Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi!
I'm new to this site and I hope you guys can help me! I just recently purchased a collared lizard from a flea market about 3 weeks ago for $15.. The guy didn't tell me much about him (not even what kind he was) but he did tell me to feed him like 2 or 3 crickets every 2 or 3 days.. but Sabastian absolutely LOVES eating crickets that I dust for him and will easily eat 5 or even 6 a day!
He is about 4 inches long right now not including the tail.. When I first got him he looked kinda scrawny to me but now he is looking healthier than ever! But I am starting to wonder if giving him so many will actually hurt him...?
By the pictures I have looked up on the internet about him, he looks exactly like the male collared lizards..and I am still trying to find more information on him. If you guys know of any great links with lots of information on collards please let me know... Another thing I'd like to know is.. (maybe by his size..) if anyone knows about how old he may be? Or how big he can get...

Thank you so much!
Heather

I have 4 collared lizards that I got when they were two months old, and now they are 4 months old. These are my first desert lizards, so I'm not the most experienced.

But I will tell you, that the lizards know when they are full, and will stop eating (at least for a couple hours).

Most of mine feel like they are slightly overstuffed bean bags when I pick them up, and that's the way I like them.

They are growing, and they are active and I'd just as soon have them as healthy as they can be.

I've heard that mealworms shouldn't be overfed, that they will begin to regurgitate them. I haven't heard this about crickets.

Look around the web for some Collared Lizard Care Sheets.

Since you're new, I'm including a recent picture of my smallest lizard eating a big fat 3" long moth.

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ETChipotle

The lizard ate 2 crickets about 2 hours after eating that huge moth. It had eaten the day before and it ate the next day too.
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ETChipotle

Awwww! Casey is so cute! How big is he? Sabastian is about 4 inches long.. I'm just curious as to how old me might be..??

Thanks for writing back!!

Heather

with info and alot of nice pics of different species ! Good Luck with your little friend. Post a pic of him !!! Eve
http://www.mountainboomer.com/crotaphytus/

Thanks for the link.. I'll check it out soon.. I'm off to dinner... and I'll take some pictures of him soon.. he looks alot like Casey's though!

Heather

They would eat forever if they could. I feed my female, Jane, (on average) 5 or six medium insects a day. They don't JUST eat crickets and mealworms, (the latter I have never fed to them,) they LOVE wolf spiders, beetles, grasshoppers, and moths. (I don't know if they eat butterflies or not, but they probably would.
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Let there be Lizardz.
- Scott

Hey!
Thank you so much for writing back so quick! YAY! I'm glad that his eating habits are good.. Yesterday he ate 7 big ones in a row! But I seem to want to fatten up all my babies whether it is my kitty or whatever I can find.. LOL
I'm glad to know that it will be okay now I'd love to give him spiders.. but to tell you the truth.. I can barely touch the crickets long enough to change their water! eewwww! I even made a "cricket getter" so I don't have to pick them up ha ha

Anyways, thanks again!
Heather

I give mine butterflies sometimes and some of them really likes them.
Jesper