Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone kept wall lizards here? Particularly Podarcis sicula and P. muralis. I would be very grateful to hear of any breeding successes etc.

Thank you!
Rob

I have P. sicula in a 30 gallon tank. Haven't had any breeding success, which I suspect is due to the fact that I can't brumate my lizards (no room to have a cold room in my place). A friend in CA kept his P. sicula in a screen house outside and he's been inundated with babies.

P. sicula are a very interesting and charming pet. Mine, particularly the girls, have learned to recognize me and come running to the front of the tank when I draw near. Don't mix them with other species, however. They are very aggressive between themselves and absolutely toward other species.

Thank you very much. I know exactly what you mean about they're agression. I used to keep my juvenile jewelled lacerta next to the wall lizard cage, only to find the wall lizard attcking the glass (the jewelled lizard was a good deal bigger than him).

You said yours run to the glass when you approach. My only one, a male, is very untame and won't let me put my hand in the cage before he hides. He was an import though, so hopefully this is the reason. Do you handle yours by any chance? Or do they take food from your fingers? I cannot imagine such a skittish lizard allowing someone to touch it! Facinating lizards to watch though.

Thank you again for answering, I seem to be the only person in Britain who owns these, so am delighted there are others out there, albeit several thousand miles a way lol.

My male is more skittish than the females. No, I don't handle them, they are not leopard geckos or beardies! I've never seen the small lacertid that gets tame to handling. They are very wary lizards. A goodly population of them lives about a block away in a large cemetery here, and you only see a fleeting glance on a headstone, then poof!

The reason I ask is there are several species of Podarcis that will actually climb onto peoples hands (in the wild!) to take food. I could find the exact species, but one of which inhabits an island frequented by many people, and the lizards apparently have reached pest proportions due to they're ability to eat seeds (being the only species of lacertid I believe that can do so). The species has slipped my mind but you may be able to guess.

I wasn't thinkng of grabbing them like a bearded dragon lol! Just wondering if they are trusting enough to sit on your hand to take food, especially if they will run to the glass when you approach.

But thank you anyway!

Rob