| general
|
| description |
1 of only 2 venomous lizards
in the entire world, the slow-moving Gila uses its keen
senses of smell and taste to find nests and burrows; then
it usually relies on its powerful jaws (rather than its
potent venom) to subdue its prey. Also, it is the largest
lizard in the U.S. |
| distribution |
U.S.A.
(from extreme southwest Utah to southern Sonora
and northern Sinaloa; extreme southwest New Mexico to
southern Nevada and just into California) |
| adult
size |
20" - 24" |
| subspecies |
suspectum -- Reticulated
Gila Monster
cinctum -- Banded Gila Monster |
| housing |
| natural
habitats |
Terrestrial, solitary;
desert areas, arid wetter, rockier paloverde-sequaro desert
scrub association than the drier, sandier creosote bush-bersage
association, up to an elevation of 1500m |
| cage
|
Cage should be large instead
of tall since it does not climb much. (e.g. Wooden
Terrarium, Glass
Terrarium) |
| substrate |
Soil, gravel, sand (e.g.
Repti Sand, Calci-Sand),
barks (e.g. Repti Bark,
Coconut Bark) |
| activity
period |
 Daytime (diurnal);
12
- 14 hours each day with direct natural sunlight or UV
lamp (e.g. ReptiSun 5.0,
UV Heat Bulb) |
| temperature |
38 - 40 ¢XC -- basking
spot (e.g. Basking
Spot Lamp)
26 - 30 ¢XC -- cooler area (e.g. Daylight
Blue Bulb)
18 - 24 ¢XC -- at night (e.g. Nightlight
Red Bulb, Infrared
Heat Lamp, Ceramic
Heat Emitter) |
| humidity |
40 - 50 % |
| water
dish |
Optional. a water dish
(e.g. Rock water dish)
can be left in the cage sometimes but not all the time |
| hiding
place |
Optional. Possibllites
include caves (e.g. Habba
Hut, Heat Cave), etc |
| diet |
| wild
diet |
Carnivorous (meat-eating);
small rodents,
juvenile birds, bird and reptile eggs |
| captive
food |
dead rodents
(e.g. mice, rats), occasionally chicken eggs |
| how
often to feed? |
Every day for hatchlings;
4 - 5 times a week for juveniles;
3 - 4 times a week for adults |
| reproduction |
| reproduction
|
Oviparous; lays 5- 12
eggs in july to augest |
| incubation
|
approx. 10 months (a lot
sooner in captive) |
