Collared Lizard Care Guide
Basic guide to collared lizard care.
Enclosure
Information about basic enclosure needs.
Size of Enclosure
I recommend a minimum of 36"x18"x18" for a single collared lizard. 4'x2'x2' for a pair. More is always better, these are extremely active lizards.
Substrate
I use play sand intended for use in kids sandboxes. It has minimal dust and is very fine. A mixture of top soil and sand can be used for a more natural look. Both are perfectly acceptable substrates.
Materials
I prefer wood enclosures over glass as some lizards will not recognize the glass as a wall and injure or stress themselves walking into it. If you use glass, I highly recommend blacking out the back & sides.
Decor
When decorating the enclosure I like to use lots of rocks, cork & sticks. One important feature is to create rock crevices that are secure and allow the lizard retreat and be used a hide.
Front Opening
Most lizards don't like being approached from above. Having front opening doors allows your lizards to find you entering their enclosure less stressful.
Water
Ive found providing a decent size but low water dish is best for them. They don't typically seek out the water but most will take a quick drink when they run into it.
Heat & Humidity
General Heat & Humidity
Lighting
I provide our basking light heat with 50w halogen bulbs. Having a basking area with a wide range of temperatures is important. This can be achieved by sticks & rocks stacked at different levels where the light hits. Your wattage needs may be different, Each house holds temperature with effect the enclosure differently make sure to use whats appropriate for you to achieve the right temperatures.
Temperatures Readings
When considering temperature we have 2 different ways we need to check for the correct readings. Both of these methods need to be used as they are providing you different information.
1. Ambient readings from a digital thermometer. These small digital read outs have a wire and probe attached. These will tell us the ambient temperatures of where the probe is placed.
2.Direct basking area temperature with a Infrared Temp Gun pointing the laser at all the spots your basking light is hitting.
Ambient Heat
Enclosures should have a cool side & hot side. There should be a gradient moving between these 2 sides. Our warm side will be kept that way by the basking lamp, But we want to make sure the lizard can escape the extreme heat to a temperature 80f or below area on our cool side. Keeping your humid area on the cool side will prolong the amount of time it stays humid & help keep that area cooler for the lizard to retreat to. One of our cooling burrows pictured.
Ambient Heat Continued
Using Digital thermometers will allow you to monitor the hot & cool side of your enclosure. Its important to measure these constantly or regularly as your homes ambient temperatures will effect your lizards enclosure ambient temperatures as well.
Basking
Basking Area - Having a range of basking temperatures is best to achieving a happy lizard. Placing a light straight down on a flat rock only supplies you with similar temperatures. Stacking rocks or angling them to provide more drastic temperature range allows your lizard to regulate itself better.
I aim for a basking gradient of 95f to 105f (some lizards will bask often under 105 I will raise their max available temperature to 110.) This is to be checked with a IR temp gun.
Humidity
Humidity is not a huge concern. The heat should keep the enclosure at a good humidity. Collared lizards do great in a range from 35% to 50% humidity. I find there is a natural fluctuation in this humidity in my tank as I add new water and re-hydrate the humid hide. If youre having troubles keeping the humidity in that range you may need to spray the enclosure sometimes; or if its over that range more ventilation and/or a dehumidifier may be necessary.
One hide should be kept with moistened substrate that allows the lizard to burrow but isn't wet.
UVB & Supplementation
Basic Lighting & Supplementation
**This is currently one of the most complicated and important part of our reptiles daily lives in my opinion. The method used below is to simplify this. If you are passionate about your reptile health, doing much more extensive research beyond this is recommended as it is ever changing information**
UVB Light
Bulbs I Recommend
Arcadia T5 12% or 14%
Both of these bulbs are great. The choice comes down to:
-
distance from where it will hit the lizards back at different points
2. is the bulb going ontop and through a screen or in the enclosure?
Arcadia has great information about this on their website. Each enclosure has a different need make sure to research what will be best for you.
Honorable Mention
Zoomed Reptisun 10.0 T5
This is a great bulb in a bad reflector. These are great internal mounted bulbs but used in a different reflector.
Supplementation
This is an extremely complicated part of keeping reptiles. Fortunately Arcadia has made it easy. If you are using Arcadias lighting systems I highly recommend their supplement. It is an easy to follow rotation they have set out for you.
Supplementary Lights
Collared Lizards do best in bright enclosures. If youre finding your enclosure has dark patches that arent lit up, I would recommend adding supplementary lighting. I use Arcadia Jungle Dawn. Even the smallest model will light up a large enclosure. I've noticed better health and activity levels when I have added additional lighting to enclosures. I now give all the collared lizards supplementary lighting.
Feeding
What, How and When
What?
I feed crickets as my staple feed, but add variety regularly.
Your Staple feed or varieties will be different depending on Country.
Good
Roaches (Discoids or Dubia Location dependent)
Grasshoppers/Locusts
Black Soldier Fly Larva & Flies
(they will catch them)
Crickets
Avoid Feeding Superworms regularly as there is evidence this may lead Gout.
How?
I place a small amount of supplement in a 32oz deli cup. Knocking my crickets into the cup and shaking to coat the crickets.
I will slowly tap until half a dozen come out. Continue until the lizard shows signs of slowing down his hunger or 5 minutes.
They will eat a surprisingly large amount. Learning your lizard is important as they all grow & eat different amounts.
When?
After a night of having the lights off your lizard needs time to warm up and build up a hunger. Feeding after the lights have been on for at least a few hours is a great way to ensure your lizard will be hungry.
Collared lizards are voracious eaters if your collared lizard is turning down food for any longer then 2 days; going over your care guidelines would be the best place to start. (in winter some animals will go into brumation and go off food & hide. this is different and perfectly normal)