kingsnake.com - reptile and amphibian classifieds, breeders, forums, photos, videos and more

return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
Click for ZooMed  
Click here for Dragon Serpents
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Meet The Baroness - The world's longest snake . . . . . . . . . .  Herp Photo of the Day . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - Feb 27, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - Feb 28, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Mar 04, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - Mar 15, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - Mar 21, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - Mar 27, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - Mar 28, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - Mar 30, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - Apr 01, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  PACNWRS - Apr. 18-19, 2026 . . . . . . . . . . 

New Person on Board with Cage Questions


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Collared Lizard Forum ]

Posted by ETChipotle on May 07, 2003 at 11:54:02:

I just got back last month from a trip to Big Bend to see cactus blooms, and it made me think about getting desert lizards.

I'm new to this message board, and don't have any lizards.
I recently saw a collared lizard in a Petco, but it didn't look like the one I had chased around in Zion National Park 20 years ago. It didn't have much green.

Sorry this is long, but I have questions that require some context and background:

I'm currently outfitting my 90 gallon aquarium as a desert lizard cage, while I decide what to get and look for sources of lizards.

I just welded up a frame for the top, and will be installing a removable dropped mount for a 36" double flourescent light fixture. I haven't picked out a bulb brand and model yet.

This aquarium has holes in the bottom for saltwater sumps, and I'm thinking about running the wires for basking lamps up through the bottom so that the lid doesn't have to be quite as cluttered. I'm planning to use PVC lightposts so lizards can't climb onto a hot light fixture.

Questions:
1. Is 1/4" mesh okay for a lid, or can crickets climb up 24" of glass readily?
2. Using two 36" UVB bulbs in addition to basking lamps, and providing the right temperature gradients, feeding, etc. should I expect collared lizards to keep good green color or do I have to be somehow really really lucky? I'm wondering if I should get aquaflames or something.

Thanks much!
ETChipotle
Minneapolis
ETChipotle.tripod.com


Follow Ups:




[ Follow Ups ] [ Collared Lizard Forum ]
Click here for Dragon Serpents Click here to visit Classifieds Click to visit Brass Man Reptiles
KINGSNAKE.COM

Enjoy all our content free of charge with a user account that gives you full access to every feature. For added visibility, paid options are available - post in our Classifieds, showcase your business with Banner Ads or a Directory listing, promote reptile events, and more.

Quick Links
Community
Legal & Safety
Support

Register for free ✓ Sign up!

Kingsnake.com ® is a registered trademark © 1997-