Anolis carolinensis (green anoles)

[clizardb]

I have a small colony of anoles, and I notice that when they shed their skins they pull off the skin and eat it. Has anyone else observed this behavior with their anoles? I don't believe that it is a deficientcy in their diet because the crickets that I feed them get dusted w/ a vitamin/calcium supplement 2 times a week. I have 7 anoles and all of them do this.

[mlededee]

that is normal behavior for anoles and for many other lizards and geckos. one theory that i read (and i don't remember where i read this so i can't promise it's validity) is that they eat their shed skin in order to cover up any evidence that they are close by so that it is harder for predators to find them. i really don't know if that is true or not but it sounds good.

[elevatethis]

I've heard the predation theory as well, however, I wonder how my leopard gecko would ever shed completely if she had to rub it off of her and not use her mouth to eat it as it peels off.