Recommended Enclosures :

Being excellent burrowers, G. flavigularis does not require a tall enclosure. One adult lizard may be housed easily in a 20 gallon long glass aquarium but large accommodations are always recommended, upwards of a 4ftL x 4ftW x 2ftH enclosure. Lid should be screened to allow for air changes and release of excess heat. Lid should be secure, even able to be locked, since these lizards can climb or jump when necessary and are strong enough to lift many commercially available lids easily. Substrate can vary. Newspaper, recycled paper liners, and reptile carpet are acceptable but do not allow for burrowing. Crushed, rounded walnut shells, leaf-litter, or reptile bark (dry mulch) substrate are suitable and allow for burrowing. Sand should be avoided to prevent impaction due to ingestion. Although G. flavigularis does not shy away from open spaces, a hide box should also be provided to allow shelter from heat and environmental stress. Substrate should be sifted a few times each week to remove loose fecal material and changed completely at least every three months. Wet substrate, especially wood varieties, should be removed in a timely manner to prevent mold or fungus growth. Hide can be cork bark, half-log real wood, stone cave, or false stone cave. A large, shallow water dish should be provided and water changed daily. Artificial plants can be added to vivarium for appearance and shelter. Rocks a various sizes are also acceptable and provide both hiding spaces and basking locations. Large rocks should be placed in cage securely to prevent rolling or slipping. Logs or branches can also be added provided they are properly disinfected. 

Lighting and Heating :

A heat lamp with a simple 60-watt bulb can be sat on top of the lid (as long as the lid is heat resistant – metal frames are best). A broad-spectrum reptile bulb is recommended and UVA/UVB lighting can be used but is not necessary. Light should be provided for approximately 12 hours each day with 12 hours of dark. Cycles may be changed to match natural daylight cycles but a consistent day/night cycle is recommended. If necessary at night, a blue or black reptile ‘night’ light can be used to supplement heat. Since G. flavigularis prefers arid to desert climates, the temperature of the enclosure should be between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and about 10-15 degrees less at night. Under tank heatpads are also available for heating but lighting should still be provided for proper maintenance of circadian rhythms. There are a variety of different cage thermometers available and regulating and monitoring the temperature in any enclosure is a good idea. Digital thermometers are best for accurate monitoring and are fairly inexpensive. Humidity maintenance is not necessary as humidity can be relatively low. If scales are not shedding properly, misting the lizard with warm water is acceptable to aid shedding process. 

Feeding :

G. flavigularis is insectivorous and should be offered crickets dusted with a calcium supplement three times a week. One adult lizard can easily consume 8-12 crickets at one feeding but care should be taken to avoid overfeeding. Crickets may be left in cage until next feeding, but fewer crickets should be added if there are any leftover from previous feeding. Mealworms and waxworms can also be offered once weekly as a supplemental food source. Worms should be offered in shallow dish to deter escape as they will burrow into loose substrate. Grasshoppers and termites can also be offered. Wild caught insects should be avoided as these insects may harbor transmissible parasites. Some lizards will accept fruit such as apples, pears, banana, strawberries, or grapes, chopped finely but most will not. Such diet supplements should only be offered as treats a few times a month.