| general
|
| description |
It has a white,
cream, or gray ground color with irregular brown or dark
gray spots covering the head and body. Occasionally, dark
dorsal bars cross the back. The tail also has dark transverse
bars giving the appearance of banding. |
| distribution |
U.S.A.
(Oregon to Idaho and south to northern Mexico in Baja
California, Sonora and Zacatecas) |
| adult
size |
S.V.L. 5.8" for females
; 4.8" for males |
| predators |
birds, snakes, coyotes,
badgers and kit fox |
| housing |
| natural
habitats |
Terrestrial; desert flats
and lower foothills with sparse vegetation |
| cage
|
Cage needs not to be very
tall since it does not climb much. (e.g. Wooden
Terrarium, Glass
Terrarium) Inside it should be various sizes of rocks.
Project the basking spot upon a rock is preferable. |
| substrate |
gravel, fine sand (e.g.
Repti sand, Calci-Sand) |
| 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 - 43 ¢XC -- basking
spot (e.g. Basking
Spot Lamp)
29 - 35 ¢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 |
30 - 40 % |
| water
dish |
Optional. a small 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);
large arthropods (e.g. insects, worms, spiders), small
lizards and snakes |
| captive
diet |
various large insects
and worms |
| 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 |
| eggs |
lays 4 - 6 large and rounded
eggs in 1 -2 clutches per year, incubation period is generally
52-95 days |
