Lacerta agilis（or The Iris dragon lizard）, which should be renamed the Iris climbing lizard after recent classification, is mainly distributed in the Yangtze River basin of China, such as Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hubei. This species exhibits obvious sexual dimorphism, with males having well-developed neck crests and clear and regular green vertical stripes on their backs, and their tails are larger at the base compared to females. In contrast, females have weaker neck crests, noticeable dark transverse stripes between the green vertical stripes on their backs, unclear boundaries of the green vertical stripes, and thinner tail bases.
This species is endemic to China and is distributed in the central and southwestern regions.
Not recommended for keeping
1. Parasitic infection: Parasites can be internal or external. Almost every lizard has some internal parasites. If possible, it is best to add deworming agents to the food when bringing the lizard home. If there are small parasites on the surface of the scales, which appear red or white, they can be gently washed with hot water and a towel in the bathroom. If the condition is severe, you can purchase deworming agents for dogs and clean the lizard's body surface by dipping it in water.
2. Soft bone disease: This disease is believed to be familiar to many experienced players. Many beginners may get soft bones if they don't pay attention when raising lizards. Without sufficient exposure to ultraviolet light or lack of supplementation of vitamins and calcium, lizards can develop soft bone disease. Lizards with this disease will initially have decreased appetite, become weak and emaciated, and their muscles will become stiff and swollen. Due to lack of calcium, their legs and other parts are prone to sudden fractures. Players should prepare powder and vitamins in advance and supplement the lizards in a timely manner before raising them. They should also expose the lizards to sunlight or use ultraviolet lamps to effectively avoid this disease in their beloved lizards.
3. Calculi: The main causes of calculi are excessive intake of minerals and dehydration. If the condition is not too severe, lizards may show symptoms such as listlessness, decreased appetite, and reduced urination. In severe cases, they may suffer from anorexia and abdominal distension, leading to the inability to excrete urine and causing urinary toxicity. Generally, when these problems occur, it is relatively dangerous.
Artificially reared beautiful dragon lizards mainly eat crickets, mealworms, barley worms and cockroaches, which means it eats any arthropod that is suitable in size.
Under artificial rearing conditions, it should be given a certain amount of living space. Beautiful dragon lizards that have just arrived home should be allowed to rest quietly, otherwise they are prone to refuse to eat and die!
Wooden boxes and glass boxes are the main types of cages, but be careful, beautiful dragon lizards are very afraid of stuffiness. They must not be suffocated, otherwise their lives will be in danger.
Place driftwood and rhododendron roots in the box for it to climb. It likes to climb everywhere.
The ideal temperature is around 22-26 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is too high, it will seek shade. The humidity should be 60-80%. Place a water basin and spray water once a day.
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