Common Name: Curly Tail Lizard
Scientific Name: family Tropiduridae (subfamily Leiocephalinae)
Average Length: 4 - 12 inches
Curly Tail lizards are native to northern areas of Haiti. These are lizards that can be found anywhere from sandy beaches to open forests or rocky deserts. They are ground dwellers, but can be found climbing among rocks and low branches. The name comes from the rapidly twitching tail. The tail is used for fighting and threatening other Curly Tails by lashing it around furiously. Its tail is also used to distract predators during an attack. The lizard will frantically twitch its tail to focus the attacker's attention on the tail. When the attack is made the tail is released and the lizard hopefully gets away living to grow a new tail, though never looking the same as the original. Don't handle this animal by the tail or you to may be left holding a tail. Jeweled Curly tail Lizards are terrestrial and many males are territorial, so males should not be kept together.
Captive Environment: A 20-gallon-long terrarium with a deep substrate will work well for one or two lizards. The top layers of the substrate should be dry, and the bottom layer should be slightly damp. Provide branches to climb on, and rocks to hide among. You may use reptile carpet, retile bark, reptile soil mixes or shredded coconut fiber as a substrate.
Temperature: daytime temperatures should be about 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a basking spot about 95 degrees. At night the temperature should be in the low to mid 70s. There are several methods for establishing the proper temperature range for your reptile. Using spotlights of variable wattage incandescent bulbs on the outside of the enclosure, under tank heaters or heat rocks or any combination of these. When using spotlights for 24 hour heat use red, night bulbs or a ceramic heating element to maintain day / night light cycle. Never place lights inside the enclosure where the reptile could come in contact with them and get burned. Use a thermometer to ensure proper temperature range is maintained.
Lighting: These are diurnal lizards (active during daytime). Full-Spectrum lighting that emits UVB is a must for captive reptiles. Reptiles depend on ultra-violet light to synthesize vitamin D3, which regulates calcium absorption in the intestine. The light should be positioned less than 18" from your pet for maximum effect. Glass blocks ultraviolet light, and air circulation, therefore it should never be used as a top for the enclosure. A 12- hour day/ night lighting cycle is a good start for your pet reptile. Using a timer is the best way to ensure that the proper amount of light is received.
Food: Curly Tails are robust animals and can handle eating medium to large crickets. They will also eat small amounts of vegetation, small pieces of green leaf lettuce and sweet fruit, or lick fruit flavored baby food from shallow dish.
Water: Provide a shallow bowl of clean dechlorinated water for them to drink from. They should be able to easily get out of the bowl should they fall in.
NOTE: This care sheet is a general guide, to learn more about your pet consult a book about it.
