Reptile & Amphibian Forums

can some one give my an idea of what a cage would be setup like for these.

Also what is the basking temp and the other temps for these......what is the lowest the night tamp can go

I wanted to get some of these and every care sheet i see says somthing different....

well first off I think your talking about the forest armzadillo lizard because it is really the only cordylus species available besides a few others.If you give me the scientific name or the price and descriptiuon of the animal I can give you some care info as I have 3 forest armadillo lizards.
Nick

im not really sure which species they are i just know that at the pet store they were $25 and they had the same setup as emerale swifts...they were about6 inches long... i think

any info would be great....i'd like to rescue these a few from the store..although the store is a good one....they never put more than 3 lizards (like anoles in a ten gallon) in a cage...

Hello Chamsrcool
Hi Nick:
Most Cordylid lizards (armadillo Lizards) require similar care so it is easy to set them up. All species come from S. Africa with 3-4 species being found as far north as Tanzania. I'm going to assume that since you haven't commented on any bright coloring on the animals in question they are probably Forest Armadillo Lizards (Cordylus tropidosternum)which are imported regularly from Tanzania. They are a savannah species for the most part but a desert type habitat would probably be the best way to keep them.
A gravel substrate works fine for these animals and is what I use in my Cordylid habitats. I usually have a gravel substrate with rocky retreats built up in the corners for the lizards to retire to. I also place a central piece of driftwood in the middle to act as a sight barrier between the rock piles. A water dish is also added as these lizards will drink from a dish. A plant or two can also be added for some contrast. These lizards are very tolerable of others of their kind so keeping a small group together is no problem.
Lighting is very important with these lizards. They love to bask in the warm sun as they are relatives of the very popular species, the Sungazer. If not kept under proper lighting conditions these lizards are prone to eye problems. They benefit best if both a basking light and a full spectrum light are used. A good, bright fluorescent light used in conjunction with a warm basking light over one of the rock piles will yield the best results. The basking spot should maintain a temp of 95-100 degrees f. over the basking area. The rest of the cage should be 80-90 degrees during the day. Nighttime temps are not critical as these lizards do come from an area that experiences occasional cold nights. I've kept mine outside down to the fifties with no problems.
Once they are acclimated these lizards are voracious feeders and will eat a wide variety of foods. Mine will eat both crickets and mealworms with no problems. The food should be dusted with a good multi vitamin at least once a week. Some Armadillo lizards will eat vegetation and for those that do I occasionally off er them mashed up fruits, squash and zucchini. This is a great way to offer them Calcium and vitamins.
These lizards make great terrarium inhabitants and have always been one of my favorite lizards. They will breed in the terrarium and luckily they give birth to living babies, usually in pairs, though litters of 3-5 are not uncommon.
I hope this info helps. Good Luck And Have A Great Day!!!

spawn told you all you need to know about these lizards so aYou should be ready to get one.you will find these lizards to be very interesting when properly set up.
Nick