Amur grass lizard (Takydromus amurensis)

Short answers

Amur grass lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×40×50 cm for a group.

Amur grass lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C, basking spot 30–35 °C, at night 10–15 °C.

Amur grass lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

Amur grass lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–12 years.

Amur grass lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner with some knowledge).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

10–15 °C

Basking spot

30–35 °C

Humidity

55–75 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×50 cm for a group

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate with dense grasses and thin twigs

Feeding

Food

Small house crickets, field crickets, roaches, flies and firebrats, occasionally a wax moth, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

18–24 cm total length (of which about two-thirds is tail)

Life expectancy

5–12 years

Origin

Russian Far East (Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk), northeast China, Korea, Japan (Tsushima Islands)

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 12–16 weeks at 3–7 °C

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

The northernmost species in the genus. Without a cold winter rest it dies.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Formosan grass lizard (Takydromus formosanus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Japanese grass lizard (Takydromus tachydromoides) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Northern grass lizard (Takydromus septentrionalis) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Ryukyu grass lizard (Takydromus dorsalis) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Asian grass lizard (Takydromus sexlineatus) – Intermediate
• Emerald grass lizard (Takydromus smaragdinus) – Intermediate
• Wolter's grass lizard (Takydromus wolteri) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Armenian rock lizard (Darevskia armeniaca) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Amur grass lizard (Takydromus amurensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×50 cm for a group), substrate (Forest-floor substrate with dense grasses and thin twigs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.