Blue spiny lizard (Sceloporus serrifer)

Short answers

Blue spiny lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×70 cm.

Blue spiny lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–33 °C, basking spot 43 °C, at night 17–21 °C.

Blue spiny lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

Blue spiny lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–10 years.

Blue spiny lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–33 °C

Night temperature

17–21 °C

Basking spot

43 °C

Humidity

45–60 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×70 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam, stone slabs, bark, sloping branches

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches

Feeding interval

3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

18–26 cm total length

Life expectancy

6–10 years

Origin

Mexico, Guatemala, Belize

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A cooler spell of 8–10 weeks

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the least stressful option. One male with one or two females (1,2) is also possible if every animal gets its own basking spot and hide, and animals of different sizes are fed separately. Two males do not get on: they fight over territory and the basking spot until one is injured or sits permanently in a corner.

Notes

Live-bearing, with a striking black nape band and a blue throat. To be kept a little more humid than the US desert species.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bunch-grass lizard (Sceloporus mucronatus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Blue spiny lizard (Sceloporus cyanogenys) – Intermediate
• Clark's spiny lizard (Sceloporus clarkii) – Beginner
• Eastern spiny lizard (Sceloporus spinosus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Crevice spiny lizard (Sceloporus poinsettii) – Beginner
• Fire-headed spiny lizard (Sceloporus pyrocephalus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Striped plateau lizard (Sceloporus virgatus) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Blue spiny lizard (Sceloporus serrifer) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×70 cm), substrate (Sand-loam, stone slabs, bark, sloping branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.