Vaucher's wall lizard (Podarcis vaucheri)

Short answers

Vaucher's wall lizard: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×60 cm for a group.

Vaucher's wall lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot Basking spot 38–45 °C, at night 12–18 °C.

Vaucher's wall lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0 — these species bask for hours).

Vaucher's wall lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–10 years.

Vaucher's wall lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

12–18 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 38–45 °C

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0 — these species bask for hours)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×60 cm for a group

Substrate

A sand-loam mix with stone slabs, a dry-stone wall and a few plants

Feeding

Food

Crickets, house crickets, roaches, wax moths and the occasional fruit, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

12–18 cm

Life expectancy

5–10 years

Origin

Southern Spain and southern Portugal, Morocco (in the High Atlas up to 3,100 m), northwestern Algeria and Tunisia

Protection status

Bern Convention Appendix II — proof of origin required

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 5–10 °C — without it there is no breeding and a markedly shorter life

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

Found on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Aeolian wall lizard (Podarcis raffonei) – Expert
• Erhard's wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) – Beginner to intermediate
• Lilford's wall lizard (Podarcis lilfordi) – Expert
• Bocage's wall lizard (Podarcis bocagei) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Carbonell's wall lizard (Podarcis carbonelli) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Geniez's wall lizard (Podarcis virescens) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Guadarrama wall lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Ionian wall lizard (Podarcis ionicus) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Vaucher's wall lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×60 cm for a group), substrate (A sand-loam mix with stone slabs, a dry-stone wall and a few plants), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.