Your "spotted lacerta" is most likely an Eremias suphani. They hail from Iraq, Iran, Turkey, etc. They require a desert setup but are notoriously hard to keep alive for more than a few months. They are absolutely one of my favorite lizards, but despite the best care, they just don't seem to thrive. It has been suggested to me by a leading breeder of lacertas that the abyssmal conditions under which these little guys are shipped--crowded, without food for weeks, etc.--sets them up for doom even if they appear to be healthy at the time of purchase.

