Ionian wall lizard (Podarcis ionicus)

Short answers

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

100×50×60 cm for a group.

Ionian wall lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot Basking spot, locally 40–45 °C under the lamp, at night A night-time drop to 18–20 °C.

Ionian wall lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0 — these species bask for hours).

Ionian wall lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–10 years.

Ionian wall lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

A night-time drop to 18–20 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot, locally 40–45 °C under the lamp

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0 — these species bask for hours)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×60 cm for a group

Substrate

A sand-loam mix with stone slabs, a dry-stone wall and a few plants

Feeding

Food

Crickets, house crickets, roaches, wax moths and the occasional fruit, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

16–20 cm

Life expectancy

5–10 years

Origin

Southern Albania, western Greece including the Peloponnese and the Ionian Islands (Corfu, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos)

Protection status

Bern Convention Appendix II — proof of origin required

Brumation

A mild rest period of 6–8 weeks at 10–15 °C, lighting off and no feeding; no cold overwintering at 5 °C. Without this rest, breeding won't happen.

Cohabitation

1.2 or 1.3; never keep males together. 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

Formerly placed with P. tauricus, a species in its own right since 2019.

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
• Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus campestris) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ionian wall lizard (Podarcis ionicus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×60 cm for a group), substrate (A sand-loam mix with stone slabs, a dry-stone wall and a few plants), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.