Golden fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus aureus)

Short answers

Golden fringe-fingered lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×50 cm for a group.

Golden fringe-fingered lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–34 °C, basking spot Basking spot 45–50 °C, at night 16–20 °C.

Golden fringe-fingered lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12.0, extremely sun-hungry species).

Golden fringe-fingered lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 4–8 years.

Golden fringe-fingered lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–34 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 45–50 °C

Humidity

25–40 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0–12.0, extremely sun-hungry species)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×50 cm for a group

Substrate

Deep sand they can dig in, with a few stones and dry twigs

Feeding

Food

Crickets, house crickets, roaches and mealworms, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

17–21 cm

Life expectancy

4–8 years

Origin

The Western Sahara and Mauritania

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

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

Cohabitation

Keep as a pair (1.1) for the least stress; one male with 2-3 females (1.2 or 1.3) also works in a large, well-structured enclosure with sight barriers - but never two males together. The genus Acanthodactylus is known as markedly aggressive, with rivals continually fighting over territory and the basking spot until one is injured or permanently driven off; females usually get along but need their own warm spots and hides.

Notes

A coastal dune species; it takes a little more humidity than the inland forms.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bosk's fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus boskianus) – Intermediate
• Dumeril's fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus dumerilii) – Intermediate
• Spiny-footed lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus) – Intermediate
• Spotted fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus maculatus) – Intermediate
• Long-footed fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus longipes) – Intermediate
• Leopard fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus pardalis) – Intermediate
• Schreiber's fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus schreiberi) – Intermediate
• Nidua fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus scutellatus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Golden fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus aureus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×50 cm for a group), substrate (Deep sand they can dig in, with a few stones and dry 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.