Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard (Uma notata)
Iguanas · Difficulty: Beginner with some knowledge
Key facts and care guidance for Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard (Uma notata) (origin: The Colorado Desert). Adult size around 15–22 cm. Life expectancy 5–10 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?
120×60×60 cm for a group.
Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 27–33 °C, basking spot Basking spot 42–48 °C, at night 15–20 °C.
Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12.0).
Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 5–10 years.
Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?
Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner with some knowledge).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 27–33 °C
- Night temperature
- 15–20 °C
- Basking spot
- Basking spot 42–48 °C
- Humidity
- 30–50 %
- UVB
- Essential (UVB 10.0–12.0)
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- 120×60×60 cm for a group
- Substrate
- A sand-loam mix they can dig in, with stone slabs, roots and a few twigs
Feeding
- Food
- Crickets, house crickets, roaches and locusts, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins
- Feeding interval
- adults 3×/week
Key facts
- Adult size
- 15–22 cm
- Life expectancy
- 5–10 years
- Origin
- The Colorado Desert
- Protection status
- Protected under California state law — check the origin
- Brumation
- A cooler rest of 8–12 weeks at 10–15 °C
- Cohabitation
- Keep as a pair or one male with several females (1.2) in a very large sand enclosure; in the closely related U. scoparia, patrolling territorial behaviour by males is documented, and this species is unlikely to differ much.
Notes
Like U. scoparia, it depends on deep wind-blown sand.
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Related species
- Mojave fringe-toed lizard (Uma scoparia) – Beginner with some knowledge
- Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) – Beginner with some knowledge
- Greater earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) – Beginner with some knowledge
- Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) – Beginner with some knowledge
- Zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) – Beginner with some knowledge
- Aliniger anole (Anolis aliniger) – Beginner with some knowledge
- Allogus anole (Anolis allogus) – Beginner with some knowledge
- Bahoruco anole (Anolis bahorucoensis) – Beginner with some knowledge
What you need to start
To keep Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard (Uma notata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×60 cm for a group), substrate (A sand-loam mix they can dig in, with stone slabs, roots and a few twigs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 30 October 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Desert_fringe-toed_lizard, https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Uma&species=notata
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).