Ocellated Lizard

Looks how to spot one

scales

A robust, powerful lizard with a broad head (especially in males), thick strong legs and long curved claws. The dorsal colour is usually green, sometimes grey or brownish, overlaid with black stippling that can form a bold pattern of interconnected rosettes. The underside is yellowish or greenish, and both sexes have bright blue spots along the flanks, though males are typically more vivid. Young are green, grey or brown with yellowish or white spots edged in black.2

Personality what they are like

Ocellated lizards are generally nervous and do not enjoy handling. Many individuals remain wary even in captivity. Males can be aggressive toward one another in the presence of females, and females should not be kept together unless they have been raised together from hatching. They are not a hands-on pet and are best suited to observation.34

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Very active and diurnal. Requires a large, horizontally oriented enclosure with a hot basking area and a cooler shaded end. Strong, bright UV lighting is essential for appetite and basking behaviour. Provide deep diggable substrate, several tight hides, rocks, cork, roots and low branches. Front access for maintenance is recommended to minimise chasing.34

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Minimal grooming. Provide a clean water bowl and lightly spray the enclosure each morning to mimic dew, as some individuals will only drink this way. Ensure strong ventilation without constant dampness. Hibernation is essential for continued breeding and a long life span; winter temperatures should be held between 5 and 10 °C.43

Home where they are happiest

A large, secure, horizontally oriented enclosure is needed. Minimum size for a single adult is about 180 × 60 × 60 cm, and larger is strongly recommended. The vivarium should be a semi-desert set-up with a substantial heap of sand for burrowing. Provide a hot basking spot of around 40 °C, ambient daytime summer temperature of 25-30 °C, and a night-time drop to about 15 °C. In winter, overall temperature should be 5-10 °C. Good UV lighting and a substantial temperature gradient are essential. The enclosure must be escape-proof as these lizards are powerful diggers.34

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Primarily insectivorous to omnivorous. Feed a varied range of large feeder insects (beetles, orthopterans, spiders, snails) that are gut-loaded and dusted with a multivitamin powder. Adults can occasionally take a pinky mouse, and some individuals will eat plant matter such as dandelion flowers. They also eat fruit and other plant material, especially in dry areas.342

Company who they like around

Best kept in pairs (one male, one female) to avoid rivalry. Males are unaggressive toward one another only in the total absence of females. Females should not be kept together unless raised together from hatching. Provide separate accommodation if the female becomes gravid repeatedly. They rely on existing mammal burrows (especially rabbit burrows) for shelter in the wild, so provide deep substrate and artificial burrows in captivity.45

The story where it all began

The ocellated lizard has been kept in captivity for many years, particularly in the UK where there are a number of breeders. It is occasionally seen in pet shops as a long-term captive that is no longer wanted, but young are almost invariably captive bred. It is considered one of the easier large lacertids to obtain from breeders. The species was formerly placed in the genus Lacerta but is now classified under Timon.46