Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, maybe not Alligator Lizard, fence lizard perhaps.

Found him in the mountains (bout 2000 feet up) in North County San Diego, California, chillin on a flowerpot. He is TINY (as you'll see in the pictures), bout an inch or two long, and the shadows make him look blue in some parts but he's got yellow spots on a dark brown background.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

~jenny
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1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.0.1 california kingsnake (tetris)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." - Voltaire

Definately some type of Sceloporus. My guess would be a granite spiny, Sceloporus orcutti, the other possiblity would be a desert spiny, Sceloporus magister. I don't have much experience identifying these species as hatchlings.

-Alice

What you have there is definitely a Sceloporus orcutii, Commonly known as Granite Spiny. At first glance it apears to be a female, but I would have to see the vent better to tell for sure. They love cages set up with granite or sandstone slabs. give it about 5 small crickets at a time, no more than ten. You can easily over welm it, and stress it out. Temps 85 daytime temp. At nite just shut off the heat and it would be fine. For water put a shallow bowl in the cage with a slab of stone half in the water half out. Mist once a week, on the rocks it will come out to lap this up. Subtrate is sand and potting soil mix. Three parts sand to one part soil, this is a great subtrate that most spiny's do well in. Hope this help's.

Gary C.
mtnsnakeman@excite.com

Thank you very much for the info, it was a gorgeous little lizard. After I found out what (s)he was, I let it go. Looked fat and happy enough from all the bugs around the house, I figured it'd probably enjoy life more in the yard

Thanks again!

~jenny
-----
1.2 normal ball pythons (Cindy, Darwin, and Periscope)
0.0.1 california kingsnake (tetris)
1.0 rex rat (Scurvy)
0.1 bunny (Spazz)
1.1 betta fishes (Vicious and Killer)
2.2 great danes (Shasta, Odysseus, Merlot, and Watson)
1.0 fat fuzzy mutt (Smokey)
1.1 cats (Thidwick and Turtle)
2.0 horses (Buddy and Sam)
1.0 goat (Billy Jack)
1.25 chickens (Ugly the rooster and his harem)

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." - Voltaire