Erhard's wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii)

Short answers

Erhard's wall lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×50×50 cm for a pair.

Erhard's wall lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot Basking spot locally up to 45 °C, at night 15–20 °C.

Erhard's wall lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (strong UVB).

Erhard's wall lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–8 years.

Erhard's wall lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot locally up to 45 °C

Humidity

50–65 %

UVB

Essential (strong UVB)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×50×50 cm for a pair

Substrate

Sand-loam, rock structures, rock crevices

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, flies, beetles), a little fruit

Feeding interval

Adults 3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

18–22 cm (with the tail)

Life expectancy

6–8 years

Origin

Greece including the Cyclades, the Northern Sporades and Crete, plus Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, southern Serbia and southern Bulgaria as far as the Black Sea coast; habitats ranging from rocky islets and sandy coasts up to 2,000 m altitude

Protection status

STRICTLY protected: Habitats Directive Annex IV (Section 7 BNatSchG) - possession and marketing ban, permitted only with proof of legal captive breeding. Not listed under CITES. Bern Convention Annex II; not CITES-listed (IUCN: Least Concern).

Brumation

A winter rest of ~2–3 months at ~8–12 °C (milder for the island forms)

Cohabitation

One male plus females (a harem); the males are territorial. The reason: several males fight over territory and the warm spot until one is injured or spends its life in a corner. Females usually get on, but each needs its own warm spot and hide; feed them separately once they differ in size.

Notes

A sun-loving rock dweller – a strong basking spot and powerful UVB are needed. A cooler overwintering promotes health and breeding.

Do you keep this species?

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

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Related species

• Aeolian wall lizard (Podarcis raffonei) – Expert
• 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
• Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus campestris) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Erhard's wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×50×50 cm for a pair), substrate (Sand-loam, rock structures, rock crevices), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.