Caucasian green lizard (Lacerta media)

Short answers

Caucasian green lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×80 cm for one animal; a pair from 150×60×80 cm, a group over 180×80×100 cm.

Caucasian green lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 23–28 °C, basking spot approx. 40 °C, at night 16–20 °C.

Caucasian green lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB is essential (approx. 30 % UVA / 10–12 % UVB; Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5 at the basking spot).

Caucasian green lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Caucasian green lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

23–28 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

approx. 40 °C

Humidity

60–70 % by day, up to ~80 % at night

UVB

UVB is essential (approx. 30 % UVA / 10–12 % UVB; Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5 at the basking spot)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×80 cm for one animal; a pair from 150×60×80 cm, a group over 180×80×100 cm

Substrate

A loam and sand mix with grasses, stones, roots, cork and climbing branches

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, locusts, roaches, wax moth caterpillars, worms; seasonally a little greenery and berries, rarely nestling mice

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles (almost) daily

Key facts

Adult size

40–50 cm total length (SVL approx. 16 cm)

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

Turkey, the Caucasus, the Near East (Armenia, Iran, Syria, Israel)

Protection status

No CITES; a non-European species (the Bern Convention applies). Legal proof of origin or captive breeding is recommended.

Brumation

Yes: a winter rest of 2–3 months at 8–10 °C

Cohabitation

A pair (1.1) is the least stressful option; a harem (one male with 3-4 females) also works in a large, structured enclosure with sight barriers - but never two males together, as they engage in fierce dominance fights with biting and chases, as documented in the closely related L. viridis.

Notes

A large, powerful green lizard; a high space and warmth requirement with a pronounced basking spot. The males are very aggressive in spring – separate the females if they are harassed.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Pamphylian green lizard (Lacerta pamphylica) – Intermediate
• Balkan green lizard (Lacerta trilineata) – Intermediate
• Schreiber's green lizard (Lacerta schreiberi) – Intermediate
• Caspian green lizard (Lacerta strigata) – Intermediate
• Eastern green lizard (Lacerta viridis viridis) – Intermediate
• European green lizard (Lacerta viridis) – Beginner to intermediate
• Western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) – Intermediate
• Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Caucasian green lizard (Lacerta media) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×80 cm for one animal; a pair from 150×60×80 cm, a group over 180×80×100 cm), substrate (A loam and sand mix with grasses, stones, roots, cork and climbing 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.