Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)

Zebra-tailed Lizard Callisaurus draconoides
Name	Zebra-tailed Lizard
Name Lat.	Callisaurus draconoides
Family	Phrynosomatid Lizards
Family lat.	Phrynosomatidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	North America
Habitat	Dry savanna, desert
Diet	Insects, veggies
Humidity	30-50 %
Behavior	♂ territorial
Keeping	Individual, pair, harem
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Dry terrarium
Life Span	3-5 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	22 cm
Temperature	25-30 °C
Temperature Local	45-50 °C
Housing Size	100 x 50 x 50 cm
US Units
Size	9"
Temperature	77-86 °F
Temperature Local	113-122 °F
Housing Size	40" x 20" x 20"

Distribution and habitat

The range of diurnal, ground-dwelling zebra-tailed iguanas is in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where they live in rocky deserts and dry savannas with sparse scrub and sandy soils.

Maintenance

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

1-2 animals

6KRL 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. 100 x 50 x 50 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

You will need a terrarium with roots, branches and stone structures (hiding and resting places), structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a burrowable substrate of sand-clay mixture and rubble, a shallow water dish and hardy, drought-resistant potted plants (e.g. succulents, aloe). A small portion of the substrate should always be kept somewhat moist, especially the lower sand layers. Once a day, preferably in the evening, the interior of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water, but not directly the animals.

Temp. day: 25-30 °C

Temp. night: 15-20 °C

Temp. local: 45-50 °C

Humidity: 30-50

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. Lighting duration must be 12-14 hrs depending on the season. They need high light intensity and daily UV irradiation as well as sunny places with radiant heat.

Diet

The diet consists of live insects, such as crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, zophobas, etc., supplemented with some plant food (sprouts, shoots, leaves, flowers). Often, after habituation, special ready-made food for insectivorous reptiles is also accepted. Wax moths should rarely be fed in very small amounts because of their large fat content. It is important to add minerals and vitamins regularly (e.g. by dusting the food animals). 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 and females differ in color and markings, the slightly smaller females lack lateral stripes

The female lays up to five times in summer 2-8 eggs in the moist bottom ground. The young hatch after about 54 days, depending on the bottom temperature. Small insects such as fruit flies and micro crickets are suitable as initial food for the young.

The life expectancy can be 3-5 years.

Important

Zebra-tailed iguanas are very active and are among the fastest lizards. Elevated sunny spots are readily sought out by the sun-loving animals

The bobbing with their strikingly colored tail and multiform nodding movements are used for communication and as an expression of mood

Adult males are very territorial and incompatible with each other

They hibernate for several months, during which time lighting is reduced by 2-3 hours and temperature is lowered by 3-4°C

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

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: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BMELV (1997): Tierschutzgutachten - 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