How to Care for an Ornate Curly Tail Lizard

Ornate curly tailed lizards are found throughout Haiti. Mainly ground occupants, the curly tailed lizard will also climb rocks and trees in search of food. The lizard's curled tail is used as a defense mechanism, although it will also move the tail when excited or hunting. Ornate curly tailed lizards will grow between 6 and 14 inches in length and with adequate care will live five to seven years.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Substrate
  • Full-spectrum UVB light
  • Branches and hiding place
  • Shallow bowl
  • Dechlorinated water
  • Insects
  • Leafy green vegetables
  • Vitamin supplements
  • Plastic spray bottle
  • 1/4 cup bleach
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide one to two ornate curly tailed lizard with a 20-gallon aquarium, or larger. Fill the bottom with a 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch or pellet substrate. Wet the bottom 1 inch of the substrate and allow the top layers to remain dry. If the lizard begins to consume this type of substrate, switch to a paper-based alternative that it cannot eat.

    • 2

      Heat the tank with a full-spectrum UVB light source. This will provide the curly tailed lizard with the heat it thrives in. Keep the light on 10 to 12 hours a day and maintain a constant temperature of the tank between 80 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 3

      Provide the lizard with branches to climb and a hiding area such as a small cardboard box or plastic hiding enclosure available at pet stores.

    • 4

      Place a small, shallow bowl of water into the aquarium. Pay attention that the bowl is not too deep as the ornate curly tailed lizard could drown. Provide the lizard with a constant source of fresh, dechlorinated water.

    • 5

      Feed the curly tailed lizard a varying diet of gut-loaded insects every day. Insects include waxworms, crickets and mealworms. Feed a smaller ornate curly tailed lizard one medium to large insect daily and increase this amount to two large insects in adulthood. Provide the lizard a snack of green, leafy vegetables two to three times a week. Remove any unconsumed food from the enclosure after 10 hours.

    • 6

      Cover the lizard's food daily with a vitamin dusting supplement. This will provide the animal with the necessary nutrients it requires to thrive.

    • 7

      Maintain a constant humidity of around 60 to 66 percent in the enclosure. Create this necessary humidity by misting the tank five to 10 times a day with cool water from a plastic spray bottle.

    • 8

      Remove the lizard's feces from the tank daily. Wash the tank, food and water bowls and any hiding places with a mixture of 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon water at least once a week, or when necessary. Rinse the objects and tank well before replacing the substrate and reintroducing the lizard.