Sungazer (Smaug giganteus)

Short answers

Sungazer: How big does the enclosure need to be?

150×70×50 cm.

Sungazer: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 45 °C, at night 14–19 °C.

Sungazer: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %).

Sungazer: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20–30 years.

Sungazer: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

14–19 °C

Basking spot

45 °C

Humidity

35–50 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

150×70×50 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam 20–30 cm for burrowing, large stone slabs

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches, beetles, a little greenery

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

30–40 cm total length

Life expectancy

20–30 years

Origin

South Africa – highland grassland

Protection status

CITES II; IUCN "Vulnerable" – only documented captive-bred animals

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 8–14 °C

Cohabitation

A colony is possible. Two males will not work together — they fight over territory and the warm spot until one is seriously injured or spends its life in a corner. One male with several females, on the other hand, works reliably. What matters is several warm spots and hides so that subordinate animals can get out of the way, and separate feeding as soon as the animals differ in size.

Notes

It digs deep burrows in grassland rather than living in rock crevices – the substrate has to be very deep and compactable. Live-bearing, very slow-growing and extremely long-lived. Populations in South Africa are falling sharply.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Breyer's girdled lizard (Smaug breyeri) – Intermediate
• Flat girdled lizard (Smaug depressus) – Intermediate
• Mozambique girdled lizard (Smaug mossambicus) – Intermediate
• Warren's girdled lizard (Smaug warreni) – Intermediate
• Drakensberg crag lizard (Pseudocordylus subviridis) – Intermediate
• Common crag lizard (Pseudocordylus melanotus) – Intermediate
• Jones' girdled lizard (Cordylus jonesii) – Beginner
• Cape girdled lizard (Cordylus cordylus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Sungazer (Smaug giganteus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (150×70×50 cm), substrate (Sand-loam 20–30 cm for burrowing, large stone slabs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.