They range in size from 15 inches to as long as 2 1/2 feet (including tail) for the Egyptian Mastigure. With frequent human interaction these lizards will not struggle against handling. They almost never bite, but will try to inflict injury by whipping enemies with their powerful, spiked tails. In addition, mastigures practice tail autotomy as a defensive measure, so be careful not to intimidate them or handle them roughly lest you wind up with a less-than-perfect stub-tailed specimen.
More and more captive-born specimens are being offered; it’s always a good idea to purchase these rather than wild-caught specimens because their health tends to be much better.
Mastigures require a roomy cage, with a length at least three to four times the lizard’s length, a sandy substrate of 2 to 3 inches in depth (use white of color-fast sterile store-bought aquarium sand) and a number of rocks to add realism to the environment. Heat can be provided by keeping them in a warm spot in your house as well as by using a 100 watt heat bulb from above and an under-cage heating pad under a portion of the enclosure. Mastigures definitely like it hot and won’t eat or be active if temperatures drop too low which, in their case, is 85 degrees F or less. Temperatures up to 120 degrees F are easily tolerated by most species of this group since they come from some of the most torrid deserts in the world.
Natural, unfiltered sunlight is a plus, but if it’s not available, use a fluorescent tube capable of emitting UV-B light. If the sides of your enclosure are high enough, it is not necessary to cover or lid the top as these lizards are not great climbers or jumpers. This gives you the opportunity of opening a window during warm days and allowing the enclosure to be bathed in sunlight unfiltered by a glass or screen top.
Related Websites - Vintage Red Wine Storage Temperature is an unseen factor when it comes to collecting vintage red wine, and so it is a factor that is often neglected. Unfortunately, it plays a very, very large and significant role in bringing...
- Creamy Twice Baked Potato Recipe Simply Delicious. A simple recipe and not a lot of prep time. The result is a fancy looking and great tasting Twice Baked Potato. The Cream cheese filling is just scrumptious. Enjoy! Ingredients 1....
- A Cool Roof is Essential for Green Commercial Construction When the sun beats down on a black tar roof, the result is not unlike an oven. Temperatures can climb to as high as 190 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface of traditional dark colored roofs,...