Reptile & Amphibian Forums

An alligator lizard (southern? near Santa Cruz CA) was just unhomed near where I work, and I'm planning to keep it as a pet. I've had some experience with lizards, tadpoles/frogs, and fish in my youth, but want to be sure I'm not missing anything critical to make my "surprise" pet comfortable.

In particular: How big an aquarium (lizard is 4.5" SVL about 8.5" with tail), what sort of shelter, and what sort of lamp? Some colleagues have had them as pets in the past, and recommended crickets and other insects as food.

Many thanks.

blennyboy

My recomendation is to find sutable habitat and set it free. What do you mean it was just unhomed?
RR

You will need a 10 to 20 gallon aquarium with a secure screen top (the bigger the tank the better), a heat source (undertank heaters work best), and a multivitamin and calcium supplement.

While your lizard is getting acclimated you should furnish its tank with paper towels (this will facilitate frequent cleanings if you have to deal witha mite infection). During this period you should do weekly inspections of your lizard. Check by its vent, behind its arms and inside its ears for external parasites such as mites and ticks. With ticks removal with a pair of forceps is sufficient with mites more drastic measures will be necessary. You should keep you lizard in these quarenteen conditions for a minimum of 30 days.

If your lizard is doing well at the end of this period you can consider providing it with a more elaborate set up. My southerns enjoy climbing so I have provided them with numerous branches. The addition of a hide box at this point will also help your lizard feel more secure. I like to use plastic containers such as cool-whip containers with a hole cut in the side. I fill them with moist eco-earth, bed-a-beast, repti-bark or a similar substrate.

Alligator lizards are prone to calcium deficiencies so you should makes sure that all food items are gut loaded and dusted (put in a bag with vitamin & calci powder and shake) prior to being offered to your lizard. I feed my crickets a diet of crushed dry catfood and fruit and my meal worms a diet of dry catfood, oats, and fruit. I like feeding mealworms because they can be offered in a bowl (you don't have to worry about them ingesting the feces of your lizard and passing on parasites). Your lizard should also have continuous access to fresh water.

Good luck with your new pet!

-Alice

Whether or not UV is necessary for these guys is debatable. You can get a UV light to be on the safe side. If you decide not to, monitor your lizard carefully for signs of metabolic bone disease. I've raised young alligator lizards to adult size without UV, and never had any problem with metabolic bone disease as long as they were fed the above mentioned high quality diet.