Baja collared lizard (Crotaphytus vestigium)

Short answers

Baja collared lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

150×80×80 cm for a pair.

Baja collared lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–34 °C, basking spot 45–50 °C at the basking spot, at night 18–22 °C.

Baja collared lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0, a very high requirement).

Baja collared lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Baja collared lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–34 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

45–50 °C at the basking spot

Humidity

30–45 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0, a very high requirement)

Enclosure

Minimum size

150×80×80 cm for a pair

Substrate

A sand-loam mix they can dig in, with securely built rock slabs and stone structures on top

Feeding

Food

Robust insects; larger animals also take small lizards; calcium and vitamins regularly

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–33 cm

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Southern California and Baja California – rocky desert

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; IUCN "Least Concern"

Brumation

A cooler rest of 8–10 weeks at 12–16 °C

Cohabitation

1.1 or 1.2; 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

Recognisable by the continuous black collar, which in the other species is broken by a paler section. Care as for the collared lizard. Barely present in German-speaking collections — anyone looking for the species must expect a long search and few bloodlines.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Venerable collared lizard (Crotaphytus antiquus) – Expert
• Grismer's collared lizard (Crotaphytus grismeri) – Expert
• Dickerson's collared lizard (Crotaphytus dickersonae) – Intermediate
• Great Basin collared lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores) – Intermediate
• Common collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) – Intermediate
• Baja California collared lizard (Crotaphytus insularis) – Expert
• Reticulate collared lizard (Crotaphytus reticulatus) – Intermediate
• Sonoran collared lizard (Crotaphytus nebrius) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Baja collared lizard (Crotaphytus vestigium) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150×80×80 cm for a pair), substrate (A sand-loam mix they can dig in, with securely built rock slabs and stone structures on top), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.