Aeolian wall lizard (Podarcis raffonei)

Short answers

Aeolian wall lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×60 cm for a group.

Aeolian wall lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot Basking spot 38–45 °C, at night 12–18 °C.

Aeolian wall lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0 — these species bask for hours).

Aeolian wall lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–10 years.

Aeolian wall lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

12–18 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 38–45 °C

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0 — these species bask for hours)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×60 cm for a group

Substrate

A sand-loam mix with stone slabs, a dry-stone wall and a few plants

Feeding

Food

Crickets, house crickets, roaches, wax moths and the occasional fruit, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

16–20 cm total length, large males up to 26 cm

Life expectancy

5–10 years

Origin

Endemic to the Aeolian (Lipari) Islands, Italy: Strombolicchio off Stromboli (nominate form), plus Vulcano, La Canna off Filicudi and Scoglio Faraglione near Salina (subspecies alvearioi); coastal rocks at 35–70 m, up to 300 m altitude on Vulcano

Protection status

STRICTLY protected: Habitats Directive Annex IV (Section 7 BNatSchG) - possession and marketing ban, permitted only with proof of legal captive breeding. Not listed under CITES. Bern Convention; IUCN Critically Endangered - only documented captive-bred stock.

Brumation

No real winter dormancy. In its native range the species is active year-round, with peaks in March to June and September/October. In the terrarium, a shorter, cooler and darker rest period of a few weeks at around 10–15 °C is enough; a months-long cold dormancy at 5 °C is not appropriate for this Mediterranean species.

Cohabitation

1.2 or 1.3; never keep males together. The reason: several males fight over territory and the warm spot until one is injured or spends its life in a corner. Females usually get on, but each needs its own warm spot and hide; feed them separately once they differ in size.

Notes

One of Europe's most endangered reptiles, left on only a few crags. It belongs solely in experienced conservation breeding programmes.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Erhard's wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) – Beginner to intermediate
• Lilford's wall lizard (Podarcis lilfordi) – Expert
• Bocage's wall lizard (Podarcis bocagei) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Carbonell's wall lizard (Podarcis carbonelli) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Geniez's wall lizard (Podarcis virescens) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Guadarrama wall lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Ionian wall lizard (Podarcis ionicus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus campestris) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Aeolian wall lizard (Podarcis raffonei) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×60 cm for a group), substrate (A sand-loam mix with stone slabs, a dry-stone wall and a few plants), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.