Western New York Herpetological Society
www.wnyherp.org
©
2001 - 2003 by Western New York Herpetological Society
This document is for guidance only and should not be used as the sole source of information. New information is being developed
daily. It is recommend that a concerted effort be made to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the animals of interest.
Common Name:
Long Tail lizard Latin Name: Takydromas sexlineatus
Long Tail Grass Lizard
Native to:
Southeast Asia
Size:
6-8 inches long with ¾ of the length being the tail
Life span:
If taken care of properly, five years or more.
General Appearance:
The overall color is brown with a possible greenish hue. There are stripes going
down the long tail lizard’s back that is normally brown with white and black bordering the stripes.
Their tail is usually about ¾ of the length. The underside is usually creamy white. They have a
triangular head.
Housing Requirements:
Enclosure:
A minimum of a 15-gallon enclosure for a single lizard. It is important to have a
secure fitting screen top for air exchange.
Temperature:
The ambient temperature should be 75° - 85° F. The basking site should be 90° -
95° F. During the night the temperatures can fall to 65° - 70° F.
Heat/Light:
Because long tail lizards are awake during the day it is important to use a full
spectrum bulb. Ceramic emitters, under the tank heat mat, and incandescent bulbs can be
used to achieve proper temperatures. Hot rocks are not recommended.
Substrate:
Coconut fiber, peat moss, bark chips, sterilized soil and paper towels are all considered
to be suitable bedding.
Environment:
Long tail lizards are ground dwelling lizards and should mimic a sparse forest
habitat. Plenty of hiding spots and branches to climb on should be provided. They should
have about 70% humidity in their tank.
Diet:
Gut loaded crickets, waxworms, mealworms, butter worms, red wigglers, and earthworms can all be
fed to the long tail lizard 3 times a week.
Maintenance:
The enclosure should be spot cleaned daily. A thorough cleaning should be performed on a
regular basis. A 5% bleach solution is an excellent disinfectant. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the
enclosure before replacing the substrate and placing the lizard back in the enclosure. Hand
washing after handling the lizard or any cage furnishings is essential.
Other references or recommended reading:
http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/allpets/lizards/longtailliz
http://www.centralpets.com
http://www.herptiles.org
http://www.calzoo.com/pdf/careoflizards.pdf