Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I see several ads from people that are selling wc collareds. Some have beautiful markings and colors but some are the duller tones. What areas are the bright ones collected from? It would help when I'm calling people that are selling collareds. I'm waiting to find some of the brighter lizards. Thanks!

you should get pictures of any lizard you're going to buy anyways

Cecil
-----
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Drago)
1.1 Desert Iguana(Dima, Dianne)
1.0 Green Iguana (Igor)
1.2 Collared Lizard (Fred, Wilma, Betty)
1.1 Desert Leopard Lizard (Simba, Kimba)
1.2 Desert Horned Lizard (Spike, Rose, Jade)
0.1 Hamster (Diamanta)
1.1 Kids
0.1 Wife

Then don't buy wild-caught. This is one of the few pet herp species for which wild collection can be a serious threat.

Patrick Alexander

Yes, I agree wc can usually be difficult to keep. I currently have several wc uromastyx and the acclimation period is always hard for them. I would prefer cb but have contacted all of the breeders and none have any collareds available. Hopefully some will call me if they have clutches in the future.

"Yes, I agree wc can usually be difficult to keep. I currently have several wc uromastyx and the acclimation period is always hard for them."

I wasn't really talking about acclimation, though, but about the health of wild populations. Some critters, especially snakes, are secretive enough that it's very unlikely for collectors to be able to remove any significant percentage of a population. Collared lizards, though, are highly visible. It's possible to wipe out a population in a week or less if you're determined about it.

"I would prefer cb but have contacted all of the breeders and none have any collareds available. Hopefully some will call me if they have clutches in the future."

Perhaps it might be wise to wait?

Patrick Alexander

I'm still waiting, hoping and contacting more breeders. I have found that some breeders are actually purchasing wc themselves so I'm not totally ruling out purchasing a wc in the future. I would think that if collareds were in danger of being wiped out in the near future that the reputable breeders would not buy wc themselves for their bloodlines since cb are still available. I have had several oppurtunities to purchase wc from various sellers on kingsnake.com and the reason I have not as of yet are because I would prefer cb after my weeks of research.

I have been given many wc's through the years, and taken care of alot of them also. I also purchase wc's at times for my collection (NOT to sell) just to add some new blood. And I work very hard to try and get them acclimated.

I like to breed unrelateds, so I have many different males and females from many different people/places.

Matter of fact I just purchased a pretty little male due to arrive next week. Kind of looks like my Kiowa.
-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

I don't think buying wc is bad. Most of my malis are wc and although their acclimation period is longer and harder for them I would not trade them for anything. I do feel sorry for them at times because they were snatched out of their environment but I love them all and give them the best care possible. I'm still hoping for some cb (hint, hint when you have new babies) but if the right wc comes along it will be hard not to bring them home. You have the most amazing collareds I have seen so I'd stick to whatever has been producing them. I'll look forward to seeing photos of your little guy when you get home.

There are beautiful lizards (collareds) from many locales.

Oklahoma, Utah, California, I have very colorful collareds from Texas locales, Mexico, Theres some cute ones in Missouri.

And there are gorgoeus Captive Breds offered as well that are extremely colorful and much easier for most people to work with. Without worries of major parasite loads, wildness, or trying to acclimate an animal and having it just become emachiated , rather starve than adjust to captivity.

All collareds have such a cute personality a way about them that even the "dull Ones" as you put it are awesome.

The Kongster, captive bred C. collaris

-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

I have been to several cities in TX but have never seen them. They are probably excellent hiders I'll probably get one or two of the brown tones as well but I'm amazed by the bright colored ones. Besides birds I have never seen animals so bright. After seeing your lizard photos I'm obsessed with the species. I currently have uros and most of my babies are the tannish duller colors.

Interestingly, I have found the "dull" colored collareds to have the best personalities overall. I actually somewhat prefer them over the brightly colored ones.

élan
-----
3.6.0 Collareds
1.2.0 Leopard Lizards
1.0.0 Mali Uromastix
1.2.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Chinese Dwarf Newt
1.0.0 White's Treefrog
1.0.0 Fire bellied toad
Lotsa Felines
1.3.0 Canines
1.0.0 Equine

I saw a trio of collareds yesterday at one of the local petstores. They were all the brownish tones and in person I thought they were very pretty. I guess photos don't do them justice. They looked healthy but I could not tell which were males or females and they were not sure what the sexes were. I was dying to take them home, I just don't want to make an impulse decision and make a mistake since research said only to keep one male per enclosure.

Years ago, with out the benefit of an internet forum like this one, I didn't know how to tell the difference either, and I am sure that I housed more than one male together without meaning to. I never saw a fight, though.

If you want these guys, why don't you run by the store, snap some pictures and post 'em here so we can help you figure it out?

élan
-----
3.6.0 Collareds
1.2.0 Leopard Lizards
1.0.0 Mali Uromastix
1.2.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Chinese Dwarf Newt
1.0.0 White's Treefrog
1.0.0 Fire bellied toad
Lotsa Felines
1.3.0 Canines
1.0.0 Equine

That is a great idea. I'll call to see if they are still there. If so I'll take some pictures. I wish I would have thought about that when I went in.

Sexing is not difficult if they allow you to pick them up. I too have some brownish ones, and they are very pretty, I like them all.

Below is a link to pics (big ones) LOL show you how to tell the differnce.
SEXING COLLAREDS

-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

I actually printed your sexing photos when I was doing research. Again I LOVE your website. I tried sexing them at the petstore but they all looked so much alike while they were squirming. One second it would look like a line between the middle like the males have then it would flatten out like the females. Also the lizards were all puffed up with air. If I got two males in error would they kill each other or cause severe damage? The petstore said they were all doing well together but they only have had them a short while. I just don't want to cause any injuries by making the wrong decision.

"If I got two males in error would they kill each other or cause severe damage?"

Unless they're too stressed out, yup. How aggressive males are to each other varies somewhat depending on the population, but generally speaking if an adult male collared lizard *doesn't* try to attack other males something is wrong. Younger lizards pose less of a risk in this regard...

BTW, in addition to the postanal scales, head size is an easy way to sex adult WC collared lizards. Males --> great big chunky heads; females --> smaller, more rounded heads. Oddly this doesn't seem to be as pronounced in CB critters.

Patrick Alexander

Thanks for the info. I can't recall if there was a diferrence in the heads of the trio I liked. I wish I could go in today to check but my husband is having eye surgery so it will have to be tomorrow. These lizards were a pretty large size so I'm sure they were adults. I'll probably ending up having to pass on them.

are with you and your hubby today, hope everything goes well.

Take Care,
-----
PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve