Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)

Oriental Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor
Name	Oriental Garden Lizard
Name Lat.	Calotes versicolor
Family	Agamas
Family lat.	Agamidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Southeast Asia
Habitat	Forests, shrubland
Diet	Insects
Humidity	70-80 %
Behavior	♂ territorial
Keeping	Individual, pair, harem
Care Level	Difficult
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Humid terrarium
Life Span	10 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	40 cm
Temperature	23-25 °C
Temperature Local	30 °C
Housing Size	100 x 80 x 100 cm
US Units
Size	16"
Temperature	73-77 °F
Temperature Local	86 °F
Housing Size	40" x 30" x 40"

Distribution and habitat

The diurnal, often tree-dwelling bloodsucker dragons are widespread in sparse forests and scrubland from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to southern China and Sumatra. As crop followers, they are also frequently found in settlements, gardens and cultivated land.

Maintenance

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

1-2 animals

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

Head-torso length (KRL) is measured on the largest animal. For each additional animal, increase the footprint by 15%. Ideal is a terrarium of e.g. L 100 x W 80 x H 100 cm, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place

You need a humid terrarium with strong, vertical and horizontal climbing branches, structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a substrate of forest soil-peat mixture as well as many plants (ficus, ferns, mosses, epiphytes etc.). In addition, a large water section (about 5 cm deep) with a clean, moving water for drinking and bathing. Several times a day the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better

Temp. day: 23-25 °C

Temp. night: 20-23 °C

Temp. local: up to 30 °C

Humidity: 70-80

The lighting duration must be 12-14 hrs. Special lamps with high UV-A and UV-B content are ideal, because daily UV irradiation is essential.

Diet

The diet consists of live insects, such as crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, earthworms, centipedes, zophobas larvae, and pieces of meat and fish or small fish. Alternatively, special ready-made food for insectivores can be offered. Wax moths should rarely be fed in very small amounts because of their large fat content. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins (dusting of food) is important. Young animals should be offered food daily, adults 4-5 times a week. Drinking water must always be available, but is preferably taken in drop form from leaves or furnishings

A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

The adult male has a thickened caudal root with a distinct hemipenis pouch.

The female buries her eggs (10-30 pieces) in the substrate, which must accordingly consist of a substrate suitable for burrowing. The incubation period is 40-50 days at a temperature of 30 °C. Small insects such as fruit flies and micro crickets are suitable as initial food for the young.

The life expectancy can be 10 years

Important

Adult males behave territorially and there may be incompatibilities among themselves. Striking is the color change of the males, which get a dark red head during courtship or territory defense. For the well-being of the animals moving water (e.g. watercourses, waterfalls) should be absolutely present. Besides sunny places, shady, cooler places are also necessary

With fruit and honey water as food for the feeders, their quality can be upgraded.

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