Eastern Fence Lizard
Top 5 Facts about the Eastern Fence Lizard
The Eastern Fence Lizard which is also known variedly as the Prairie Lizard, Texas Swift, or Gray Lizard is found spread across the country from the coast to the mountains and can be found in southern parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, south-eastern states such as Georgia and South Carolina and across the Great Plains. These are medium sized lizards typically found along piles of rock, near rotting logs and on the edges of forests. This lizard is distinguished from the Western Fence Lizard by its coloration and difference in habitat.
The eastern fence lizard, Sceloporus undulates, tends to be 4 to 7.25 inches long. These lizards are usually gray or brown, and have scales. There is also a distinctive dark line along the thigh area. Female coloration is basically gray and they have darker colored curved lines all along the back. Their underside is mostly white with black spots or flecks and there are pale blue marks near their throat and around their stomach. Male coloration is largely brown with a noticeable amount of green-blue mixture and black marks during the summer months and the mating season. These colored patterns tend to be in the belly and throat regions. Young eastern fence lizards look mostly like the females in appearance and their colors tend to appear dull and dark. Males of the species generally have broader tails than the females.
In nature, eastern fence lizards are classified as arboreal which means that they like to live in trees. When approached they tend to rush to the nearest tree and try to stay in the opposite end of the tree from any perceived threat. Eastern fence lizards feed on spiders, insects and invertebrates and as there are plenty of these in their natural habitat they have no difficulties in hunting for food. These lizards are active during the day as they like to soak in the sunlight.
Fence lizards, like the rest of their species, reproduce by laying eggs. Female fence lizards normally lay 3 -16 eggs in late spring following the mating season earlier in spring. Late summer or early fall is when the eggs hatch and the young eastern fence lizards look like miniaturized versions of the mature adults lizards.
One of the dangers this species encounters in the wild is attacks by fire ants. Fire ants target the underbelly of the lizards and inject a neuromuscular toxin which immobilizes and kills the victim in less than a minute. The process of evolution has given the lizards long legs as their means of survival as the legs help the lizards run and escape the fire ants.
These creatures are known to make good pets as they are largely non-aggressive. They let their owners handle them most of the time. Occasionally if they are unwilling, it is best not to force them as it can upset their equilibrium.
When keeping your lizard in a tank remember to provide it with a safe substrate and also ensure adequate water supply. Pet shops sell clean substrates that can help in keeping your pet parasite free and you do not have to worry about your reptile consuming something that can lead to impaction. While a lizard’s extent of water consumption is unclear, many experts recommend leaving a water dish with spring water in the tank. It is also a good idea to create a humid environment by misting the area surrounding the tank a couple of times a day.
The tank or cage, in which you house the lizard, should ideally allow 20 gallons of area for each lizard and should be decorated in such a way that there are areas to climb and to bask. Given the eastern fence lizards love of the sun some provision should be made for allowing UVA lights. There can be an UVA spotlight to create a basking area. A fluorescent tube light can be an effective way of allowing the lizard extended light exposure also. Pet owners suggest that these lizards do well in a regular temperature of 85 to 95˚F, basking temperature of 95 to 100˚F and a night temperature range of 75 to 80˚F.
Do not use heated rocks for creating warm spots as these can get too hot and scald your pets. Remember to clean cage once every two to three weeks and remember to wash and change the water everyday.
You can give your reptile gut-loaded crickets, fruit flies and grasshoppers as part of their diet. Eastern fence lizards do not always stop eating when they are full and this can lead to health problems. Watch out for the dangers of over-feeding your pet.