Chuckwalla Care Sheet

Scientific Name

Sauromalus obesus

Size

14 - 18 inches long

Lifespan

adverage in captivity 8 - 10 years

Natural Distribution

Southern USA and Northern Mexico

Collard lizards like to eat crickets. In the wild they regularly feed on these insects.

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Ensure your Chuckwallas home reaches the right temperatures with a Wooden Vivarium.

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Your Chuckwallas needs UVB lighting as it is essential for them to grow with stong bones.

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Give your Chuckwalla a piece of wood for somewhere to bask on.
He will love it!

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We advise using wooden vivariums rather than glass as they retain heat more efficiently keeping your pet nice and warm. As Chuckwallas are a medium sized lizard we would recommend a vivarium of at least 90x45x45cm (36"x18"x18") for youngsters and if keeping a group a vivarium of 120x60x60cm (48"x24"x24"). This will ensure your Chuckwallas have enough room to explore and run around.

Beech woodchip is a good substrate as the chuckwallas generally do not swallow it. Sands such as calci sands can be ingested easily, building up inside the animal potentially causing health problems and distress to your pet. Chuckwallas are not shy and will be out basking during the day. Wood, rocks and artificial plants should be used to create a basking area as well as areas to climb and lounge around.

During the day two spot bulbs are used to raise the temperature to about 38 - 44 C (100 - 110oF). These should be at the same end of the vivarium to create a hot end and a cooler end. The spot bulb will also provide a day and night cycle. All lights must be turned off at night and the vivarium can be allowed to drop as low as 12 C (55oF). Temperatures should always be checked by a reliable thermometer.

Chuckwalla require U.V.B lighting weather it be a U.V.B. tube, compact U.V.B lamp or a mercury vapour lamp. U.V.B is essential for your Chuckwalla bone growth and general health. If this lighting is not available it could be extremely detrimental to the animals health, resulting in weak or deformed bones and ultimately death. These lights need to be on for between 10 and 12 hours a day. It is essential lights are turned off at night so the animal gets a day/night photo period.

Chuckwallas are dry animals so they do not require any water in the vivarium. Chuckwallas are mainly herbivores. Good vegetables include dandelion, clover, honeysuckle, leafy salads, watercress, curly kale, brussel tops, spring greens, coriander, parsley, rocket, carrot, parsnip, courgette, peppers and small amounts of non citric fruit. Ones to avoid include cabbage, spinach, onion, tomato, buttercup, citric fruits and iceberg lettuce. Also dust the vegetables with Nutrobal before putting them in a food dish. They will take livefood but only occasionally. Crickets are particularly nutritious, locusts, mealworms and wax worms can also be used to supplement their diet and add variety. Your pet deserves the best foods possible so look after your live foods. Keep your crickets and locusts fresh, plump and full of vitamins by feeding them with Bug Grub and fresh vegetation.

Chuckwallas are a good lizard for handling. They should be treated gently, with love and care allowing it to sit on the hands. Young Chuckwallas can be quick so keep a loose grip on them. They soon become used to being handled but if you ever notice your Chuckwalla becoming agitated carefully put them back into their vivarium.

Males do not get on with each other as adults and will fight so only keep one per enclosure. Males can be kept with a harem of females providing the vivarium is large enough to accommodate them. Females are ok to be kept as a colony.

Regular spot cleaning of the vivarium should be performed to keep it hygienic for both the animal and the keeper. Dead live foods and the chuckwallas faeces should be removed when noticed. Change the substrate once a month or as required and clean the vivarium with a reptile disinfectant.

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