if he is brown all day---but turns green at night--it is enviromental stress.

he could be too cold----the warmth of your hands makes him turn color because he is now content

JUST THINK ABOUT THIS L..O..G..I..C..A...L..L..Y (logically)

The sun radiates DARKER colors much better than lighter colors. WHY? because DARK colors ABSORB mOre!

Anoles(or any other reptile) will automatically turn DARKER(brown) to absorb more HEAT if they are cold.

GREEN--is GOOD!!! green means: in Harmony!
BROWN--well...could mean many things....but BAD for the most part.

Anoles are WRONGLY labelled "the american chameleon"

Anoles DO NOT change colors to match their environmtents--a green anole WILL be brown in a totally green place if they are ’unhappy’.
Anoles DO NOT change color to Camouflage themselves

It happens sporadically-- a cerebral reaction to stimuli...to changes in the environment.

ALL REPTILES get their vitamins from the sun. Naturally SIMULATED sun doesnt have all things that the natural source provides. that is why you HAVE TO make sure that they have a UVA AND a UVB bulb..BOTH ARE ESSENTIAL to your anoles health.

they need UVB to make the vitamin d’3---which in turn is ESSENTIAL.

THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY A REPTILE WILL GO BROWN/OR DARK---if they have a chemical/or vitamin DEFICIENCY....dark means--absorb more--means more chemical --into vitamins = happy lizard.

austin,13