captive care for Southern Alligator Lizard?

[neubauer geckos]

Has anyone ever kept and bred Elgaria multicarinatus?I see them on occasion around my house,and always think that I would love to grab a pair and breed them(and then of course letting the parents go once I have a CB pair).I'm assuming just a 10 gallon for one,20 for 2.And then just coco fibre kept a little moist with some live plants,2 hides,and a stick to climb on.Would I need a UVB light?What kind(2.0,5.0,10.0)?Any advice from someone who breeds or has bred them is also greatly appreciated!Thanks for looking!

Please,no:main_no: hater comments:main_angry: saying how I shouldn't keep wild animals.I am a firm believer in captive breeding,but cannot purchase them in my area as they are a native as far as I know.The WC adults will be released.Thanks!

 

[Palor]

First check the legality of catching them, you may or may not need a hunting license to catch them and keep them legally.

You will eventually need to try to get several WC breeding pairs so you have multiple blood lines work with. I used to keep my big male in a 30g tank and upgraded to a 40g breeder when I got my female. The males will eat the babies, so it is not wise to let the pair remain together. It is possible the females will eat them too.

When trying to breed WC animals, you will have more luck if you recreate their natural habitat as best you can. Bigger cages are better.

Back when I had them, UVB was still being debated. I used whatever the crummy UVB bulbs that were around in the 80's.

They are at least easy to feed, they will eat most any type of insect. If a WC isn't taking food after 7 days, go release it where you caught it, no need to force it to starve to death.

Good luck

 

[jemjdragon]

I think in California, you are allowed to have at most two alligator lizards as pets. I'm not sure if you need a permit or not. I've kept one once but set him free later in a nature preserve because he was really aggressive. They have a nasty bite. I suggest you have some thick gloves when you first try to handle them. They do love to eat and like to sit in their water bowls. They also love to burrow and dig, so I think 2-3inches minimum of moist coco fiber for flooring. I kept mine in a 10 gallon tank but I think they do better in larger tanks. I had a care sheet some where. If I find it, I'll post it up. =]

 

[M_surinamensis]

If a WC isn't taking food after 7 days, go release it where you caught it, no need to force it to starve to death.

That is absolutely dead wrong. Never release animals that have been captive, even for a short period of time. Contact with foreign pathogens is possible, even probable and the disease vectors make it far too risky. If they fail to thrive, euthanize them. Do not ever release them.