Things You'll Need
- Enclosure
- Basking Light
- Full Spectrum Lighting
- Substrate
- Hiding Places
- Water Bowl
- Food
- Calcium
Instructions
Provide a properly sized enclosure. Aquariums with screen lids work well; a 20- to 30-gallon aquarium is the recommended minimum for a single adult.
Provide a basking area. Eastern collared lizards need an area in their enclosure where the temperature reaches 95 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A light bulb that is made for reptiles works well to provide a basking spot. Basking lights can be turned off at night. The remainder of their enclosure should be maintained at 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime, with a five to 10 degree temperature drop at night.
Provide full spectrum UVB lighting. Full spectrum lighting is required for the eastern collared lizard to metabolize calcium properly.
Choose a suitable substrate. Eastern collared lizards do well on sand and small rocks.
Provide multiple hiding places. Eastern collared lizards are shy creatures and need secure areas in which to hide. Small caves made out of rocks work well and provide a naturalistic setting.
Provide a shallow bowl of drinking water. Some eastern collared lizards will not drink from a bowl, and will need to be watered by hand using a dropper.
Feed the eastern collared lizard a diet of crickets, wax worms and green vegetables. Babies should be fed daily, and adults should be fed three to four times per week. Food should be supplemented with a calcium product every other feeding.