Dwarf Sungazer (Cordlyus tropidosternum)
ValueAquatics Care Sheet Equipment for a Dwarf Sungazer
Vivarium: PT-2605 Exo Terra Terrarium (18” x 18” x 18”) is good for Two Sungazers
Lighting: Exo Terra Dual canopy PT-2230. 2 X PT-2169 Repti Glo 10.0 15” 14w tubes. 2 x Sun Glo Halogen Basking Spots 35w.
Heating: Royce Heat Mat 12 x 16”. Habistat Mat Stat set at 28°C. Thermometer.
Substrate: Desert or playpen sand.
Décor: Medium water bowl PT-2802. Bark Cave or similar. Two or three plants from our selection PT-3000-3052
Supplements: Calcium and Nutrobal or similar.
CARE
Cordlyus tropidosternum. Dwarf Sungazer, Girdled Lizard, East African Spiny-tailed Lizard.
Size. 6″ – 9″
Lifespan. 7-12 years
Distribution
Extends along the East African coast Kenya south to Central Mozambique and West to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Diet
Their natural diet is winged termites, but it is little bit difficult to get termites in captivity. They also feed on moths and spiders. Instead you can feed them with live crickets, locusts and other insects. Before feeding the lizards with the insects they should be dusted with Calcium powder four times a week and twice with a vitamin powder such as Nutrobal or similar. They also need UV light such as Repti light 10 compact. You will need to have a little water bowl in their terrarium so they can drink and take a bath when they are shedding their skin.
Feeding is not a problem. They eat all you give them, crickets, locusts, wax worms, mealworms, spiders. Every other day or so offer some greens such as Dandelion leaves or salad mixed leaves, not iceberg lettuce, spinach or any of the cabbage family.
Add plenty of rocks bog wood for them to climb amongst and for hiding and sleeping in.
Substrate I find the best substrate is playpen sand, Eco Earth, or Coir.
These are shy lizards and hate being picked up.
Temperature Basking spot 33-35°C and a cool side at around 20°C is suitable for them.
Sexing
It can take a little patience to sex these lizards? Look at the shape of the body, the females have nice curves more rounded and thinner just above the vent before the tail. The male looks more robust in the body and broader between the rear legs or vent area.
Breeding
Breeding requires brumation/hibernation for 6-8 weeks at 10-15°C. Before brumation is started food should be slowly cut down until you have stopped feeding. This will give them time to digest the food and then slow down their metabolism if they are feed while they are about to brumate or while they are brumating
food will rot inside them causing health problems or death. After the 6-8 weeks brumation slowly increase the temperature and as they become more active start feeding again. Put some breeding boxes in the vivarium and keep checking for eggs. Incubate the eggs as you would for leopard geckos.
John