Imbricate alligator lizard (Barisia imbricata)

Short answers

Imbricate alligator lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×40×40 cm.

Imbricate alligator lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C (COOL), basking spot 32 °C, at night 10–16 °C.

Imbricate alligator lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0–10.0).

Imbricate alligator lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Imbricate alligator lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C (COOL)

Night temperature

10–16 °C

Basking spot

32 °C

Humidity

60–75 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 5.0–10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×40 cm

Substrate

Forest floor with a thick layer of leaf litter, stones, pieces of bark

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, earthworms, slugs

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–35 cm total length

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

Central Mexico – high montane forest

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 12–16 weeks at 5–10 °C

Cohabitation

A pair. Two males will not work together — they fight over territory and the warm spot until one is seriously injured or spends its life in a corner. One male with several females, on the other hand, works reliably. What matters is several warm spots and hides so that subordinate animals can get out of the way, and separate feeding as soon as the animals differ in size.

Notes

A live-bearing highland species from over 2,500 m – keep it cool, as summer heat is critical. It needs a long, cold winter rest for health and reproduction.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Madrean alligator lizard (Elgaria kingii) – Intermediate
• Asian glass lizard (Dopasia gracilis) – Intermediate
• Slow worm (Anguis fragilis) – Intermediate
• Hart's glass lizard (Dopasia harti) – Intermediate
• Italian slow worm (Anguis veronensis) – Intermediate
• California legless lizard (Anniella pulchra) – Intermediate
• Moroccan glass lizard (Ophisaurus koellikeri) – Intermediate
• Eastern slow worm (Anguis colchica) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Imbricate alligator lizard (Barisia imbricata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×40 cm), substrate (Forest floor with a thick layer of leaf litter, stones, pieces of bark), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.