Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Came home and my wife told me that there was a dead lizard on our front porch- I am in Oregon- its 30-50 degrees- Lizard was alive but very cold and could not move- I think it was disturbed in its hibernation- I have it in a 10 gallon aquarium- with rock- soil and a small shelter (it likes to hide in there). Need to figure out how to keep this guy/gal alive until I can release it in the spring- please email me at nwr@wvi.com I read they crickets- upto 40 a week- true false?
Meal worms? Water?
The lizard does not move much- I do not handle it- Just need some help here- thank you in advance!!

Here are some answers to your questions: My northern alligator lizards eat about 20 crickets a piece per week, you can use mealworms if you like,but mine prefer crickets. You should probably purchase an under tank heat pad to warm it up if its still cold, but its not necessary to use it during winter,because they should be in hibernation anyway. A 10 gallon is fine for a northern alligator lizard. I would also advise you to wait until spring if you decide to let it go.

(ACE)

I have an Alligator Lizard I caught on December 26 while out in the rain looking for Salamanders. I caught him under a small piece bark, very cold and wet. I believe the storm may have flushed him from his winter quarters. When I got him home and set up in my herp room he perked right up. He feeds very well and is quite active. I have found that he has a ravenous appetite and even sits up on his hind legs to take crickets from me. I'd say he easily eats at least 20 med-large crickets per week. I keep several other lizards/geckos as well as salamanders, so I buy crickets a couple thousand at a time. I keep him in a plastic bin on bark substrate with a drift wood hide and a water dish. I dust his crickets every few feedings. So far he seems to be doing very well though I keep a close eye out for mites which I heard they are prone to have.

Randy