How to Keep a Long-tailed Lizard As a Pet

Long-tailed grass lizards (takydromus sexlineatus), also called Asian grass lizards, are a highly active arboreal lizard that is easy to care for in captivity. As their common name suggests, long-tailed lizards have long tails that are two to three times the length of their body. Their coloration varies from a light tan base color to dark brown and green with distinct stripes that run from head to tail. Long-tailed lizards are native to open grasslands of Southeast Asia, but captive bred specimens are readily available in the pet trade and easy to keep at home with a basic enclosure and regular care.

Things You'll Need

  • 15-gallon aquarium with secure lid
  • Peat soil
  • Sand
  • Rocks
  • Driftwood
  • Small plastic container
  • Heat lamp
  • UV lamp
  • Thermometer
  • Water dish
  • Crickets
  • Meal worms
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate the 15-gallon aquarium in a quiet location in your home. Ensure that the tank location is away from direct sunlight or air conditioning vents in order to maintain a stable temperature in the enclosure.

    • 2

      Fill the base with one part sand and one part peat soil to create a soft, easy-to-clean substrate that has a natural appearance. You can vary the depth of the substrate in different portions to create a more attractive terrain in the enclosure.

    • 3

      Place large rocks and driftwood branches in the enclosure to create climbing surfaces for the lizards. Long-tailed lizards will actively climb on any structures provided, so it is important to ensure that the branches are securely anchored in the substrate to prevent them from shifting and falling on the lizards.

    • 4

      Place a small plastic reptile hiding box in one corner of the enclosure to provide a sheltered sleeping area for the lizards at night.

    • 5

      Install a heat lamp over the enclosure; position the heat lamp so that it is directly over branches and stones on the opposite side of the enclosure from the reptile house. This will create several thermal gradients in the tank that allows the lizards to bask in the temperature that best suits their needs.

    • 6

      Place a thermometer under the heat lamp and ensure that the temperature remains between 85 and 90 degrees at the basking site. The ambient temperature in other locations in the enclosure should remain around 75 degrees at all times.

    • 7

      Install a UV lamp over the enclosure and set it on a timer so that it provides a regular 12-hour light cycle. Long-tailed lizards kept in captivity require a UV light in order to metabolize vitamins and minerals and develop healthily.

    • 8

      Fill a small water dish with dechlorinated freshwater and place it near the reptile house.

    • 9

      Introduce your long-tailed lizards and cover the glass of the tank with a towel to allow the lizards to acclimate to their new environment undisturbed.

    • 10

      Feed long-tailed lizards three times each week and offer a mixed diet of different insects including crickets, meal worms, wax worms and garden insects you find in pesticide-free areas in your home landscape.