Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)

Short answers

Eastern fence lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×60 cm for a group.

Eastern fence lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–33 °C, basking spot Basking spot 42–48 °C, at night 15–20 °C.

Eastern fence lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12.0).

Eastern fence lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–10 years.

Eastern fence 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

13–19 cm

Life expectancy

5–10 years

Origin

The eastern and central USA

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A cooler rest of 8–12 weeks at 10–15 °C

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the least stressful option. One male with two to three females (1,2 or 1,3) is also possible if every animal gets its own basking spot and hide, and animals of different sizes are fed separately. Never keep males together: they defend their spring territory with push-ups and, if needed, bites, until one is injured or sits permanently in a corner.

Notes

A robust species for getting started. It needs a genuinely cold winter rest.

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
• Blue spiny lizard (Sceloporus serrifer) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) 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.