Oriental Garden Lizard (Changeable Lizard)

1 Overview

The oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor), also the ‘horse-mane snake’ or ‘cockscomb snake’, is a changeable agamid found in Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi and Yunnan, China.

SOURCE NOTE: family Agamidae (source listed as Agamidae). A common, hardy small lizard.

2 Care & Feeding

Lives in humid tropical rainforest. Newly acquired ones need careful early care or they get sick easily. Wild ones may carry parasites, so give a stable environment and minimal disturbance. Keep temperature 25-28 C with ventilation. Feed various insects and spiders; occasionally small lizards.

3 Habitat & Environment

Needs 75% humidity and about 25-30 C; a tank about 150x80x120 cm is ideal. Diurnal; some geckos are crepuscular or nocturnal and vocal (most garden lizards are silent). Hunts by ambush or search. Many can autotomise (drop) the tail to distract predators. Some have femoral pores secreting scents. Minor economic use; some agamids edible or leather; geckos eat pests but may carry salmonella. Important research model; often kept as pets.