Care Sheet for Collared LizardsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 3.80 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 07/02/2007 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Collared Lizards |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Leonard |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | Texas collared lizard |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Other collared lizards |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Males are pretty easy to tell they have pores on the bottom of their back legs and have a larger Dunlap under their neck than females. |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Collared lizards like a hotter environment so I use ground walnut shells you can pick up at your local pet store because it is very easy to clean,cheap to buy,and collared lizards like to dig and walnut shells let my collared lizard dig like crazy,plus it hold heat from your lamps.But any sand like material from your pet store would work as long as your lizard does not ingest it and if so switch immediately to prevent implanting.I use a shallow water dish no deeper than a inch and a half that he can access easily but is easy for me to clean and take out because collared lizards jump around alot and knock their bedding into their bowl.I refill my bowl every day because he drinks alot and sometimes I put a ice cube on top to let melt slowly into his bowl. |
Lighting and UVB: | Lighting is not to hard for collared lizards you will need 2 lamps.1 can be a regular 60 watt light bulb for heat just make sure it is at least a foot away from the bottom of the enclosure.And the second will be a 15 watt regular UV bulb you can pick up almost anywhere for pretty cheap.Collared lizards need about 12 and 12 hours of night and day so turn on your lights in the morning and turn off around 8pm at night.I dont worry about night time heating because the walnut shells I use retain heat for quite a while. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | I like to keep my enclosure for my collared lizard around 75 to 85 during the day and 70 to 75 during the night.I dont worry to much about a high humidity level because they like hot dry climates so a dry enclosure is good.Just keep water bowl full. They love to drink!!!! |
Heating and Equipment: | No other heating methods are needed but the 2 lamps.But do provide a hide or cave for them to hide in and sleep in.They also use the cave(I use a minature slanted aires rock)to cool down and they use the top of the rock or cave to lay and bask on.Then with the hide they need a water bowl and if your like me provide your collared lizard with some logs or something to climb and play on. |
Caging Provided: | I provide my Texas collared lizard with a 20 gallon tank.My tank is a lower type of 20 gallon only because George(my collared lizard)love to jump up and hang upside down on the lid of his cage.(we call him crazy George)But collared lizards love to move around so the bigger the better. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Collared lizards mostly eat crickets.And I feed my collared lizard 3 to 5 crickets a day(they will tell you how many they want to eat)Mines a big eater.Collared lizards also eat mealworms,waxworms and other pet store crawlies but DONT FEED WILD CAUGHT INSECTS they can carry pesticides.Only feed mealworms maybe twice a week its like candy to them my lizard go’s crazy for them. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | I dust my crickets once a week with a basic reptile vitamin dust that has calcium in it.You can find a container of reptile vitamin dust at pretty much any pet store. It costs around 12 dollars for a pretty large container but dont worry it lasts a long while. |
Maintenance: | Collared lizards do poop alot but it can be easy to clean if you use the right substrate.With my walnut shells I just bought a kitty litter scoop and I run it through the enclosure once or twice a week and presto good as new.But you may have to wash your hide box if you have a lizard that just dont care where he poops.But other than poop cleanup you really just have to clean and refill your lizards water dish. |
Some Words on this Species: | Collared lizards are a wonderful and exciting pet.They are not really good for handling tho because of their extreme energy levels.But they are the most exciting animal I have had to watch they are just full of curiosity and jumpyness(if that’s a word)I would recommend collared lizards for anyone from beginners to experts they are great. |
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