Venerable collared lizard (Crotaphytus antiquus)

Short answers

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

150×80×80 cm for a pair.

Venerable collared lizard: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot 45–48 °C, at night 14–18 °C.

Venerable collared lizard: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Venerable collared lizard: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Venerable collared lizard: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

14–18 °C

Basking spot

45–48 °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; calcium and vitamins regularly

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

25–33 cm

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Only southern Coahuila, Mexico, at around 1,100 m – an isolated mountain island

Protection status

Not listed under CITES, but IUCN "Endangered" with a tiny range. A Mexican endemic, and export is blocked. Practically impossible to obtain legally.

Brumation

A cooler rest of 10–12 weeks at 10–14 °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

Listed here for completeness. The species lives in a single mountain range and is considered badly threatened; it does not appear in the trade, and any offer should be examined very critically. Its altitude implies the one thing that is certainly different from the lowland species: markedly cooler nights and a longer, colder winter rest. Keeper literature effectively does not exist.

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Related species

• Baja collared lizard (Crotaphytus vestigium) – Intermediate
• 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
• Sonoran collared lizard (Crotaphytus nebrius) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Venerable collared lizard (Crotaphytus antiquus) 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.