09/12/2025
Crotaphytus collaris; the eastern collared lizard (aquaflame)
Eastern collared lizards are a drop dead gorgeous lizard species in the family of iguanidae; they are also the gem of the American southwest in herptoculture. Eastern collared lizards are easy to handle, manageable size, great eaters, active and fun to keep in a community. These omnivorous lizards love to spend the day basking, climbing on small branches and snacking on small insects and greens whenever the opportunities arises. A staple diet for these animals should consist of crickets, giant meal worms, dubia roaches and super worms, on occasion they also wouldn't mind some hornworms here and there as well. Good greens for these animals would consist of collard greens (yes how fitting I know),turnip greens, mustard greens, endive, escarole, radicchio and just about anything else you can provide. Collared lizards also go absolutely NUTS for flowers, so if you can get some hibiscus flowers they will be your buddy for life!
As far as natural distribution goes these animals reside in the heart of the sonoran desert, New Mexico, Utah, and North Mexico. For this reason these animals do appreciate a high uvb index, and if you give them higher uvb you will have a more colorful animal. Eastern collared lizards are sexually dimorphic animals with males exhibiting much higher blue than the females, BUT with the aqua flame genetic line females still active a nice blue coloration.
These animals do very well in a simplistic setup or do well with live succulent, cholla wood, cork bark, grape vine, basically the point I'm trying to make here is that if you put it in their cage they WILL use it! These animals are very active and benefit from a large area so cage size minimum should be about a 36 inch cage or so.
Eastern collared lizards are one of the most amazing and beautiful species you could ever keep! Come check them out at Animal Jungle Pet Shop !!! 4974 Darrow road in stow!