European Legless Lizard aka Scheltopusik Care Sheet
Lizard
3 - 4 feet long
15 - 20 years
Carnivore
Diet & Nutrition
Legless Lizards are carnivores. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and cockroach nymphs. They will also eat small rodents such as pinkie mice.
Feeding Schedule
Feed babies and juveniles once daily. Adults could also eat daily, although they may not eat as much as a younger lizard. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes.
Housing & Habitat
Legless Lizards come from Europe and Central Asia. The environment should be kept warm and semi-humid. They are a ground dweller and live in short grassland or sparsely wooded hills. There should be plenty of hiding places and foliage on the ground. Legless Lizards may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together European Legless Lizard should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed together.
Enclosure Size
An adult must have a minimum cage size of 36" Long x 18" Deep x 12" High, also known as a 30 breeder or a 40-gallon tank. A screen lid is recommended for safety.
Substrate
Due to humidity requirements and burrowing habits, an absorbent substrate is desired. Peat moss or coconut fiber are preferred.
Temperature & Lighting
Temperature
A Legless Lizard's basking spot should be 90°- 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F.
Lighting
Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB.
Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs.
Humidity & Watering
Humidity
The cage should be sprayed once to twice daily with a spray bottle.
Spray until the cage and decorations are dripping. Humidity levels should be between 50% - 60%.
Watering
Provide a bowl of fresh drinking water at all times.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do European Legless Lizard aka Scheltopusiks eat?
Legless Lizards are carnivores. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and cockroach nymphs. They will also eat small rodents such as pinkie mice.
What size enclosure does a European Legless Lizard aka Scheltopusik need?
Legless Lizards come from Europe and Central Asia. The environment should be kept warm and semi-humid. They are a ground dweller and live in short grassland or sparsely wooded hills. There should be plenty of hiding places and foliage on the ground. Legless Lizards may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together European Legless Lizard should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will like...
What temperature and lighting does a European Legless Lizard aka Scheltopusik need?
A Legless Lizard's basking spot should be 90°- 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F. Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB. Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs. Humidity: The cage should be sprayed once to twice daily with a spray bottle. Spray until the cage and decorations are dripping. Hu...