Steppe runner (Eremias arguta)

Short answers

Steppe runner: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×40×40 cm, plenty of floor area, 8–15 cm of sand for digging.

Steppe runner: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–35 °C, basking spot 40–45 °C, at night 15–20 °C (may drop to ~10 °C at night).

Steppe runner: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed, high (Ferguson zone 3–4, UV index 4–6).

Steppe runner: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 8–10 years in captivity.

Steppe runner: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–35 °C

Night temperature

15–20 °C (may drop to ~10 °C at night)

Basking spot

40–45 °C

Humidity

40–60 % (surface dry, the lower sand layer permanently slightly damp)

UVB

UVB needed, high (Ferguson zone 3–4, UV index 4–6)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×40×40 cm, plenty of floor area, 8–15 cm of sand for digging

Substrate

Deep sand or sand-loam, the lower layer slightly damp; flat stones, roots

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, house crickets, small locusts, roaches), occasionally mealworms; dust with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

~16–20 cm total length (SVL ~7–9 cm)

Life expectancy

approx. 8–10 years in captivity

Origin

The eastern European and Asian steppe: from Romania and the Black Sea through the Caucasus and Central Asia to Mongolia and China

Protection status

Protected within its EU range (Bern Convention App. II); in the trade usually freely available captive-bred, no CITES – check the origin and paperwork according to your country

Brumation

A winter rest is needed: about 3 months (October to January) at ~4–10 °C in damp sand

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is recommended (not social); at most one male plus one female in a large enclosure under supervision; NEVER keep males together

Notes

A popular, active ground lizard (the "steppe runner"); it needs a strong warmth and UV gradient and a genuine cold winter rest – leaving that out is the commonest keeping mistake. A digger, so deep sand.

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Related species

• Lined racerunner (Eremias lineolata) – Intermediate
• Reticulate racerunner (Eremias grammica) – Intermediate
• Przewalski's racerunner (Eremias przewalskii) – Intermediate
• Racerunners (Eremias spp.) – Intermediate
• Rapid racerunner (Eremias velox) – Intermediate
• Strauch's racerunner (Eremias strauchi) – Intermediate
• Erhard's wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) – Beginner to intermediate
• Large psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Steppe runner (Eremias arguta) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×40×40 cm, plenty of floor area, 8–15 cm of sand for digging), substrate (Deep sand or sand-loam, the lower layer slightly damp; flat stones, roots), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.