|
 Collared Lizards
(Crotaphytus
collaris
)
Collared lizards live throughout North
America, and can be told apart (Eastern vs.
Western) by their color patterns.
Eastern collared lizards are blue or green,
with distinctive black bands around their
necks. Western collared lizards (shown
here) are a sandy brown, with similar neck
bands. Eastern males can most easily
be distinguished from females by the
brightly colored blue, green, or orange
patch on their throats; females' throats are
the same pale blue or green color as their
bellies. Western males' throats are
very dark blue, while the females' throats
are creamy-white or sand-colored.
Collared lizards are medium-sized reptiles,
reaching no more than 12" - 14" in full
length. They love to run, and are
noted for running upright on their back legs
like a basilisk lizard. They also
frequently wave their tails before grabbing
prey, much like a cat stalking an unwary
mouse. Though they can inflict a
powerful nip, collared lizards generally
tame quickly.
Mistakenly called "mountain boomers" because
locals thought they emitted a sound that
echoed through the mountain valleys,
collared lizards require very large, hot
enclosures (ideally 60 gallons or more).
A substrate of gravel and rocks suits these
desert-dwellers best. They also need
elevated areas for basking, and a lower
"cooling off" spot. Since they tend to
be shy, hiding places are equally important.
During the daytime, basking temperatures
should range between 95º and 104º, with
ambient "cooling off" temps ranging between
75º and 90º. A comfortable nighttime
range is 70º - 85º. Collared lizards
who don't receive enough ultraviolet light
can suffer from calcium deficiency, so
always use UVB-producing fluorescent lights,
in addition to normal incandescent heat
lamps. However, they prefer low
humidity, so be sure their water bowl is
always placed at the farthest point away
from their basking areas. You may want
to soak your collared lizard once a week in
a bowl of lukewarm water for about 20
minutes; this will help clean and rehydrate
it, if necessary.
Collared lizards are mostly carnivorous.
Hatchlings will eat crickets and freshly
molted mealworms, while adults may eat
pinkie or small mice. Most collared
lizards will also eat high-calcium greens
and vegetables such as collard greens,
mustard greens, figs, raspberries, papaya,
and mango. They can be safely housed
with young iguanas and comparably sized
lizards, but should not be placed with much
smaller lizards, as they may consider tiny
lizards to be part of their diet.
Collared lizards can live for over ten
years, with proper care. Females will
lay between 4 and 12 eggs in the
spring/early summer. The eggs will
hatch about 10 weeks later. Hatchlings
should be kept separately from the adults,
until fully grown themselves.
Collared lizards tend to be a bit skittish,
and may never willingly sit on your arm like
an iguana or bearded dragon. However,
their beauty and agility makes them a
favorite among reptile lovers. With
patience and care, your collared lizard will
be an energetic, longtime companion. |
