Nevada ocellated lizard (Timon nevadensis)

Short answers

Nevada ocellated lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

One animal from approx. 150×80×80 cm; a pair 180×100×100 cm, a group from 250×150×150 cm.

Nevada ocellated lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 23–28 °C, basking spot 40–45 °C (basking spot), at night 16–20 °C.

Nevada ocellated lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB is essential (a large heliotherm, Ferguson zone 3–4, UV index 4–6); an HQI or metal-halide lamp plus a UV lamp.

Nevada ocellated lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15+ years.

Nevada ocellated lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

23–28 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

40–45 °C (basking spot)

Humidity

40–60 % (Mediterranean and dry, more humid hides)

UVB

UVB is essential (a large heliotherm, Ferguson zone 3–4, UV index 4–6); an HQI or metal-halide lamp plus a UV lamp

Enclosure

Minimum size

one animal from approx. 150×80×80 cm; a pair 180×100×100 cm, a group from 250×150×150 cm

Substrate

A sand-loam mix they can dig in, large rock structures, cork bark, a water dish

Feeding

Food

Large insects (locusts, roaches, house crickets), rose chafer larvae; rarely small vertebrates; a little fruit or flowers

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

total length up to ~80 cm (SVL up to 26 cm)

Life expectancy

10–15+ years

Origin

The south-eastern Iberian Peninsula (Andalusia, the Sierra Nevada area), endemic; until 2013 a subspecies of Timon lepidus

Protection status

A Spanish endemic; Bern Convention; national protection rules in Spain. No CITES; in the trade as captive-bred – keep proof of origin and legality, and no wild-caught animals.

Brumation

A winter rest of 2–3 months at 8–12 °C

Cohabitation

A pair is the least stressful option; a harem (one male with several females) also works in a large, well-structured enclosure with sight barriers - but never two males together. The genus is described by Wikipedia as quarrelsome, defending its territory fiercely against conspecifics.

Notes

A very large, powerful ocellated lizard – kept properly only with a correspondingly large enclosure. Care practically identical to Timon lepidus. A common mistake: too small a terrarium, too little UV and warmth.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Moroccan ocellated lizard (Timon pater) – Intermediate
• Ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus) – Intermediate
• Atlas ocellated lizard (Timon tangitanus) – Intermediate
• Zagros ocellated lizard (Timon princeps) – Intermediate
• Erhard's wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) – Beginner to intermediate
• Large psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) – Intermediate
• Pamphylian green lizard (Lacerta pamphylica) – Intermediate
• Lilford's wall lizard (Podarcis lilfordi) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Nevada ocellated lizard (Timon nevadensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (one animal from approx. 150×80×80 cm; a pair 180×100×100 cm, a group from 250×150×150 cm), substrate (A sand-loam mix they can dig in, large rock structures, cork bark, a 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.