Western
New York Herpetological Society
www.wnyherp.org
©
2001 - 2003 by Western New York Herpetological Society
This
document is for guidance only and should not be used as the sole source of
information. New information is being developed daily. It is recommended that a
concerted effort be made to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the animals of
interest.
Common
Name:
Long Tail lizard,
Long Tail Grass Lizard
Latin
Name:
Takydromas sexlineatus
Native
to:
Southeast Asia
Size:
6-8 inches long with ¾ of the length being the tail
Life
span:
If taken care of properly, five years or more.
General
Appearance:
The overall color is brown with a possible greenish
hue. There are stripes going down the long tail lizard’s back that is normally
brown with white and black bordering the stripes. Their tail is usually about ¾
of the length. The underside is usually creamy white. They have a triangular
head.
Housing
Requirements:
Enclosure:
A minimum of a 15-gallon enclosure for a single
lizard. It is important to have a secure fitting screen top for air exchange.
Temperature:
The ambient temperature should be 75° - 85° F. The
basking site should be 90°-95° F. During the night the temperatures can fall to
65° - 70° F.
Heat/Light:
Because long tail lizards are awake during the day
it is important to use a full spectrum bulb. Ceramic emitters, under the tank
heat mat, and incandescent bulbs can be used to achieve proper temperatures.
Hot rocks are not recommended.
Substrate:
Coconut fiber, peat moss, bark chips, sterilized
soil and paper towels are all considered to be suitable bedding.
Environment:
Long tail lizards are ground dwelling lizards and
should mimic a sparse forest habitat. Plenty of hiding spots and branches to
climb on should be provided. They should have about 70% humidity in their tank.
Diet:
Gut loaded crickets, waxworms, mealworms, butter
worms, red wigglers, and earthworms can all be fed to the long tail lizard 3
times a week.
Maintenance:
The enclosure should be spot cleaned daily. A
thorough cleaning should be performed on a regular basis. A 5% bleach solution
is an excellent disinfectant. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the enclosure before
replacing the substrate and placing the lizard back in the enclosure. Hand washing
after handling the lizard or any cage furnishings is essential.
Other
references or recommended reading:
http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/allpets/lizards/longtailliz
http://www.centralpets.com
http://www.herptiles.org
http://www.calzoo.com/pdf/careoflizards.pdf