Long-Tailed Lizard
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Lizard |
| Size | Small (10-12 in, mostly tail) |
| Lifespan | 5-8 years |
| Temperature | 75-85°F |
| Humidity | 60-70% |
| Enclosure | 20+ gal tall |
| Care Level | Beginner |
| Diet | Small insects |
| Temperament | Active, Flighty |
Recommended for Long-Tailed Lizards
Affiliate links may earn a commission. Affiliate disclosure.
ZooMed - Heating & lighting | ExoTerra - Enclosures & decor | Chewy - Reptile essentials
Long-Tailed Lizard Habitat Essentials
With Long-Tailed Lizard, husbandry precision matters more than gadget quantity: stable environment, species-appropriate diet, and calm handling drive health outcomes.
Mostly tail, very fast
Long-tailed grass lizards in the pet trade are usually Takydromus sexlineatus. They are about 10 to 12 inches, they often live 5 to 8 years, and the care is beginner. The body is small. The speed is not. They bolt at a shadow. A tall 20-gallon tank with branches, 75 to 85°F, and humidity around 60 to 70 percent suits them.
UVB and a basking spot keep the bones in order. Small crickets and other small insects, calcium-dusted, are the diet. They drink from droplets. Mist the leaves. A tight lid matters because a gap is an exit. House them where you can watch and not where children are expected to hold them.
Groups only if you are watching
Keepers sometimes keep several in a large planted cage. That works until one animal monopolizes the basking spot or the food. Plenty of cover and more than one warm perch reduce the bullying. Wild-caught shipments are the usual source and a common reason these lizards arrive thin. Eat-and-watch is the right use. A handling collection is the wrong one.
A lizard that stops hunting needs a temperature check first, then the appetite guide. Reptile vets are listed at ARAV.
Long-tailed lizard questions
Why is the tail so long?
10 to 12 inches, and most of that is tail. Grabbing the tail makes it break off. Scoop from below if you must move the lizard, or better, guide it into a cup.
Do they like handling?
No. They are active and flighty. They are a watch-them lizard. Chasing one around a room is how tails and toes get hurt.
What do they eat?
Small insects. Crickets that are too large get refused or cause a problem. Dust with calcium and offer UVB.
Decision Guides for Long-Tailed Lizard
Use these only when comparing food, insurance, ownership budget, or beginner fit for this specific pet.