Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello All,

My daughter and I purchased a plated lizard at a recent local herp show. We are successfully keeping a Mali Uro and a bearded dragon, along with my herd of torts/box turtles and my colubrids. It was kind of an impulse buy, but the price was cheap and the lizard was very cool. We did get information from the vendor who stated they were omnivorous, and ate canned foods, veggies, insects. Sounded similar to bearded care, so we took the plunge. It is about two feet long and was sold as a giant plated. I belive it is G. major. It is housed in a 36x18 cage on alfalfa pellets. The hot side is around 95 degrees. We have had the lizard for five days now and does not appear to be feeding. It stays on the cool side of the cage even after reducing the wattage of bulb and sleeps alot. Any suggestions?? I am fearful of its survival similar to a WC uro we bought at the same show last year from a different vendor. Our CB uro is doing great. Are these WC lizards sensitive and difficult like WC uros??

Thanks all
KevinM

The thing with plateds are they are very fussy, if the viv isn't how they want it they wont eat. Is it possible to upload a picture of your set up?

No. I cant upload. Its basically a 36 inch by 17 inch x 17 inch sliding glass front cage. About an inch of alfalfa pellets on the bottom. Basking bulb on one side. I am providing water in a crock bowl. I gave it a shoe box hide. It also appears to be breathing heavier now.

The viv sounds a little small, but that shouldn't stop from eating. If it is WC then it could need more of a natural set up. Also I would try cooling basking spot down to 90, ambient 80 and a drop to 70/75 on a night. With the heavy breathing it could be a heat thing.

Is the bowl of water big enough for it to bath in? (around 1inch deep is perfect)
Is it very skitish?
Does it like being handled?

The lizard is not skittish at all. I just checked temps under the basking light and its 94-95 degrees. Too hot?? It appears lethargic for the most part, even when handled. Would soaking in warm water be beneficial??

Really it is to high (in my opinion), 85 to 90 is perfect for basking. 75 to 80 on the cooler side and no lower than 70 on a night. Soaking is very benificial from what I have read.

Does it hide much?

What diet is it currently having? It might be worth trying to hand feed some fruits such as Banana, Strawberrys, Blackberrys, mushed up apple.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I could do a general lowering of temps about 5-10 degrees across cool and hot sides. I did soak it last night in tepid water and placed cypress mulch in its hide box and across the bottom of the cage. I offered it some banana hoping the sweetness would help entice a feeding response. I cant swear, but it may have nibbled a piece.

The lizard appears pretty lethargic, even in its heated cage. Very docile and not skittish when handled. Still remains pretty lethargic and didnt even get skittish when placed in the shallow water of the bathtub. As far as feeding, it hasnt to best of our knowledge, even when offered live crix. We have offered it various veggies, canned cat food, banana, bearded dragon bites, raw egg.

Hello KevinM,

It is usually good to assume the Giant plated lizard termed by vendor with Latin name “Gerrhosaurus major ------?” is the generic identification of this animal and with the low price you must assume WC. Definitely should be de-parasitized with Flagyl & Panacur. Now addressing the breathing issue and cage setup as they two effect each other:

1. Change the alfalfa pellets immediately as they will create bacteria in the lungs and on belly/feet causing rot. A food item used as substrate which will be defecated on may also produce high ureic acids another big problem with breathing & scales.
Try using aspen bedding or Sphagnum moss/Cyprus mulch/Soil mixture as substrate. These can be spot cleaned to remove defecation.

2. Cage is too small for a 2 ft animal. Rule of thumb is: 3 x the lizards length for width of cage/ 2 x length for depth of cage/ and height of cage between 12’ – 24’ depending on material used. If using glass tank a 50 gallon breeder tank is minimum.
3. Temps. Ambient air 74f – 82f range with basking site air temp 90f – 95f/ ceramic tiles or cork bark surface temps 100f – 110f range. Too cool temperatures induce viral & bacterial infections.
4. Food for WC lizards “Plateds” plenty of Crickets, waxworms, small Superworms (not mealworms but “zoophobia” species. Not the right time to try offering any vegetables or fruits as protein is on the menu to get him/her up and thriving.
Not eating usually means signs of Stress, cage temperatures too cold, parasites, and then need for lizard to be in the quite area of home to acclimate. Normal acclimation of WC Sudan Plated Lizards takes from 1 – 2 years before fully thriving and health is completely up to reproduction.

Go down through previous posts to read up on Plated lizard cage setups, feeding, breeding, ect.

A description or pictures would be of great help with identification of you new Plated Lizard. You cannot take a Vendors word always as they are sold the animals by a Distributor who names them on their list. The names are not always correct and that does not mean it is the Vendors fault.