Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've tamed iguanas, and our Uro mali seems to have been tame since we got him. Does anyone have opinions or experience on befriending an African Plated Lizard?

Second question: Clyde has been here over a week, and he seems to be adjusting and eating well. He loses a few scales every day; I can't see how he'd shed any differently, but I'm windering if this is the normal way for these guys to shed?

BTW, I don't see any bare spots, just a few scales lying about in his substrate or standing out at odd angle as if they're about to fall off.

Thanks.
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Scott Robert Ladd
1.0.0 Iguana (Rex)
1.0.0 African Giant Plated Lizard (Clyde)
1.0.0 Uro mali (Wizard)
0.1.0 Corn Snake (Amber)
1.1.0 Red-Eared Sliders (Jade and Emerald)
0.4.0 Homo sapiens (Maria, Elora, Becky, Tessa)
blog: http://chaoticcoyote.blogspot.com/

Plated Lizards do shed just a few scales at a time. Overall it can take a long time for them to go through a complete shed. As for taming, I couldn't tell you. I don't handle mine and they all tend to be a bit skittish although they will eat superworms and some other foods from my fingers. Search around on the net. There are at least a couple other Plated keepers out there who have experience with taming theirs. I will tell you though that in my experience the Gerrhosaurus validus [which I believe you said you had], tend to be far more skittish and less handle-able than the Gerrhosaurus major. I've also had experience with Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus and they were quite skittish too.
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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

We're taking it slow; I don't expect Clyde to be cuddle after only a few weeks. I *think* he's CB, but no one at the store knows. It took us more than a year to befriend our WC Uro (who was hurt when we got him).

I just got a rough measurement of Clyde's length: 25cm from snouth to vent, and double that if you include the tail. Do you have any idea how old that makes him?
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Scott Robert Ladd
1.0.0 Iguana (Rex)
1.0.0 African Giant Plated Lizard (Clyde)
1.0.0 Uro mali (Wizard)
0.1.0 Corn Snake (Amber)
1.1.0 Red-Eared Sliders (Jade and Emerald)
0.4.0 Homo sapiens (Maria, Elora, Becky, Tessa)
blog: http://chaoticcoyote.blogspot.com/

The size you're quoting is close to average adult size for a G. validus. I would be EXTREMELY surprised if this was a CB Plated Lizard. There are some keepers who have had success with their own animals breeding and producing viable offspring, however their is pretty much nothing to speak of when it comes to CB Plateds. I have yet to see any breeder/retailer selling CB Plateds, so it goes without saying that virtually all you will see are going to be wild-caught individuals. That's not saying your lizard is not CB but I would be surprised. Gerrhosaurus validus is the largest of the Plated Lizards and regularly attains adult lengths of nearly 24" total length.
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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

I wouldn't be surprised if Cylde were WC; the store likely has no clue where he came from.

Our Uro mali *was* a WC who had a rough time of it before we took him in. He's now the sweetest creature in the world, but for it took almost a year before he was at all friendly.

We'll just be very patient with Clyde.
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Scott Robert Ladd
1.0.0 Iguana (Rex)
1.0.0 African Giant Plated Lizard (Clyde)
1.0.0 Uro mali (Wizard)
0.1.0 Corn Snake (Amber)
1.1.0 Red-Eared Sliders (Jade and Emerald)
0.4.0 Homo sapiens (Maria, Elora, Becky, Tessa)
blog: http://chaoticcoyote.blogspot.com/

Some of them take several months and a set routine before you can handle them without skittish behavior. I have always given mine three months before handling or outside of cage interaction with me. Especially WC plateds need acclimation time to captivity. Setup a cleaning, feeding, watering, and short in cage picking up/seting down handling routine of plated. This lets them know you are not going to eat or hurt them. Build a trusting routine. Then after three months start taking him/her out of cage for a few minutes, without other animals or people in the same room, to slowly establish handling and controlled roaming routine.
Shedding is always in small pieces at a time. As long as you have large water dish and/or humidity box in cage then don't worry about dry shed. But keep eye on feet and toes for adhering shed that maybe pinching area. Then you may have shedding problem that can easily be fixed by soaking him/her in a luke warm tub with "Shed EASE". Holding the plated in your hand while soaking gently use your other hand to rinse body, tail, & legs. It will be messy and expect squirming but the dry skin areas will come off. Never use tweezers to remove adhering shed this will damage new scale area.

I've been taking it slowly with Clyde; he spent most of his life in a small tank at a busy pet store, and I want him to gradually become accustomed to our household. He does seem to like the cave we built for him from a half-slice of ceramic pipe; he often sits in there, with just his head out, watching.

For now, I have him situated in a quieter side room, where I can watch him, but where he doesn't have to deal with the entire family all the time. I go in every hour or so, and talk to him. I've only handled him a couple of times, when cleaning his habitat.

Is there any way to estimate age? He measures about 25cm (10 inches) from snout to vent; with tail, he's about twice that long.
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Scott Robert Ladd
1.0.0 Iguana (Rex)
1.0.0 African Giant Plated Lizard (Clyde)
1.0.0 Uro mali (Wizard)
0.1.0 Corn Snake (Amber)
1.1.0 Red-Eared Sliders (Jade and Emerald)
0.4.0 Homo sapiens (Maria, Elora, Becky, Tessa)
blog: http://chaoticcoyote.blogspot.com/

I am going to assume he/she is adult size. The problem arises that age and size are not always the indicators comparble to each other. I have had Zonosaurus and Gerrhosaurus specimens reach adult size within two year, CCB that is. Not every offspring from the same clutch did this either. In the wilds of Africa you need to take into account that drought plays a roll in food availability= growth rate. But with breeding, the closer they are to adult size is better. Mine always kept in groups.
Glad to hear you are going slow with acclimation, it will payoff later.