Fall Update

Life continues to be good in the vivarium. I'm trying to get the residents fattened up in preparation for their winter cool down with hopes of some spring breeding action. The students in my classes have done a great job in catching grasshoppers and crickets for the spiny lizards.


Even though the insect food is mainly for the Spiny Lizards the Desert Iguanas manage to get their share.

There are a couple of new additions to the vivarium. I have just introduced a pair of Crevice Spiny Lizards. The above photo shows the large male on the upper rock next to a very fat Desert Spiny that was added to the vivarium last year.
As expected the Spiny Lizards prefer to utilize the cooler basking area (rock surface temp. about 95) rather than the warmer area (surface temp. about 120) used by the Desert Iguanas. However, after heavy feeding the Spiny Lizards will bask some in the warmer area.
The above photo is the female Crevice Spiny. It's difficult to get a good photo of her, she is rather skittish, which is how they are in the wild. Hopefully with time she will become less wary and I can get some good photos of her beautiful green colors.