Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I adoped a Sudan Plated Lizard over a month ago. It is approximately 8 inches long (incl. tail)

I've got him set up in a 55 gallon, with all necessities (I am a rehabber)..but no matter WHAT I try, I CANNOT get him/her to eat.

I've tried zoophobas, pinkies, wax worms, earthworms, fruits, you name it! A fecal showed ascarids, and he was dewormed twice.
Fecal now comes up negative.

I do catch this lizard basking, but the second it sees any movement, it hides. (and it's FAST!)

I know his enclosure is warm enough, good bright light, big cave to hide in, etc.

Has anyone had a problem like this? I am getting really frustrated, am have finally resported to tube feeding him at this point (he is VERY thin) but he will drink small aounts of water from a syringe. He seems to deal with being handled OK...

Any and all suggestions/observations would be greatly appreciated!

A Sudan Plated Lizard - if it is Gerrhosaurus major and not some other species mistakenly identified - is small at only 8 inches total length. In that case it would still be a juvenile and is likely to be more easily stressed. I have never been fond of aquaria for housing reptiles and that could be a contributing stress factor as well. You might make sure the tank is in a low-traffic area and maybe even cover the sides and back with newspaper. As far as foods go I would continue offering live food daily in a bowl and leave the animal alone to eat. Also I would try to offer fragrant fruits such as strawberries, bananas, kiwi, etc. You can also try canned dog food and try offering fresh greens and vegetables. There is one prepared food that my Gerrhosaurids all eat without complaint - Ectotherm Yummies. I think the name is pretty lame as far as marketing goes, but I've used several of their foods and my Plateds as well as Box Turtles, Blue Tongue Skink, and Ctenosaur all will eat it. Foods I use now and that are taken readily are Ectotherm Iguana, Forest Tortoise, and Bearded Dragon. If all of these suggestions fail to help then before you go to tube feeding I would suggest using smashed insects such as superworms or wax worms offered on long tweezers. Rub the guts of the smashed worms around the mouth of lizard to get it to lick it's mouth and hopefully induce a feeding response. Hope this helps.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois