Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got this guy at a show. I couldn't leave a 15" lizard bent almost double in a small enclosure. The guy that had it told me he was an adult Sudan he had kept in his shop for "a long time" and that it ate only crickets. After doing some checking I believe it is a Gerrhosaurus validus. He has eagerly gobbled up romaine, frozen mixed veggies I use for my uro, and a pinkie mouse. The only things that worry me is that he is very dull, unlike the photos I have seen. Also, shouldn't a valdus be much bigger? Any info will be appreciated.

>>I got this guy at a show. I couldn't leave a 15" lizard bent almost double in a small enclosure. The guy that had it told me he was an adult Sudan he had kept in his shop for "a long time" and that it ate only crickets. After doing some checking I believe it is a Gerrhosaurus validus. He has eagerly gobbled up romaine, frozen mixed veggies I use for my uro, and a pinkie mouse. The only things that worry me is that he is very dull, unlike the photos I have seen. Also, shouldn't a valdus be much bigger? Any info will be appreciated.

Do you have a picture that you can post or e-mail?

My validus, Clyde is about 80cm (2 feet) long, though I have no idea how old he is. He's not very "bright", being just a plain dull brown with two yellow stripes; the scales on his belly are tan with brown patterns.

I've had great success with Clyde; he's turned into a very friendly companion. If you have any questions, people here are quite helpful.
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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/

Before I posted this I had read your first posts. Glad everything worked out so well. I'm worried about a shed problem. His leg looks like he is trying to. Any ideas about spraying or soaking?

>>Before I posted this I had read your first posts. Glad everything worked out so well. I'm worried about a shed problem. His leg looks like he is trying to. Any ideas about spraying or soaking?

Clyde tends to soak himself, but this may be a personal quirk of his. He has a large white bowl for water; whenever I fill the bowl, he climbs in an soaks himself! Then he drinks out of it -- eeew! -- if I don't clean it quickly-enough.

Clyde sheds a scale or section of scales at a time, and his only shedding problem seems to be a section of his tail.

The attached picture is a couple of months old, but all he's done since is grow...

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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)
0.1.0 Red-Eared Sliders (Emerald)
0.0.1 Musk Turtle (Sausage)
1.0.0 Blue Jay (Feed Me)
0.1.0 Parakeet (Zeus)
1.4.0 Homo sapiens (Scott, Maria, Elora, Becky, Tessa)
blog: http://chaoticcoyote.blogspot.com/

Scales,

Have you looked at photo posted below? If so, does your lizard look like that one? A lot of the time Sudans [Gerrhosaurus major major], will have a slight trace of pattern which usually looks like two or more faint stripes down the back. However, the belly will be unpatterned. If it does resemble the photo it's possible it could just be an older individual.

Just because a G. validus can reach nearly two feet in length doesn't mean they all will. Individual genetics, as well as other environmental factors can limit the size of individuals that may be several years old. I've seen photos of some G. validus that look fairly dull brown with the characteristic striping. Some of them may tend towards getting a duller coloration as they get older.

If you read the posts from lower down you'll find a lot of information about diet and housing. I would say as long as your lizard is eating, is active, and doesn't show any outward signs of illness, you're doing pretty well. I would just monitor it for shedding - usually small amounts at a time. Feel free to post more questions here or you can email me directly for info.

Also, another bit of info. Sudan Plated lizard is only a trade name here in the U.S.. In Africa, G. major major is called the Rough-scaled Plated Lizard or Round-nosed Plated Lizard. The G. validus is pretty universally called the Giant Plated Lizard, although occasionally they are mistakenly identified as 'Sudan' Plated Lizards, again here in the states.
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Matt Campbell
25 years herp keeping experience
Full-time zookeeper
Personal collection - 21 snakes (9 genera), 20 lizards (4 genera), 6 chelonians (2 genera)