Reptile & Amphibian Forums

After doing some research, I decided that I could get a Eastern Collared lizard that I saw at a pet shop near my house . It looked healthy
and alert, so i bought it. I have it currently in a 20 gallon (long) tank with the proper lighting, a rock for basking, a tree branch, hidebox, and water bowl. I feed my collared lizard crickets every day. He is around 8 inches now. Should I get him a larger cage? Is there anything that I am doing wrong?

Thanks,
lizard66

Hello,
I'm kind of new too, but it sounds good to me. What deminsions is your aqurium? There are lots of inteligent people here to answer all of your lizard questions.

Good luck,
Morgan

My tank deminsions are the standard 20 gallon long, which is 30"x12"x12".
Another question I forgot to ask is that when I come to my collared's tank, he runs the sides of the glass. I've covered the outside of 3 sides with white paper, but he still runs on the glass like he is trying to escape. Is this common? How can I solve this problem? When I hold him he is kinda jumpy too.

Thanks,
lizard66

I have a lizard that I got almost eight months ago that continues to do those things. Over time she has improved, but I don't think she'll ever stop it altogether. If you have adequate space and hiding places, and if the cage is in a low traffic area of the house with minimal visual stimulation, there probably isn't much else you can do. Some lizards are just like that. It seems that wild caught lizards are likely to behave that way than captive bred ones.

élan
-----
0.3.0 Collareds
1.0.0 Mali Uromastix
0.0.1 Colombian Tegu
2.1.0 Green Anole
1.0.0 Chinese Dwarf Newt
1.1.0 California Newts
1.0.0 White's Treefrog
0.0.1 Green Tree Frog
1.0.0 Fire bellied toad
2.1.0 Felines
1.2.0 Canines
1.0.0 Equine

the tank. They are the older two, one captive bred and one wild caught. I made sure three sides of the tank are covered with typing paper and the lizards live in a low traffic area. It helps a little, Ezra regained his interest in food with the paper blocking his view of escape.

Cory my wild caught baby appears very pleased with his 25 gal long, so he gets to keep the view.

I wouldn't worry to much.
-----
-Nicole

2.1.0 collared lizards
2.0.0 side-blotched lizards
1.0.0 desert tarantula
small tropical fishes

Hi,
When I first got my collareds they didn't like to be held for a couple of days. Also mine don't seem to like to be contained in my hands. They like to sit in my hand be able to see the rest of the room. And my male likes to run around and explore on the tops of my couchs and on high sufaces.

Good luck,
Morgan

too. My husband make sure Annabella gets some roam time, it seems to help her not rub her pretty nose on the tank wall. They all like to look out the window as well.

If the lizard thinks he is wild like my Cory he'll take advantage of hiding under large appliances like dishwashers and dryers!
-----
-Nicole

2.1.0 collared lizards
2.0.0 side-blotched lizards
1.0.0 desert tarantula
small tropical fishes

well, on here we always say if you can go bigger, why not? what exactly do you have for a basking temp and how cool is the cool end? do you have a UVB light? what kind of substrate are you using? do you have a 2:0 calcium supplement to use a couple times a week and a multi-vitamine to use once a week? are you gut loading your crickets?
collareds do like to be at the highest point they can see. half the time when i have kaiser out he is on top of my head. they will tame down somewhat if you keep hanging out with them.
-----
vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

I do have a uv-b light strip and basking lamp. i gut-load my crickets with a "cricket quencher" product made for crickets instead of water, and I also give my crickets greens to eat. I dust them with rep-cal. For substrate I use play sand.

Thanks for the very helpful tips,
lizard66

Real nice to have here ...

I see you have had all your questions answered. Theres a FINE bunch here, real sweet, and the people are very nice also, hahahahhahaha

Really, everyone here loves to talk lizards, and post pics too !
So we will be waiting to see your new friend!
My scaly kids

-----
PHEve/ Eve

Contact PHEve