| general
|
| description |
The largest lizard in
Tasmania. Although common and widespread in Tasmania,
these lizards are very secretive and relatively seldom
observed in the wild. |
| appearance |
heavy-bodied, short-limbed
species with a short, tapering tail. The head is large
and distinct from the neck, and the face is usually cream
to orange in colour. The body pattern usually consists
of paler bands or blotches on a dark background |
| distribution |
 
southeastern Australia (Tasmania) |
| adult
size |
upto 19" |
| life
span |
approx. 20 years |
| housing |
| natural
habitats |
Terrestrial, solitary;
up to an altitude of about 740 m, but more common in lower
altitudes |
| cage
|
It should be large enough
but does not need to be high because they do not climb
much. (e.g. Wooden Terrarium,
Glass Terrarium) |
| substrate |
Soil, gravel, barks (e.g.
Repti Bark, Coconut
Bark), fine sand (e.g. Repti
Sand, Calci-Sand),
compressed paper granules (e.g. Good
Mews) |
| activity
period |
 Nighttime (nocturnal);
give heat and help monitoring by infrared lamps (e.g. Nightlight
Red Bulb, Infrared
Heat Lamp) where the light is invisible for it but
humans |
| temperature |
30 - 32 ¢XC -- basking
spot (e.g. Basking
Spot Lamp)
23 - 26 ¢XC -- cooler area (e.g. Daylight
Blue Bulb)
19 - 22 ¢XC -- at night (e.g. Nightlight
Red Bulb, Infrared
Heat Lamp, Ceramic
Heat Emitter) |
| humidity |
mid |
| water
dish |
A small water dish (e.g.
Rock water dish)
should be availabe to access |
| hiding
place |
Optional. Possibllites
include caves (e.g. Habba
Hut, Heat Cave), etc |
| diet |
| diet |
Omnivorous
(both plant and meat-eating);
Flowers, fungi, veggies, soft fruits (e.g. banana, kiwi,
strawberries, peaches, plums, mangos, tomatos), slow-moving
invertebrates (e.g. snails, slugs), occasionally pinkie
mice or rats |
| notes |
a large diversity of food
items should be offered |
| reproduction |
| reproduction
|
viviparous; bears about
5 - 12 live young in autumn |
| mating
season |
Nov - Dec |
