Pets - Reptiles

[JHarris1385]

Yes it is hard to express your tone in typing....I edited mine a few times typing it because I could not figure how it may be taken. I will always own something, and I will always provide it the best possible life. I don't think any part of the pet trade will ever be stopped or altered, so might as well have more caring owners.


+++But I also don't want this thread to turn into a discussion solely on that topic. For that reason I almost did not post what I had to say.

[VX KAT]

OMG! I've got myself two little lizards!
OK, who are you and what have you done with VX KAT?

We caught these two outside on our walls, to keep my dog from eating them. I've been trying to ID them, but no luck.
Can some of you herp lovers help me figure out what they are?

So here's the adventures of Ziggy & Marley:

? Both are about 2" long + tail.

? I've had the larger one (Ziggy) for 10 weeks now, the other one (Marley) for about 3-4 weeks.

? The first one has grown a bit, even shed his skin this week. Can still see some old scales on his left rear leg. Cool!

? The smaller one has two bright parallel streaks of TEAL BLUE down the length of his stomach.

? Both are eating crickets very nicely! I dust the crickets with calcium 2x/week, plus put a drop in their water.


? Based on all the info I've read, I need to determine:
WHAT TYPE OF LIZARD so I know what temperature range they need.

? I've been basically assuming they fall in the "desert" category since our temps range from 20-30 low to 95 high. So they're surviving somehow in this colder weather. Our humidity is so low, I just didn't think they'd be considered "tropical".

? Just got my 2nd enclosure (larger) (this hobby is kind of addictive as well as FUN...I've been buying all kinds of stuff the last 2 weeks....lights, domes, stands, screen tops, digital temp gauge with remote sensor and a stick-on temp gauge)

? Also got the Reptisand as a substrate now instead of just rocks from outside. It has calcium in it too. Unfortunately, it seems to really stick and/or color them.....so the purple or orange cast on the lizards is from the sand.

? The bigger one now burrows into the sand for the night time.

? Both are basking on the big rock under the infared bulb.


? Got the lights all set up now too:

? UVB 10.0 CFL bulb (which also gives UVA)
? 50W infared
? 75W infared as the winter temps in my den here they'll need a little more heat.

? Been doing all kinds of temperature testing with the lights in different configurations:

? When both the UVB CFL and 75w infared are on, temp got up to 92 within 12 mins.
? With UVB and 50w infared, up to 88.5
? Both are much more active when I got the temp up around 84
? Both were hyperactive when temp was around 90 so I felt that was too hot, immediately switched to the 50w bulb.
? Now temps average around 84 - 88

[nfpgasmask]

Damn, Kat, you must be as fast as a cat to catch those!!

Those look like Southwestern Fence Lizards to me (Sceloporus cowlesi). Should be easy to care for, give water, and crickets dusted with calcium supplements for reptiles. They should take meal works, earth worms and just about any insect they can fit in their mouths as well.

Bart

[nfpgasmask]

A closer look at your pics tells me you might have two different species there. Interesting.

Here some links to help you ID them:
http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...s-cowlesi.html

http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...-virgatus.html

http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...graciosus.html

Bart

[VX KAT]

Damn, Kat, you must be as fast as a cat to catch those!!

Those look like Southwestern Fence Lizards to me (Sceloporus cowlesi). Should be easy to care for, give water, and crickets dusted with calcium supplements for reptiles. They should take meal works, earth worms and just about any insect they can fit in their mouths as well.

Bart

Here some links to help you ID them:
http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...s-cowlesi.html

http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...-virgatus.html

http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...graciosus.html

Bart

DOH! reptilesof az.org.....why didn't I think of that?


I can't take credit for catching them.....What can I say, hubby has fast hands

The calcium powder says 2x/week so that's my plan. Both seem to take the dusted crickets just fine.

The big one ate 4 crickets yesterday....2 really large ones....his digestion is really hummin' along now with the heat lamp! .....and the corresponding output!


When I added the 2nd one, at first they did the puffing up, push-ups and posturing stuff for about 2 weeks....now they don't do it that much. And there's been no fighting, so I guess they'll get along.

Thanks Bart!

[nfpgasmask]

I love when they do push ups.

Bart

[VX KAT]

A closer look at your pics tells me you might have two different species there. Interesting.

Here some links to help you ID them:
http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...s-cowlesi.html

http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...-virgatus.html

http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-...graciosus.html

Bart

I think they're different too. That link had great pics.


LARGER ONE- STILL STUMPED ON THIS ONE, NOT SURE WHAT TYPE:
THINK IT'S A FEMALE BECAUSE NO BLUE/TEAL COLORING ANYWHERE....

PLATEAU FENCE LIZARD Sceloporus tristichus







OR MAYBE:
COMMON SAGEBRUSH LIZARD Sceloporus graciosus
DESCRIPTION: A small (up to 76 mm or 3" from snout to vent), gray-brown to orange-brown lizard with pointed, keeled scales and four rows of dark, irregular shaped blotches on the back. The blotches in each row often merge together forming a dark, wavy stripe. A broad, gray mid-dorsal stripe extends from the neck onto the base of the tail. A rust or orange patch is often present in each “armpit” area and a dark bar marks each shoulder. The throat is either plain or marked with a uniform blue-gray mottling, often accompanied by pink flecking. Males have two large, blue patches on the belly. Belly patches are often edged with black. On females the belly patches are faint or lacking. During breeding season females may develop a yellow tint on the belly and orange-red suffusions on the neck and sides. Its uniform throat pattern distinguishes this lizard from the similar looking Plateau Lizard and Southwestern Fence Lizard. Its lack of side-blotches distinguishes it from the Common Side-blotched Lizard and Common Lesser Earless Lizard.







OR MAYBE:
TWIN SPOTTED SPINY LIZARD Sceloporus bimaculosus -"Before seizing prey it rapidly vibrates the tip of its tail"....this one does that












SMALLER ONE: MALE - ORNATE TREE LIZARD Urosaurus ornatus - I think this is definitely correct, and male because of the two blue patches.