Description: An inquisitive, thin little Lacerta lizard from south-east Asia where they mostly live in tall grasses and low vegetation but may also be found on bamboo and they will sometimes climb trees.
Color and pattern are variable, generally striped in brown, gold and black but could have green or red as well. Their belly is often white or cream colored. The head is narrow and triangular shaped and their scales are keeled (have raised, pointed tips). The thin tail is up to 3 times the length of the body, giving them this name. This amazingly long tail is slightly prehensile and is used to help them climb about. It is fairly easily broken so take care when handling as it will no longer look the same when it grows back. Adults can grow to about 14" but 10 to 12" is more common. Life span in captivity is about 5 years or more.
Some individuals may be tamed but others may never calm down and should not be handled too much. They are generally social and get along with each other but some males are aggressive towards other males.

Temperature: Daytime 75-80°F with a basking spot around 85°F. A 5 to 10°F drop at night is fine if the lowest temp is above 70°F.

Humidity: Moderately high, around 70%.

Lighting: UV light is required, 5.0 should be sufficient. A low wattage basking light is also a good idea. Use a timer to provide a seasonal day period that varies between about 10 hours in the winter to about 14 hours in summer.

Feeding: Small prey items are required due to the small size of this lizard’s head. Small crickets, fruit flies, lawn plankton and other suitably sized insects are all fine. A good vitamin/ mineral supplement should be given twice a week for adults and more often for young ones. A shallow bowl of clean water should be available at all times along with occasional spraying to allow them to lick up water droplets.

Habitat: A 10-gallon tank is adequate for a small group but a 15-gallon high or larger would be better. Use a ventilated top that will hold in some humidity. Set it up as a savanna forest habitat with a few live plants, some climbing branches (including a basking site) and caves or other hiding places. Some may like to dig or burrow in the substrate.

Sexing: Males can generally be recognized by the hemipenal bulge at the base of the tail. They may also have a larger head and more or brighter colors than the females.

Breeding: A period of slightly shorter, cooler and dryer days followed by the reverse conditions will often stimulate breeding. The female will lay 2 or 3 eggs in a warm, moist spot, often at the base of a plant or under an object. Hatching usually takes place in 2 to 3 months.

ENJOY YOUR PET LIFE FORMS, Dave & Donna