Blue Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus cyanogenys
Description
The blue spiny lizard is the largest of the Sceloporus species. Adult specimens can exceed 14 inches in length. They have a robust build, and are one of the most colorful of all Sceloporus species. Males have an iridescent blue/green hue to their color, and females can have a base color of bright golden yellow. Males and females of this species have a distinct black collar and can have a brilliant bright turquoise blue tail. It is a live bearing species that can produce up to 20 offspring.
Natural Habitat
Blue spiny lizards are primarily a Mexican species whose range extends just into the southern tip of Texas. They are primarily a rock dwelling species that inhabits boulders, outcroppings, river banks and man-made structures. These wary creatures can be found basking on open sight, but are never too far from a retreat such as a rock crevice, where they can easily avoid predators. Because of their large size, these are confident lizards, and if approached slowly, will hold their ground for quite some time.
Reproduction
This is a live bearing species of Sceloporus, and in late Spring/early Summer, females give birth to as many as 22 (our record) live young. These neonates are quite small, but hit the ground on the run and relish week old crickets. In our experience, we have not observed cannibalism with the adults. We provide ample cover for the neonates to use upon birth, and remove them as soon as they are discovered, but do not remove the female from the group enclosure. We have observed the adults eating crickets (as large as the neonate) and ignoring the baby lizard only inches away. I wouldn't press my luck by leaving the neonates in the enclosure, but it is an interesting observation that they are recognizable as "different" than an insect.
Artificial Habitat
Because of their size, and high activity level, this species requires ample space in the terrarium. A 55 gallon size enclosure would be ideal for a pair or trio. These lizards should be set up similar to other diurnal basking species such as bearded dragons. A basking area should be set up at one end of the enclosure which allows the lizard to get within six inches of the light/heat source. Bulbs such as the Active UV are highly recommended. These bulbs provide an excellent heat source as well as a source of UV. The more traditional approach of a non UV basking source in combination with a UV producing fluorescent tube would also be acceptable, though not as good. A substrate of play sand or calci-sand would most accurately imitate natural substrate conditions. Water should be provided in a shallow bowl at all times, but regular misting and weekly soaking is also recommended. This species can tolerate cooler night time temperatures easily, and does not require supplemental heat at night in all but the most extreme conditions. The enclosure should include secure areas such as a flat rock that the lizards can retreat under. It is best to have one such area at the warm end of the enclosure, and another at the cool end.
Caveats
Blue spiny lizards make a wonderful terrarium species. While capable of high bursts of speed, they can become quite tolerant of regular handling, and make an excellent "pet." Their alertness makes them interesting subjects and an enjoyable species in captivity.
Why would I want a Blue Spiny Lizard?
This species, like the other Sceloporus that we work with at Sandfire, just bring out the kid in all of us. If you grew up in North America, chances are that if you were interested in reptiles and amphibians as a child, that your first experience was with this group of lizards. We called them "blue bellies," "fence lizards," "spiny lizards," or just "lizards." They were hard to catch; taught us that tails can come off; and lured us into learning more about the cold blooded world. Sometimes, as serious collectors and breeders, we loose track of our roots and original motivations for how we got to where we are today. For us at Sandfire, it has been a "full circle" trip from those days as a child chasing lizards... to all the exotics... and back to where we started. There is still a kid in all of us at the ranch, and keeping and working with these species reminds us of our roots and keeps us from getting too serious about what we do . Lizards don't have to be expensive to be cool, and keeping a species like Sceloporus is a great reminder of where we came from and why we are where we are today. Sceloporus are very popular in collections across the world, but have been overlooked here in America, because they just aren't "exotic" enough for most. Give them a second look, you might see the kid coming back in you...