Hi Anna. I have kept Chuckwallas for more than 50 years and have learned a lot! My Chucks usually live to be close to 20 years old. If you post a pic we might guess at his origin local, but whether he is cb or wc would be difficult to guess.

Chucks resort to eating bugs in a drought year in the desert, but are subject to kidney problems with animal protein. Best is herbivourus diet and as much flowers as possible and as much variation as possible with calcium and vitamin D supplements. I am able to put mine out in the backyard much of the year, so I don't worry about the lighting too much and just use regular 100 watt lights, but you will want to have the megarays on him for calcium absorption so he doesn't get mbd.

I plant as much of the good flowers as possible in my yard. Dandelions (favorite), nasturtiums, sweet alysum, hibiscus (turns their urine pink fyi), bower vine, cape (red) honeysuckle, green beans (cooked and well drained), escarole, arugula, raddichio, and other things. Variety is the key, I think. They get really spoiled on Dandelions!

They thrive between 85 and 100 degree heat with a hot end and a cool end. Love to bask!! Chucks are fantastic intelligent lizards and each has its own personality. With handling, they usually become very tame! Enjoy your new boy!! Post a picture and tell us what sort of climate you have where you live. Maureen

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