Dalmatian wall lizard (Podarcis melisellensis)

Short answers

Dalmatian wall lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×40×50 cm for one animal; larger and heavily structured for a pair or trio.

Dalmatian wall lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot 35–40 °C, at night 15–18 °C.

Dalmatian wall lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB is essential (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–4 at the basking spot).

Dalmatian wall lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 6–10 years.

Dalmatian wall lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

15–18 °C

Basking spot

35–40 °C

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

UVB is essential (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–4 at the basking spot)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×50 cm for one animal; larger and heavily structured for a pair or trio

Substrate

A sand-loam mix with climbing stones, dry-stone walls, bark and rock structures

Feeding

Food

A variety of insects (house crickets, crickets, small locusts, flies), spiders; occasionally a little plant food

Feeding interval

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

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 18–20 cm total length (SVL 5–6.5 cm, the tail twice as long)

Life expectancy

approx. 6–10 years

Origin

The eastern Adriatic: Croatia / Dalmatia with its islands, to Montenegro and Albania (a karst runner)

Protection status

Bern Convention Appendix II; protected in the EU. Proof of origin or captive breeding is required; check regional registration duties.

Brumation

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

Cohabitation

Keeping it singly is, per the source data, unproblematic and the least stressful option for this territorial animal; one male with one or more females also works in a large, structured enclosure with sight barriers - but never two males together.

Notes

A small, sun-hungry karst species; it needs a pronounced basking spot and a dry, well-structured climbing landscape. The males do not get on with each other.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Aeolian wall lizard (Podarcis raffonei) – Expert
• Erhard's wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) – Beginner to intermediate
• Lilford's wall lizard (Podarcis lilfordi) – Expert
• Bocage's wall lizard (Podarcis bocagei) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Carbonell's wall lizard (Podarcis carbonelli) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Geniez's wall lizard (Podarcis virescens) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Guadarrama wall lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Ionian wall lizard (Podarcis ionicus) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Dalmatian wall lizard (Podarcis melisellensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×50 cm for one animal; larger and heavily structured for a pair or trio), substrate (A sand-loam mix with climbing stones, dry-stone walls, bark and rock structures), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.