Black-lined plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus)

Short answers

Black-lined plated lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×50 cm.

Black-lined plated lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–33 °C, basking spot 42 °C, at night 17–21 °C.

Black-lined plated lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

Black-lined plated lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–20 years.

Black-lined plated lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–33 °C

Night temperature

17–21 °C

Basking spot

42 °C

Humidity

50–65 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×50 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam, leaf litter, tussocks of grass, flat stones, a cork hide

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches, fruit, leafy greens

Feeding interval

3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

35–45 cm total length

Life expectancy

12–20 years

Origin

Eastern and south-eastern Africa

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A cooler dry spell of 6–8 weeks

Cohabitation

A pair or 1.2. Two males will not work together — they fight over territory and the warm spot until one is seriously injured or spends its life in a corner. One male with several females, on the other hand, works reliably. What matters is several warm spots and hides so that subordinate animals can get out of the way, and separate feeding as soon as the animals differ in size.

Notes

Stronger than G. flavigularis, with striking pale lengthwise stripes. It readily takes plant food – a mixed diet matches its natural nutrition.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Yellow-throated plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus flavigularis) – Beginner
• Rough-scaled plated lizard (Broadleysaurus major) – Intermediate
• Madagascar keeled plated lizard (Tracheloptychus madagascariensis) – Intermediate
• Broad-tailed girdled lizard (Zonosaurus laticaudatus) – Intermediate
• Madagascar girdled lizard (Zonosaurus madagascariensis) – Beginner
• Giant plated lizard (Matobosaurus validus) – Intermediate
• Four-lined girdled lizard (Zonosaurus quadrilineatus) – Intermediate
• Jones' girdled lizard (Cordylus jonesii) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Black-lined plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×50 cm), substrate (Sand-loam, leaf litter, tussocks of grass, flat stones, a cork hide), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.