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Giant Ameiva
Ameiva ameiva
A remarkably active terrestrial lizard from the Americas. Requires a large 120x60x60 cm enclosure with a deep organic soil substrate for constant digging, high temperatures, intense UVB, and an insectivorous diet.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Teiidae
Subfamily:Teiinae
Genus:Ameiva
Species:Ameiva ameiva
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
28 - 32 °C
Ambient temperature
28 °C
Night temperature
20 - 22 °C
Basking spot
38 - 40 °C
Adult size
21 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 200 L
UVB
High
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed throughout Central and South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean. It inhabits diverse environments including rainforest edges, savannas, open woodlands, and gardens.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Teiidae, closely related to tegus. Shows high genetic adaptability, leading to successful established invasive populations in Florida.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly diurnal, terrestrial, and incredibly active. Spends the day constantly foraging for food or digging extensive burrow systems. Shy and wary of human contact.
Morphology: A medium-large lizard reaching 45-50 cm (18-20 inches) in total length. Features a vibrant green coloration on the anterior half of the body, fading to brown or grey on the posterior, with white spots. Males have larger heads.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Large horizontal enclosure required (minimum 120x60x60 cm / 48x24x24 inches). Deep substrate (15-20 cm) composed of organic soil, sand, and coco coir is vital for burrowing. Provide sturdy logs, flat rocks, and deep hides.
Lighting and Heating: Requires high heat and intense UV radiation. Basking spot at 38-40°C (100-104°F), ambient daytime temperature of 28-30°C (82-86°F), and night drop to 20-22°C (68-72°F). High-output (10-12%) UVB is mandatory.
Humidity and Hydration: Moderate to high humidity (60-75%). Mist daily to keep the lower substrate layers damp. Provide a water bowl large enough for the lizard to soak its body.
Feeding and Supplementation: Omnivorous but heavily insectivorous. Feed crickets, roaches, locusts, earthworms, and occasional pinky mice. Dust prey with calcium and vitamin D3 three times a week for juveniles.
Compatibility: Highly territorial. Best kept individually or in established male-female pairs. Never house males together.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly prone to stress-induced injuries from glass surfing if the enclosure is too small or lacks cover. Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is a constant risk without proper calcium and UVB.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Widely distributed throughout Central and South America, as well as parts of the Caribbean. It inhabits diverse environments including rainforest edges, savannas, open woodlands, and gardens.
Origin
Cosmopolitan or introducedExtra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and CaribbeanNorth America
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 21 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 21 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 21 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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