Care Sheet - Oriental Garden Lizard

Scientific name
Calotes versicolor
Other Common names
The Oriental Garden Lizard, Eastern Garden Lizard, Changeable Lizard
Habitat
The native range of the species includes SE Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal,
Bhutan, India (including the Andaman Islands and particularly common in mainland
India), Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Myanmar, Thailand, Western Malaysia, Maldives,
Vietnam, Pulo Condore Island, South China (Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi,
Hongkong, Hainan Island), Indonesia (Sumatra), Mauritius (Reunion, Rodrigues). It
has been introduced to Oman, Singapore, and United States. The lizards were
introduced to Singapore from Malaysia and Thailand in the 1980s. In Singapore, they
are a threat to the native Green-Crested Lizard. The Changeable Lizard is relatively
common and found in a wide range of habitats. They appear to adapt well to humans
and are thus not endangered.
Open plains, forests, not bound to a specific biotope, Lives close to villages etc,
Diurnal
Size
Up to 40 cm
Life Expectancy
10+ years??
Reproduction
10-25 eggs, incubation period at 30C about 40-50 days.The male gets a bright red
throat in the breeding season which falls in May and June.
Temperature
Between 26-30C, Basking spots up to 35 C, Night turn down to about 20-23C.
Humidity
70-95%

Lighting
UV fluorescent tubes, Arcadia D3 Compact". "Incandescent spot lighting" for the
creation of basking spots.
Substrate
Loose, absorptive substrate Coir, forest/Orchid bark.
Cage Furniture
Branches for climbing make sure some are vertical. A textured background is
recommended. Planting is required Ficus benjamina, F. pumila, Scindapsus, etc.
Artificial plants can also be used. Various hiding places and a large water bowl.
Food
Insects (e.g. crickets, house crickets, locusts, cockroaches, super mealworms, wax
moths, etc.) Regular additions of Calcium+D3 and vitamins should be added to the
food 3 times a week or as directed by the supplements instructions.
John Gamesby