Madagascar girdled lizard (Zonosaurus madagascariensis)

Short answers

Madagascar girdled lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×50 cm.

Madagascar girdled lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 40 °C, at night 19–23 °C.

Madagascar girdled lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

Madagascar girdled lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–20 years.

Madagascar girdled lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

19–23 °C

Basking spot

40 °C

Humidity

60–75 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×50 cm

Substrate

Coco humus and sand with leaf litter, roots, a large water dish

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches, fruit, leafy greens

Feeding interval

3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

30–40 cm total length

Life expectancy

12–20 years

Origin

Madagascar – forest edges and coasts

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

A pair or 1.2. 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

To be kept more humid than the African plated lizards. It swims well and uses water actively – a large, shallow water dish is part of the setup. Diurnal and easy to watch.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Madagascar girdled lizard (Zonosaurus madagascariensis) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Bronze plated lizard (Zonosaurus aeneus) – Intermediate
• Giant plated lizard (Zonosaurus maximus) – Intermediate
• Karsten's girdled lizard (Zonosaurus karsteni) – Intermediate
• Broad-tailed girdled lizard (Zonosaurus laticaudatus) – Intermediate
• Ornate girdled lizard (Zonosaurus ornatus) – Intermediate
• Four-lined girdled lizard (Zonosaurus quadrilineatus) – Intermediate
• Rough-scaled plated lizard (Broadleysaurus major) – Intermediate
• Yellow-throated plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus flavigularis) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Madagascar girdled lizard (Zonosaurus madagascariensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×50 cm), substrate (Coco humus and sand with leaf litter, roots, a large water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.