Care Sheet for Alligator LizardsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 0 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 05/15/2008 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Alligator Lizards |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | L1z4rds rul3! |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | Southern Alligator Lizards |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | None |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Males are a little bit bigger than females, and males have a slightly triangular head. Females are often more skittish than males, but this is not always the case.
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Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | I personally use shredded bark, and it is pretty big chunks so impaction is not an issue. I have heard potting soil works well too, but it must not have plant food/chemicals added that may be toxic for your alli. Newspaper is ok, just don’t use any with colored ink on it because it may also be toxic. Gravel and sand are a big NO NO, because its too easy for a very hungry lizard to swallow it with food. Also, because allis smell to some extent with their tongues, dusty or fine particulate substrates can stick to the mouth, tongue and nostrils. Native dirt is not a good idea because it could have harmful organisms in it. AstroTurf will work fine, and it’s probably the cleanest, but the lizard can’t burrow around and hide in it. |
Lighting and UVB: | They need UVA and UVB, but I only have the former in the tank and let mine get a few hours of unfiltered sunlight each day. If you go for this method make sure only a corner of the tank has sun, and the rest is shade so the alli can get out of the sun and thermoregulate if needed. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | 75-80 ambient temperature during the day; and 85-90 basking spot. At night it should drop to the mid to upper 60s. These guys need a temp gradient, or else respiratory and other problems could result.
For humidity around 50% is sufficient, and this is easy to do: just spray the tank over with water in the morning. A damp corner if the substrate is probably necessary if you live in a drier climate. |
Heating and Equipment: | The basking spot should provide all the heating you need if the cage is in your house, but if you are in a colder climate and the tank is in a shed or garage a heating pad is needed.
Slabs of bark are a great idea for hiding and basking spots, as long as you make sure they are mite free by baking them for a half hour. Stacked rocks could fall and crush the lizard, but if carefully set up you should have nothing to worry about. I’ve heard that they soak in their water dish, but I’ve never actually seen mine do it, better provide one just in case. They will drink out of a hamster water dispenser if they don’t have a dish. |
Caging Provided: | A 10-20 gallon long tank is sufficient for one alli, but for more lizards add on 20 gallons for each of them or they may fight. Tall tanks are not recommended, because they don’t really climb that much. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Crickets are great, as long as they are gut loaded before feeding. Mealworms are fine as an occasional supplement, but they don’t seem to digest very well. Other invertebrates, pinky mice, and snails are good for treats every once and awhile. Allis will eat other lizards if they are smaller than them. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Vitamin powder on the crickets occasionally, and calcium everyday. No phosphorous, as the crickets have plenty of that and you don’t want to OD. |
Maintenance: | Spot clean; fresh water everyday or every other day. Total cage cleaning, new bedding, hose off rocks and accessories every month. |
Some Words on this Species: | Southern allis are a lot of fun. They get to be around 20" long provided they haven’t lost their tails (like mine did). Snout-vent length is about 7" when grown up. They are stocky though, and very powerful. They can deliver a nasty bite if provoked, and even defecate if very mad (or broody in the case of a gravid female). Once tame, they will drink out of an eyedropper that you’re holding and eat food from your fingers. Some are shy, but mine sits proudly on her bark, and is very hesitant to hide if scared. It’s almost like they ponder every move they make, and consider every option before moving forward. Overall, very cool lizard. Good for beginners if care is properly researched. |
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