Painted tree iguana (Liolaemus pictus)

Short answers

Painted tree iguana: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×60×100 cm for a pair.

Painted tree iguana: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 19–25 °C, basking spot Basking spot 30–33 °C, at night 14–18 °C.

Painted tree iguana: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0).

Painted tree iguana: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 6–12 years.

Painted tree iguana: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

19–25 °C

Night temperature

14–18 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 30–33 °C

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×60×100 cm for a pair

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate with climbing branches; for the dry-country species sand-loam with stones

Feeding

Food

Crickets, roaches, locusts and house crickets; the larger species also take plant food

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

15–20 cm

Life expectancy

6–12 years

Origin

Chile and Argentina, southern beech forest

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

No winter rest; somewhat cooler in winter

Cohabitation

Keep as a pair or one male with an extra female (1.2) in a sufficiently large, richly structured terrarium. Little evidence exists of male rivalry for this species itself; the related L. tenuis is documented as showing aggressive behaviour between males.

Notes

Live-bearing, from cool forest. Above 28 °C things get critical.

Do you keep this species?

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

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Related species

• Bibron's tree iguana (Liolaemus bibronii) – Intermediate
• Thin tree iguana (Liolaemus tenuis) – Intermediate
• Chilean tree iguana (Liolaemus chiliensis) – Intermediate
• Shiny tree iguana (Liolaemus nitidus) – Intermediate
• Sand tree iguana (Liolaemus wiegmannii) – Intermediate
• Barahona curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalus barahonensis) – Intermediate
• Blue tree iguana (Uracentron azureum) – Expert
• Thick-tailed whorltail iguana (Stenocercus crassicaudatus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Painted tree iguana (Liolaemus pictus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×60×100 cm for a pair), substrate (Forest-floor substrate with climbing branches; for the dry-country species sand-loam with stones), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.