From the Archives of

The Colorado Herpetological Society

Lizards

The Captive Care of Chuckwallas
(Sauromalus obesus)

by Scott Patterson

Range:
Chuckwallas are found in rocky desert areas of Southern Utah, Southern Nevada, Arizona, California, and south into Mexico. They are usually encountered basking on a large rock, until a person or a predator approaches too closely. Then they retreat into a crevice, where they inflate their bodies until they are almost impossible to extract.

In Captivity:
Chuckwallas can be difficult captives to maintain. They need a rather large cage; at least 18 by 30 inches [45 by 90 cm] is recommended. Keep one end of the enclosure warm with a spotlight; 95-100°F [35-38°C] is probably adequate. The other end of the cage should be at room temperature (70-75°F or 21-24°C), and should include a sturdy hide box for sleeping. Ultra Violet light should be provided during the day time; a full spectrum fluorescent bulb with good UVB output will help meet this need. A sand or gravel substrate is also suggested. Do not house more than one male in the same enclosure.

Chuckwallas will sometimes eat waxworms, jumbo mealworms (Zoophoba), and an occasional grasshopper, but greens should make up the bulk of their diet. A mixture of collard greens, bok choy, kale, carrots, and dandelions (be sure to avoid areas sprayed with insecticides when hunting "wild" dandelions) can give your chuck a balanced diet, but you should always sprinkle their food with reptile vitamin supplement. Offer water once a week.

Wherever possible, prefer to start with young lizards, as older individuals may not adjust well to captivity.