Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi...it's me again. Stupid question. What are the environmental requirements for Eastern collards (WC animals from Az)? Been keeping herps for a while and I'm REALLY embarrased to ask this. I naturally assumed that it would be arrid/desert (i.e sand, rocks, maybe some potted succulents) with a humidity of 20% - 50%. Now I'm gettin the feeling that's it's more like dry scrub forest or wooldland w/ a fluctuating humidity of 40% - 70%. Question....what would be the best substrate to use in this case (jungle litter, coco beddding or sraight cyprus mulch)?

Howdy babysdaddy, well for substrate purposes I would recommended cleaned play sand. I use play sand as it is clean, inexpensive and I haven't experienced any negative effects on my collared friends. As far as your other questions I would recommend checking out PhEve's website as she has experience an in my opinion is the Collared Queen.

What Boost said, and here is Eve's care sheet. Its what I went by when I first got what I thought was an Eastern.
suncharmers.com/id15.html

Easterns are not desert lizards, but the care is similar. I think you can push temps just a little with the desert varieties, but with the easterns, your basking temps measured on the BASKING SURFACE should be between 100-110. The hot SIDE of the viv should be in the low 90s. The cool side of the viv should be in the low to mid 80s. To get accurate temps, you really should use an infrared temp gun that is never off by more than less than a degree or two. Any other method of measuring temps is inaccurate, the most inaccurate being those stick on therms. If your temps are off, they can't process food, or they cook.

I wouldn't use any substrate besides the play sand, pool sand or do as I do, and use tile. Anything else poses an impaction risk for "licky" lizards like collareds, beardies, uros, etc.

There is no shame in asking. I'm sure that the collared guru known as Eve will be along soon, but in themeantime, do read her care sheet!

Thanx guys. What would u say should be the humidity requirements for Easterns? Like I said, it seems that they're more scrub forest than true desert herps.

You don't want it to be too humid as a rule. Consider them to be semidesert. Unless you have a true forest or marsh lizard, I think its best to keep the humidity fairly down. But if you have dehydrated lizards, then you will have a problem unless you provide drinking water that they actually drink, provide frequent baths, etc. Are these the Kansas/Missouri Easterns? Can you post a pick? I never could see your earlier pics.

The wholesaler said they were WC from Az. Pics r too big to upload ... don't know how to shrink them?