Sonoran collared lizard (Crotaphytus nebrius)

Short answers

Sonoran collared lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

150×80×80 cm for a pair.

Sonoran collared lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–34 °C, basking spot 45–50 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Sonoran collared lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0, a very high requirement).

Sonoran collared lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Sonoran collared lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–34 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

45–50 °C

Humidity

30–45 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0, a very high requirement)

Enclosure

Minimum size

150×80×80 cm for a pair

Substrate

A sand-loam mix they can dig in, with securely built rock slabs and stone structures on top

Feeding

Food

Robust insects such as locusts, roaches and crickets; larger animals also take small lizards; calcium and vitamins regularly

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–35 cm

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Arizona and Sonora – rocky desert and dry mountain foothills

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; IUCN "Least Concern"

Brumation

A cooler rest of 8–10 weeks at 12–16 °C

Cohabitation

Kept in pairs (1.1); males must never be housed together. In closely related collared lizards it is documented that males placed together in a terrarium fight to the death; a single male, however, can claim and defend several females as a 'harem'. Females usually get along but need their own basking and hiding spots; feed separately if sizes differ.

Notes

Long treated as a subspecies of collaris and split off as a species of its own only in 1996. More powerfully built and sand-coloured to orange rather than green. Care as for the collared lizard; the animals take summer heat if anything even better and need a genuinely hot basking spot.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Sonoran collared lizard (Crotaphytus nebrius) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Baja collared lizard (Crotaphytus vestigium) – Intermediate
• Venerable collared lizard (Crotaphytus antiquus) – Expert
• Grismer's collared lizard (Crotaphytus grismeri) – Expert
• Dickerson's collared lizard (Crotaphytus dickersonae) – Intermediate
• Great Basin collared lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores) – Intermediate
• Common collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) – Intermediate
• Baja California collared lizard (Crotaphytus insularis) – Expert
• Reticulate collared lizard (Crotaphytus reticulatus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Sonoran collared lizard (Crotaphytus nebrius) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150×80×80 cm for a pair), substrate (A sand-loam mix they can dig in, with securely built rock slabs and stone structures on top), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.