Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)

Short answers

Ornate tree lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×60 cm for a group.

Ornate tree lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–33 °C, basking spot Basking spot 42–48 °C, at night 15–20 °C.

Ornate tree lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12.0).

Ornate tree lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 4–6 years.

Ornate tree lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–33 °C

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 42–48 °C

Humidity

30–50 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0–12.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×60 cm for a group

Substrate

Diggable sand-clay mix, plus trunks, branches, cork tubes and climbing walls, along with one corner kept lightly moist

Feeding

Food

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

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

11–15 cm

Life expectancy

4–6 years

Origin

The south-western USA and northern Mexico

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A cooler rest of 8–12 weeks at 10–15 °C

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

It climbs on trees and rocks. It needs vertical structure.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Mojave fringe-toed lizard (Uma scoparia) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Greater earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard (Uma notata) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Aliniger anole (Anolis aliniger) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Allogus anole (Anolis allogus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Bahoruco anole (Anolis bahorucoensis) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×60 cm for a group), substrate (Diggable sand-clay mix, plus trunks, branches, cork tubes and climbing walls, along with one corner kept lightly moist), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.