Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just purchased a Burton's snake-lizard, and the pet shop it came from couldn't give us any valuable care instructions (actually, we're the ones who figured out and told the store what species of lizard they had sold us!). Need help with housing (substrate, lighting, humidity levels (misting?), etc.) and also with feeding sugestions. The lizard was fed crickets in the pet shop (though they couldn't say for certain whether the lizard had actually eaten or not...), but we found out it's diet consists mainly of skinks. (Any lizard-in-a-can available rather than live?) Any suggestions other than Anoles or some other small lizard? Would it need misting, flowing water, or just stagnant water in a dish? Basically, any help at all with this species would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!

Not to sound discouraging, but these guys almost exclusively eat lizards. I've heard of numerous sources who are now selling them for some reason, and all of them feed them anoles. Apparently they will only eat live lizards as well, since they are attracted to the movement. You could try shaking a dead lizard to see if the movement attracts it. Most sources cite them as being exclusively lizard-eaters, especially since the structure of the jaw allows it to bend in such a way that once a lizard is caught it has great difficulty getting out. Also, they're found in a variety of habitats from semi-desert to tropical rainforest. I'd keep them in a humid woodland type of set up and try to get a steady supply of live anoles or other small lizards. You could also try some scenting tricks with using a dead lizard to scent pinkies and see if you can switch them over. Also, T-Rex used to make something called 'Lizard Maker' which was supposed to allow you scent prey items like pinkies with a lizard smell so animals like this would eat them. You might look around and see if you can find some 'Lizard Maker,' although I'm not 100 percent sure they still make it. Good luck.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

I really appreciate the info you've forwarded! I have also been in touch with the Victorian Herpatological Society, and they confirm what you've written. Apparently, the person who wrote from there has never known of a Burton's that could be switched over to another food source, and he definately considered crickets to be a poor diet - should one miraculously be able to feed them to a Burton's. He also suggested to err on the side of warmer & drier for climate/habitat, but since we've concluded that this specimen most likely came from PNG rather than Australia (based on federal live animal export regulations - and we'll assume he wasn't smuggled...), should we then lean more towards hot and humid? What tempertature range would be considered ideal? Should we have temperature fluctuation between night/day, summer/winter?

We're determined not only to keep this critter alive, but have him thrive! Thanks for all your help; lizard included!
Rita

My apologies for pestering you some more, but it occurred to me that since this Burton's was (more than likely) wild caught, it could be harbouring intestinal parasites. It appears to be healthy (though I'm by no means an expert on reptiles!!!!). Are there any symptoms I should be aware of which could indicate a problem? Any treatment as a precaution? As far as reptiles go, we do have 2 Leopard Geckos (and with luck will have a breeding colony of Anoles), though I don't foresee any cross contamination between the lizards.

As for your cage set up, I would go for a semi-humid, woodland type of cage. You don't necessarily need to have it dripping with humidity and hot as Hades, but since most of them come from Indonesia/PNG I would go for some mid point between rainforest and humid subtropical. I'd use lots of cover - ie. shrubby live plants, creepers, etc. a nice loamy soil and keep the humidity above 65 percent. If you can submit a fecal to a vet [collected on newspaper is best] then you can see what parasites it has and whether you need to treat for them. You don't always have to treat for parasites or if you do you don't necessarily need to eradicate them entirely. It depends on the parasites though. Pretty much all anoles will be wild caught though and they harbor their own parasites which can be passed on to the Burton's. If it will eat frozen/thawed lizards you can elminate parasites that way, otherwise if it eats live you'll have a continuing possibility of reinfection. Anyway, good luck.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

Hey K9, I've talked with you on the ERAS forum and this sounds like great advice here as well. Good luck, and keep in touch

oops, forgot to add that in the petstore this guy was really up and active, so if this hasn't changed, I would overly stress this guy out with a vet visit or anything. If you come across a fresh drop of feces that is relatively uncontaminated with soil then bring that to the vet as suggested. Contact Dr. Kwantes at Park vet or possibly contact me and I can run it(Dr. K would be more available though, so try him first)

Thanks for the advice. See, told you I've been burning up the lines trying to find out about this beastie! But, now that we're here - away from ERAS ears, still don't know how anyone would accept a lizard eating lizard - someone at Big Al's suggested I feed it freshly caught frogs from the back 40 during frog season. Never thought of it myself, but sounds like a pretty good idea. (Would also tide me over without putting us all in the poorhouse while I get the Anole breeding up and running; seems to me you're up on that end of the ongoing saga also... I'll be ripping the whole vivarium apart tomorrow, and starting over with the aquarium heater, subfloor, etc.) Meanwhile, back at the ranch... Should I be concerned about any contaminants, parasites, etc. that might be so different that this critter might not be able to cope? (We don't use chemical fertilizers and such, and I don't think frogs would travel far enough to come from an area that does.) For that matter, would it be legal?