SUDAN PLATED LIZARD by Stuart Dodsworth
Gerrhosaurus major
Distribution
This species of Plated Lizard has many common names which include; Tawny
Plated Lizard, Great Plated Lizard, Rough Scaled Plated Lizard, Sudan
Plated Lizard and Giant Plated Lizard.
There are currently two subspecies of this interesting lizard recognized
and they are Gerrhosaurus major major and Gerrhosaurus major bottegoi.
It originates from semi-arid areas of Eastern Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi,
Northern Zambia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Togo, Northern Congo, Republic of
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Southern Sudan, Northern Zaire, Cameroon and
Nigeria.
Prior to getting this species research as much as possible and if possible
spend time with a current keeper to see if this is the species for you,
it is also worth joining your local reptile society/group as they will
be able to give you hints and tips (and you may be able to do the same
for them).
Size
There is now size difference between the sexes and both average around
40 to 45cm in total length, with some reaching 50cm.
Hatchlings are usually between 10 and 15cm in total length.
Diet
This omnivorous lizard should be maintained on a wide variety of insects
(Crickets, locusts, wax worms, mealworms, waxworm moths, mealworm beetles,
etc), other invertebrates (Earthworms, Snails, etc) as well as pinky
mice (defrosted). These should all be gut loaded prior to being fed
to your lizard and dusted with a calcium powder.
A large variety of leafy greens and fruits should also be offered to
this species. Overripe fruits seem to be a particular favourite.
Some older caresheets recommend dogfood. This should be not be used
as it has been linked to various nutritional and digestive disorders.
Requirements
· Heat Source:- The heat source should always be thermostatically
controlled and guarded to prevent thermal burns. Heat sources which
can be used for this species are reflector spot light (green or red)
and ceramic heaters. Heat mats should be avoided as this species burrows
to regulate its temperature (ie cool down).
· Ultra Violet Light Source:- This is essential for this species
and the best brand to use at present is the Reptisun 5.0. It should
be positioned no more than 30cm away from the basking animal and left
on for 10-12 hours daily. This should be replaced every 6-7 months depending
on the manufacturer's advice. Care should be taken if your reptile has
unpigmented eyes (amelanistic or albinos or any other red eyed morph)as
it can damage their eyes. UV lights should never be placed behind glass
or plastic as this filters out the essential UV rays. Vitamin D3 supplements
should not be used whilst UV lighting is used.
· Thermostat:- These should always be used on heat sources to
prevent excessive temperatures damaging your reptile.
· Housing:- A well ventilated dark wooden vivarium with a glass
frontage is ideal for this species. Due to their shy nature the vivarium
should be situated away from drafty, busy areas of the house and well
away from any vibrations such as speakers, tvs, etc as the vibrations
distress the animals. Hatchlings can be kept in a smaller container
inside their future Vivarium. A Vivarium measuring approximately 120cm
x 60cm x 60cm (4ft x 2ft x 2ft), is fine for a pair of these reptiles.
However larger enclosures are better and males should not be housed
together due to possible territorial aggression.
· Wire Mesh Guards:- These should be fitted over all heat sources
used in order to prevent any thermal burns from occurring.
· Thermometers:- One should be placed at either end of the vivarium.
Never go by the temperature on the thermostat as this is often incorrect.
· Hides:- These are an essential part of any vivarium as they
provide the animals with an area to escape from the stresses of over
exposure. They should also be provided with some branches, as some species
require areas to climb. Half buried ceramic pipes and logs all make
good hides for this species to hide amongst.
Water and Humidity
A large ceramic/earthenware dog bowl is best for these reptiles as they
are harder for them to tip over. This water should be changed daily
as this is also the water they drink. It is also beneficial to mist
the enclosure every few days with tepid water to maintain a good humidity
level. A humid hide containing damp sphagnum moss should be provided
in order to prevent disecdysis.
Temperature
During the day temperatures should reach a least 32C (90F) at the basking
site, dropping down to around 26C (80F) at the cooler end. 23-24C (75F)
is a suitable temperature for night times.
Longevity
These animals tend to live for 10 to 20 years in captivity, although
the majority of specimens tend to be wild caught so accurate longevities
can not be known until captive bred offspring have been kept for their
full life spans.
Substrate
Ensure that a dry basking area is available. Large pieces of (Dust free
and not pine or cedar) Bark Mulch can be used to good effect or a soil/sand
mix also has beneficial effects by allowing the lizards to burrow this
should be at least 5cm deep to allow natural behaviour.
NB - Photograph taken from Honololoo Zoo's Website
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/great_plated_lizard.htm
Map taken from http://www.lifemapper.org/robotfood/Reptile/Gerrhosaurus%20major.HTM
Recommended Reading/Useful Contacts
Stuart Dodsworth - stuartandlynette@dodsworth2005.wanadoo.co.uk
The International Herpetological Society - www.international-herp-society.co.uk
The British Herpetological Society - www.thebhs.org
Taxonomy Information - http://srs.embl-heidelberg.de:8000/srs5bin/cgi-bin/wgetz?-e+[REPTILIA-Species:'Gerrhosaurus_SP_major']
http://www.pondturtle.com/lliza.html - Info on lifespans.
http://reptiles.passion.free.fr/classification/sauriens/scincomorphes/gerrhosaure/gerrhosaurus-major-bottegoi.htm
http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_rough-scaled_plated_lizard.html
http://www.unc.edu/~dtkirkpa/stuff/plated.html
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/great_plated_lizard.htm
http://www.rossparkzoo.com/animals/platedlizard.htm