to rush the shedding process. If you can tell that the Anole is trying to get the skin off, and it still won't come completely off, then you may have reason to get involved.
There are two common ways to resolve the problem:
1.) Soak (not drown) the Anole in slightly warm water for approximately two minutes to soften and loosen up the skin. Then, try to gently remove the old skin by slowly pulling at it until it comes off. NOTE: If the skin doesn't come off when pulled gently, do not try to force it off. Doing so can cause injury, infection, etc.
2.) Take a Q-Tip soaked in warm water, and gently try to rub the piece of skin off. Again, do not force the skin off.
VET: If you have tried these methods (and maybe some others) and still, the skin won't come off, you may need to take the Anole to a vet. Leaving the shed skin can cause problems in the future.
-My Anole won't shed! What's wrong with it?
See first question ("How often should my anole shed?")
Some things to remember:
When an Anole gets ready to go into the Molting process, it wil become overall less active, and will usually become duller in color. You may see a change in eating habits as well (less appetite.) Do not, however, mistake this behavior for sickness. This is why I reccomend observing your Anole daily. Soon, you will become accustomed to what is normal behavior and what is not, and it'll become easier for you to tell if the Anole is about to shed, or if it really is sick.
After it molts, the Anole may not eat quite as much for a day or two, especially if it eats the shed skin. Do not be alarmed, unless of course something has dramatically changed (such as developing a lethargic disposition.)
The symptoms of molting are very similar to Pregnancy symptoms. Try not to confuse the two. Usually, pregnancy involves two extra symptoms.
1.) The female will spend a noticeable amount of time at the bottom of the cage, or at the base of plants.
2.) She'll get a bulge at the base of her tail near the hindquarters.
Neither of these symptoms are included in the molting process.
