Family: Lacertidae – Genus: Takydromus – Species: Takydromus sexlineatus (subspecies: ocellatus)

 

This care-sheet gives you basic information about keeping Takydromus sexlineatus. With only reading a care-sheet you are not well prepared for starting with keeping grass lizards. Always look for more information that goes deeper into certain subjects and read about nuances in keeping the lizards. So read this and learn what you have to study before you start with keeping grass lizards.

 

Habitat :

 

Tropical grasslands, disturbed forests, plantations. Sunny sides!

 

Size :

 

The lizard is about 6 cm long, with a tail that is up to 3 times it’s body size. There is not much difference in size between males and females.

 

Difference in gender

 

Males have femoral pores on their thighs and a thicker tale base compared to females. Their colors there is more contrast between the colors of stripes and they ‘re somehow more robust then females.

 

The males of the sub species Takydromus sexlineatus ocellatus have bright white pearls on their sides, which can be found, much less developed, on the main species too.

 

Vivarium decor 

 

A tropical terrarium with a large dry area. Common tropical terrariums are most of the time to wet, for the well-being of Asian grass lizards. Planted with plants who can stand a bit of drought so now and then, a smaller part of functional plants who might need a little more water and lots of branches and twigs, placed horizontally an vertically throughout the terrarium. Keep the plants in pots or make compartments for plants and for drier substrate.  The terrarium should have a climbable background and sides to  increase the roaming space of the lizard.

 

Divide the enclosure into two habitats, a dry area, which should be larger on one side and a moisture part on the opposite side. This way you can create micro-climates which gives the lizard the opportunity to choose between warmer drier areas en cooler and wetter places.

 

Do not place waterfalls, mist-machines or all area rain installations. Rather spray water by hand, so you can aim to mist one side of the tank more then the other.

 

I will be more specific about terrarium decor, plants and so on in articles called specials. 

 

Vivarium size

 

One couple 60 x 50 x 60 cm (Length x depth x height)

 

A group of 4 or 5 grass lizards  120 x 50 x 60 cm

 

It will be noticed that the recommended sizes are larger then you find in most care-sheets. With these sizes you don’t have to worry about keeping your lizards in too small enclosures. But bigger is better.

 

Grass lizards are arboreal, but the crucial difference with a lot of other arboreal species, is that Takydromus sexlineatus moves around mostly horizontally and diagonally. Therefor they need space in height but also in length.

 

With more length you will increase the lizard’s moving space and micro-climate possibilities. Especially with a group extra length is recommended.

 

With more depth you will increase the sense of security (very important), the lizard’s moving space, more micro-climates and less disturbance when laying eggs, mating etc.

 

With more height you increase the variety of warmer and colder areas, the moving space, the possibility of placing very functional plants for climbing, hiding and egg laying.

 

Vivarium climate

 

Wintertime: 25 to 30 degrees Celsius at daytime and 18/20 degrees Celsius at night. Day length 12 hours. Reduce water-sprinkling.

 

Under the sunspot the temperature must be 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. Wintertime lasts at most for three full months but seasons should slowly be build up or down week by week.

 

Vivarium soil

 

A mix of peat, orchid-soil (or special rain forest terrarium soil, and sand. In the dry area a mix of 1/3 per component will do, in the moister area, less sand is advised. The soil needs to be at least 5 cm thick.  On top you can place wood-chips especially for terrariums, but take good care that you don’t use eatable sizes of chips, so the lizards won’t accidentally eat them.

 

Put this substrate on a layer of pebbles for hydro-culture (clay-pebbles) what has been covered with a sheet of root canvas.

 

Light and warmth

 

TL/PLL for light (good for the plants too) a UVB lamp and a heat-lamp   A light environment makes the lizards more active.

 

Feeding Takydromus sexlineatus

 

Small insects such as juvenile crickets, flies, so now and then wax-moth larva and moths and small insects you catch outside. Take care that you don’t search for insects in polluted areas. Not in the neighborhood of roads, not on agricultural land (poison) .

 

Feed three or four times a week, every other day, and sometimes do not feed for two days. Juveniles should be fed every day!

 

Use a good vitamin supplement once a week and a good calcium supplement once a week. During breeding time, increase using calcium supplements up to twice a week. The supplements should be especially for indoor lizards and have to contain vitamin D3.

 

Provide in clean drinking water every day in a small bowl (juveniles in very small lids, so they won’t drown)

 

Sprinkle water every other day. When you have new grass lizards, sprinkle a bit every day to be sure they can drink every day. New animals do not always find the drinking bowl immediately.

 

Breeding (there will be more info in a special article later)

 

Always provide oviposition sites in your terrarium such as moist soil in a plant pot and by placing a grass like plant such as cyperus alternifolius zumula (also known as cat-grass) in a pot in your terrarium. Do not place a lot of these plants for they will bring the humidity up to high levels.

 

The female must be well fed with good quality insects of a smaller size.

 

When you let her lay her eggs in a plant, you are stuck on leaving the eggs in the terrarium, or place the plant (so keep it in a pot) in it’s whole appearance into an other terrarium without adult lizards.

 

When the female lays the eggs in the pot with soil, you can place it in an incubator.

 

The incubator should be heated with 26 to 29 degrees Celsius. Try 27 degrees Celsius.

 

Hedged juveniles should be placed in a terrarium without adults, with a same set up as you have for the adults, but do keep the terrarium dryer.

 

Notes

 

Takydromus sexlineatus is known for its tolerance to their own species. But there is always a risk that it doesn’t work out. Therefore, if you keep a group of grass lizards in a terrarium, take care you have an extra terrarium ready, to take out oppressed animals. When you introduce a new lizard into a tank, this will often create problems and stress. The best way to introduce is to put in the whole group at once.

 

Takydromus sexlineatus sold in pet or reptile shops are almost always wild-caught animals. Feral animals are often weakened by the journey from their natural habitat and by stress. They often cary parasites and are already damaged caused by bad circumstances during the journey. So rather be patient and search for captive bred lizards. These are much stronger and less stressed with human action.

 

Literature :

 

Basic information Takydromus s.

 

Names used:

 

• Lat. Takydromus sexlineatus, 

• English. Asian grass lizard, long tailed grass lizard, long tail lizard.

• German. Langschwanzeidechsen, Sechsstreifen-Langschwanzeidechse

• Dutch. Langstaarthagedis

• French. lézard à longue queue

• Spanish. Lagartija Asiatica Cola Larga

• Vietnamese. Đó chính là liu điu