California legless lizard (Anniella pulchra)

Short answers

California legless lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

60×40×30 cm for one animal; what matters is deep (at least 20 cm) sand they can dig in.

California legless lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 18–24 °C (in the substrate; does not bask), basking spot — (thermoregulates underground, no classic basking spot), at night 12–16 °C.

California legless lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed (burrowing, hardly ever at the surface).

California legless lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: probably 10–20 years (barely documented).

California legless lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

18–24 °C (in the substrate; does not bask)

Night temperature

12–16 °C

Basking spot

— (thermoregulates underground, no classic basking spot)

Humidity

slightly damp substrate; surface 50–70 %

UVB

No UVB needed (burrowing, hardly ever at the surface)

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×40×30 cm for one animal; what matters is deep (at least 20 cm) sand they can dig in

Substrate

A deep, loose, slightly damp fine sand or sand-humus mix (at least 15–20 cm), with surface hides (slabs, leaf litter)

Feeding

Food

Small invertebrates: insect larvae, beetles, termites, spiders, small crickets

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 11–18 cm head-and-body length, up to ~25 cm with the tail; very slender

Life expectancy

probably 10–20 years (barely documented)

Origin

California (coastal and central valleys, dunes, chaparral, pine-oak woodland with loose sandy soil)

Protection status

A California Species of Special Concern (NatureServe G3); since 2013 all Anniella in California have been protected from collection, and collecting is prohibited. Not in CITES, and effectively hardly ever legally in the trade

Brumation

A cooler, damper winter spell (several weeks at 10–14 °C) is recommended, matching the Californian winter climate

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the standard. Not markedly territorial (it lives sociably within a small area in the soil), but keeping it is barely documented at all – so keep them singly to be safe, or as a pair only temporarily

Notes

Highly fossorial (almost entirely underground), it tolerates cool temperatures and does not bask. Very rare and, because of its protected status, barely in captivity; the husbandry figures are derived from field ecology (uncertain). Deep, permanently slightly damp sandy ground is essential.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for California legless lizard (Anniella pulchra) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Madrean alligator lizard (Elgaria kingii) – Intermediate
• Asian glass lizard (Dopasia gracilis) – Intermediate
• Slow worm (Anguis fragilis) – Intermediate
• Hart's glass lizard (Dopasia harti) – Intermediate
• Italian slow worm (Anguis veronensis) – Intermediate
• Moroccan glass lizard (Ophisaurus koellikeri) – Intermediate
• Imbricate alligator lizard (Barisia imbricata) – Intermediate
• Eastern slow worm (Anguis colchica) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep California legless lizard (Anniella pulchra) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×40×30 cm for one animal; what matters is deep (at least 20 cm) sand they can dig in), substrate (A deep, loose, slightly damp fine sand or sand-humus mix (at least 15–20 cm), with surface hides (slabs, leaf litter)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.