رعاية السحلية الأوروبية بلا أرجل – معلومة, نسيج, حمية & صحة

The European Legless Lizard, scientifically known as Pseudopus apodus, also referred to as the Sheltopusik Legless Lizard or Pallas’ Glass Lizard, is a unique and intriguing reptile native to regions spanning from Southern Europe to Central Asia.

With its snake-like appearance and distinct features, this species requires specific care to thrive in captivity. In this comprehensive care sheet, we will provide you with essential information to ensure the well-being of your European Legless Lizard.

European Legless Lizard Care Sheet

اسم شائع	European Legless Lizard, Sheltopusik Legless Lizard, Pallas’ Glass Lizard
الاسم العلمي	Pseudopus apodus
فترة الحياة	20 إلى 30 سنوات
حجم الكبار	2-3 feet head to tail; rarely longer than 4 أقدام
وزن	Varies, typically between 150-400 جرامات
حمية	Carnivorous (الحشرات, small vertebrates)
متطلبات حجم العلبة	20 gal long for young European Legless Lizards; 36″ or larger for adults
متطلبات درجة حرارة العلبة	High 80s °F for basking, 75-82°F for the rest of the European Legless Lizard enclosure, and night temps as low as 70°F
متطلبات الرطوبة	Maintain humidity with morning misting; bedding should dry out

متطلبات الزراعة والضميمة

The European Legless Lizard is a diurnal species, active during the day. في بيئتها الطبيعية, they inhabit open grassy areas, underbrush, hill sides, and rocky embankments. When creating their enclosure, prioritize floor space over height.

Young European Legless Lizards up to about 6 months old can be comfortably housed in a 20-gallon long enclosure or an Exo Terra 18″ x 18″ x 12″. لكن, it’s best to keep them individually. One adult requires a minimum 36″ long enclosure, with options like Exo Terra’s 36″ x 18″ x 18″ or Zilla’s 30-breeder critter cage being suitable. If space allows, larger enclosures provide more room for your European Legless Lizard to explore.

These lizards enjoy burrowing, so provide a loose substrate like Zilla’s Jungle Mix or ground coconut husks. Include hiding places, such as driftwood or reptile hides, for them to feel secure while sleeping. Adding live or plastic plants, الصخور, and low branches can make the enclosure more stimulating, but ensure everything is secure to prevent accidents.

إضاءة & Temperatures

Proper temperature and lighting are essential for the health of European Legless Lizards. To mimic their natural environment, create a thermal gradient in the enclosure with a warm basking area in the high 80s°F and the rest of the enclosure ranging from 75-82°F. Nighttime temperatures can drop to around 70°F.

Provide UVB lighting to support calcium absorption and vitamin D3 synthesis, as these lizards are not exposed to natural sunlight indoors. Mercury vapor bulbs like Exo Terra’s Solar Glo or ZooMed’s Powersun are excellent options, combining heat and UVB. بدلاً عن ذلك, you can use separate basking (heat) bulbs and UVB bulbs like Zoo Med 5.0 or Exo Terra UVB 100.

رطوبة

While European Legless Lizards live in dry areas, they still require some moisture. Lightly mist their enclosure each morning to dampen the top substrate layer for about an hour, allowing it to dry out afterward. Hand misters work well, or you can opt for an automatic mister like the Exo Terra Monsoon.

Provide a non-porous water bowl like Exo Terra bowls or Flukers rock dishes with fresh water. You may need to change the water daily if your European Legless Lizard contaminates it with bedding. Regularly scrub the bowl to prevent bacterial buildup.

تغذية

European Legless Lizards have hearty appetites. Adults can be fed 2-3 مرات في الأسبوع, while young lizards benefit from being fed every other day. Offer as much as they can consume in one sitting using a shallow dish to prevent ingestion of substrate. Remove any uneaten food promptly.

Supplement their diet every other feeding with calcium and vitamins like Repashy Calcium Plus or Zoo Med Reptivite with D3 to ensure they receive essential nutrients.

طبع

European Legless Lizards are not known to enjoy frequent handling, and stress may lead to tail shedding, although this is rare. لكن, they can become responsive to those who feed them and can be tamed gently over time. These hardy lizards are a joy to observe and care for, providing a unique and rewarding reptile-keeping experience.

In conclusion, by following these guidelines for European Legless Lizard care, you can ensure a healthy and happy life for your fascinating Sheltopusik companion.

Legless Lizards vs Snakes

European Legless Lizards and snakes share a resemblance due to their elongated bodies and lack of visible limbs, which often leads to confusion. لكن, being limbless isn’t enough for a lizard to be classified as a snake, and the there are several key differences that set these animals apart:

1. Eyelids and Ears

European Legless Lizards have movable eyelids and external ears, while snakes lack both. This means that European Legless Lizards can blink and close their eyes, which is a feature snakes do not possess.

2. Ventral Scales

One of the most notable distinctions is in their ventral scales. European Legless Lizards have uniform ventral scales, giving their belly a consistent appearance. In contrast, snakes have paired rows of ventral scales that create a distinctive pattern.

3. Limbs

Despite the name “legless lizard,” European Legless Lizards do have tiny rear legs, although they are not prominent and often go unnoticed. Snakes, من ناحية أخرى, completely lack limbs.

4. Tail Autotomy

While both species can shed their tails, it is more common in European Legless Lizards. This is a defensive mechanism where the lizard intentionally sheds its tail to escape from a predator. Snakes can also shed their tails but do so less frequently.

5. Behavior and Habitat

Legless Lizards are diurnal, مما يعني أنهم ينشطون خلال النهار, while many snake species are crepuscular or nocturnal, preferring dawn, dusk, or nighttime activity. بالإضافة إلى ذلك, European Legless Lizards are often found in grassy areas, underbrush, and rocky embankments, whereas snakes inhabit various environments, بما في ذلك الغابات, deserts, and wetlands.