Chuckwallas

[Arachnophobphile]

Never kept lizards before except for some green Anoles back in the mid 1980's.

I am highly interested in Chuckwallas. I even found an enclosure plus supplies for one.

However I cannot find any Chuckwallas for sale, even on morphmarket.

Also for anyone who has kept them or currently is, is it true to use rocks in their enclosure for them? If yes what type of rocks?

I tried looking for some in the past but the ones being offered are by horrible vendors with an overall negative review here on AB.

 

[viper69]

Yes it’s true Re rocks, in the wild they often wedge themselves in between rocks if memory serves

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Yes it’s true Re rocks, in the wild they often wedge themselves in between rocks if memory serves

Thanks for replying and the info.

 

[NMTs]

Never kept lizards before except for some green Anoles back in the mid 1980's.

I am highly interested in Chuckwallas. I even found an enclosure plus supplies for one.

However I cannot find any Chuckwallas for sale, even on morphmarket.

Also for anyone who has kept them or currently is, is it true to use rocks in their enclosure for them? If yes what type of rocks?

I tried looking for some in the past but the ones being offered are by horrible vendors with an overall negative review here on AB.

If you can find a piece of flagstone from a landscape supply place, you can use that. Either buy a larger piece and break it yourself (which is kind of fun) or ask the vendor if they have any small chunks they'll sell you. Then you can stack pieces of various sizes and leave overhangs between some for the lizards to hide in like @viper69 said. The flagstone is flat, so it can be used to make stable stacks. I've never kept these, but I've observed them in the wild plenty of times. They like it hot and dry, and get pretty large - they have some major jaw muscles, so don't let one bite you or it'll hurt like heck! (Trust me) Sand or something like dry excavator clay would be suitable substrate. They'll probably dig burrows if you provide the right kind of sub for it.

I don't know anyone selling or breeding them right now, but I'll let you know if I see any.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

If you can find a piece of flagstone from a landscape supply place, you can use that. Either buy a larger piece and break it yourself (which is kind of fun) or ask the vendor if they have any small chunks they'll sell you. Then you can stack pieces of various sizes and leave overhangs between some for the lizards to hide in like @viper69 said. The flagstone is flat, so it can be used to make stable stacks. I've never kept these, but I've observed them in the wild plenty of times. They like it hot and dry, and get pretty large - they have some major jaw muscles, so don't let one bite you or it'll hurt like heck! (Trust me) Sand or something like dry excavator clay would be suitable substrate. They'll probably dig burrows if you provide the right kind of sub for it.

I don't know anyone selling or breeding them right now, but I'll let you know if I see any.

Thanks for the info.

I have a landscaping supply company right down the street. They sell all kinds of different rock so I can pick up the type of rocks recommended.

I don't care for green iguanas. My brother and friend had one back in the early 90's, mean as hell.

My friend's iguana used it's tail as a bull whip. Anytime you came close to it's enclosure it start whipping the side violently. I think he got it from a friend that didn't care for it properly and I could see the end result. My brother's iguana wasn't much better.

Chuckwallas overall are suppose to be the most docile out of all the iguana family, at least that is what I read.

Good to know on the powerful bite. I was not aware of their jaw strength. They are suppose to be strictly herbivore however I've heard of feeding them insects as juveniles from time to time.

Oh that's awesome that you got to observe them in the wild. Thanks for replying.

Here is part of what I read. Also I would be a complete beginner so I'm wondering if this would be a bad first lizard for me.

Quote:
'Taking care of chuckwallas in captivity can be challenging and they are not recommended for beginner hobbyists. Working with juvenile individuals is recommended as they adapt more readily to captivity compared to adults'