Post by Reptile World Order on Jan 24, 2005 20:10:51 GMT -5
Collared Lizards
(Crotaphytus spp.)
Distribution
This is a diurnal species of lizard which lives in central USA and Mexico, in rocky open areas.
Size
This lizard can reach sizes of up to 40cm, with the tail being roughly twice the length of the snout to vent length.
Diet
Collared Lizards are aggressive feeders, which feed mainly upon insects and larvae, such as crickets, spiders, mealworms, waxworms etc. All food items should be well fed on a good diet prior to being fed to the lizards. All food items should also be dusted with a calcium and phosphorous supplement (ratio 2:1). Some individuals may also take some vegetable matter, and the larger specimens will also take pinkies / fuzzies, although in the wild they are known to be saurophagous (prey on lizards).
Requirements
Heat Source:- This should be a guarded reflector spot bulb (either red, green or blue). Heat mats may also be used. This species prefers rocky basking areas.
UV Light Source:- Require a Reptisun 5.0 UVB lamp. This should be left on for 8 to 12 hours a day and replaced every 6 months unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer. This will create a day and night time effect as well as give your lizard sufficient levels of UV.
Housing:- This should consist of a dark wooden vivarium with glass frontage and adequate ventilation. A vivarium measuring 120cm long by 90cm high by 45cm wide (4 feet long by 3 feet high by 1.5 feet wide). Males are notoriously aggressive and should not be housed with other males. Hatchlings should be kept in a smaller container which can be housed within their future vivarium.
Thermostat:- An essential part of any vivarium and is required to regulate the internal temperatures of the vivarium and to prevent your pet from becoming too hot or too cold.
Wire Mesh Guards:- These should be fitted over all heat sources used in order to prevent thermal burns.
Thermometers:- One should be placed at each end of the vivarium in order to give an accurate reading of the temperatures within the enclosure. Never go by the temperature on the thermostat as these are often inaccurate.
Hides:- These are essential to prevent stress and allow your pet to hide away from the outside world. Artificial plants, boxes, plant pots, caves etc. all make excellent hides.
Water
These animals in particular do not require great amounts of water however a shallow water bowl should be provided, to enable the animals to use it as and when required.
Temperature
A basking area of 35 - 40°C (95 - 104°F) is required at one end of the vivarium. The background temperature should fall to around 23°C (75°F) at the cool end. A clear distinction should be made between the day and night temperatures, allowing the night temperature to fall to around 24 - 29°C (70 - 85°F).
Humidity
These animals arise from areas with low levels of humidity.
Substrate
This can be anything from newspaper, brown paper or calcium sand. Whatever you use it should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent contamination from disease. Rocks should be strategically placed in order to produce crevices to hide in as these animals are shy and easily frightened.
Breeding
An oviparous species whish usually lays clutches consisting of between 1 and 12 eggs, although clutches of up to 24 eggs have been recorded (the average clutch size is usually 4 - 6 eggs). The clutches are usually laid towards the end of spring. The eggs hatch after a 10 week incubation.
Sexing
The male has a brightly colored throat, usually blue, green or orange and sometimes having blue patches on the stomach, whereas the females tend to be duller in colour (fawn or grey), except in the breeding season where they usually turn a reddish colour. Some species are also sexually dimorphic, the males being slightly bigger than the females.
NB
Collared Lizards often do not adapt very well to captive life. Some species do not shed their tails, but instead lose the last 20% of their tails. If given the space, they often run on their hind limbs to capture their prey or escape at high speeds.
(Crotaphytus spp.)
Distribution
This is a diurnal species of lizard which lives in central USA and Mexico, in rocky open areas.
Size
This lizard can reach sizes of up to 40cm, with the tail being roughly twice the length of the snout to vent length.
Diet
Collared Lizards are aggressive feeders, which feed mainly upon insects and larvae, such as crickets, spiders, mealworms, waxworms etc. All food items should be well fed on a good diet prior to being fed to the lizards. All food items should also be dusted with a calcium and phosphorous supplement (ratio 2:1). Some individuals may also take some vegetable matter, and the larger specimens will also take pinkies / fuzzies, although in the wild they are known to be saurophagous (prey on lizards).
Requirements
Heat Source:- This should be a guarded reflector spot bulb (either red, green or blue). Heat mats may also be used. This species prefers rocky basking areas.
UV Light Source:- Require a Reptisun 5.0 UVB lamp. This should be left on for 8 to 12 hours a day and replaced every 6 months unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer. This will create a day and night time effect as well as give your lizard sufficient levels of UV.
Housing:- This should consist of a dark wooden vivarium with glass frontage and adequate ventilation. A vivarium measuring 120cm long by 90cm high by 45cm wide (4 feet long by 3 feet high by 1.5 feet wide). Males are notoriously aggressive and should not be housed with other males. Hatchlings should be kept in a smaller container which can be housed within their future vivarium.
Thermostat:- An essential part of any vivarium and is required to regulate the internal temperatures of the vivarium and to prevent your pet from becoming too hot or too cold.
Wire Mesh Guards:- These should be fitted over all heat sources used in order to prevent thermal burns.
Thermometers:- One should be placed at each end of the vivarium in order to give an accurate reading of the temperatures within the enclosure. Never go by the temperature on the thermostat as these are often inaccurate.
Hides:- These are essential to prevent stress and allow your pet to hide away from the outside world. Artificial plants, boxes, plant pots, caves etc. all make excellent hides.
Water
These animals in particular do not require great amounts of water however a shallow water bowl should be provided, to enable the animals to use it as and when required.
Temperature
A basking area of 35 - 40°C (95 - 104°F) is required at one end of the vivarium. The background temperature should fall to around 23°C (75°F) at the cool end. A clear distinction should be made between the day and night temperatures, allowing the night temperature to fall to around 24 - 29°C (70 - 85°F).
Humidity
These animals arise from areas with low levels of humidity.
Substrate
This can be anything from newspaper, brown paper or calcium sand. Whatever you use it should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent contamination from disease. Rocks should be strategically placed in order to produce crevices to hide in as these animals are shy and easily frightened.
Breeding
An oviparous species whish usually lays clutches consisting of between 1 and 12 eggs, although clutches of up to 24 eggs have been recorded (the average clutch size is usually 4 - 6 eggs). The clutches are usually laid towards the end of spring. The eggs hatch after a 10 week incubation.
Sexing
The male has a brightly colored throat, usually blue, green or orange and sometimes having blue patches on the stomach, whereas the females tend to be duller in colour (fawn or grey), except in the breeding season where they usually turn a reddish colour. Some species are also sexually dimorphic, the males being slightly bigger than the females.
NB
Collared Lizards often do not adapt very well to captive life. Some species do not shed their tails, but instead lose the last 20% of their tails. If given the space, they often run on their hind limbs to capture their prey or escape at high speeds.
