Green Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus malachiticus)

Green Spiny Lizard Sceloporus malachiticus
Name	Green Spiny Lizard
Name Lat.	Sceloporus malachiticus
Family	Phrynosomatid Lizards
Family lat.	Phrynosomatidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Mexico, Central America
Habitat	Mountain forests
Diet	Insects, veggies
Humidity	60-70 %
Behavior	♂ territorial
Keeping	Pair, harem
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Life Span	8-12 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	20 cm
Temperature	24-28 °C
Temperature Local	35-40 °C
Housing Size	60 x 50 x 80 cm
US Units
Size	8"
Temperature	75-82 °F
Temperature Local	95-104 °F
Housing Size	25" x 20" x 30"

Distribution and habitat

Diurnal malachite spiny iguanas are widespread from Mexico to Panama, where they are found in dense mountain forests up to 1,800 meters. They prefer to live on rocks and trees up to 10 m above sea level. As cultural successors they are also often found on natural stone walls.

Maintenance

Minimum dimensions for the terrarium, according to the size and number of animals

1-2 animals

5KRL x 4KRL x 4KRL (L x W x H)

Head-torso length (KRL) is measured on the largest animal. For each additional animal, increase the footprint by 15%. A terrarium of e.g. L 60 x W 50 x H 80 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

You need a terrarium with partly vertical climbing branches and roots (hiding places and visual protection), structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a substrate of forest soil-peat mixture (terrarium humus), a small water container as well as potted plants (e.g. Ficus benjamina, F. pumila, Scindapsus etc.). Once a day, preferably in the evening, the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better.

Temp. day: 24-28 °C

Temp. night: 17-20 °C

Temp. local: up to 40 °C

Humidity: 60-70

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. Lighting duration must be 12-14 hrs depending on the season. They need a high light intensity. Special lamps that produce the necessary heat and UV light are ideal. Daily UV irradiation is essential.

Diet

The food supply consists of live insects, such as crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, millipedes, spiders, zophobas and mealybug larvae, as well as, depending on the individual, vegetables (wild herbs, flowers, fruits). Alternatively, special ready-made food for insectivorous reptiles can be offered, possibly with tweezers for habituation. Wax moths should rarely be fed in very small amounts because of their large fat content. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins (dusting the food) is important. Young animals should be offered food daily, adults 4-5 times a week. Drinking water must always be available

A varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

Males usually have a broader head and a thicker tail root, where the hemipenis pockets are clearly visible.

They are viviparous (ovoviviparous). Mating takes place in late fall. The young are born between February and June. A litter consists of 3-10 young. Small insects such as fruit flies and micro-unicates are suitable as initial food for the young. The life expectancy can be 8-12 years.

Important

Malachite spiny lizards are particularly good climbers.

Adult males behave very territorial and are incompatible with each other

They need up to 40 °C warm sunny places and a strong temperature reduction at night (room temperature). For the resting phase, the lighting duration is reduced by 2-3 hours and the temperature is lowered to 10-15 °C for about two months.

The quality of the food animals can be upgraded by giving fruit and honey water as food.

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Christian Sänger; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BMELV (1997): Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag  

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF