![]() ![]() ![]() Enclosure SizeĪ 20-gallon terrarium is ideal for a single emerald swift. Housing Emerald SwiftsĮmerald swifts are arboreal, and while they require basking rocks, they also enjoy a terrarium with decorations that simulate their wild forests. Being forced to accept human contact can lead to biting and flighty behavior. ![]() Since emerald swifts are usually wild caught, they aren’t domesticated and don’t enjoy being handled. Male emerald swifts fight if forced into the same enclosure. When housing emerald swifts together, be sure to house a male and a female together and not two males because males are quite territorial. The lizard may become stressed when startled by sudden movements and sounds, like when a predator approaches. TemperamentĪs with most lizards and iguanas, emerald swifts prefer a quiet environment. Emerald swifts born in captivity live a decade on average. If the lizard is well cared for and acclimated well to life in captivity, it may easily live up to five years. Most emerald swifts enter the pet trade as adults, so it’s difficult to determine an accurate lifespan. The adult males are typically larger than the female emerald swifts. Size and LifespanĮmerald swifts grow to between 6–8 inches in length from nose tip to tail tip as adult lizards. In the late afternoon, they look for a safe place to spend the night. Emerald swifts have an armored appearance due to the stiff and pointy scales that cover their bodies.Įmerald swifts are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. The emerald swift has a compact body with noticeably long toes, a slender tail, and a blunted head. The male lizards have some variation of blue shading on either side of their bellies, while the female emerald swift can be brown to emerald with darker spots. Appearance and BehaviorĪs the emerald swift’s name indicates, this lizard is a vibrant emerald green color. Most emerald swifts aren’t tame lizards, so in captivity, they are more often kept as display reptiles rather than as pets to handle. ![]() Emerald swifts retreat at nighttime to sleep.Įmerald swifts are common in the exotic pet trade, and most adults are wild-caught and then sold. If the day becomes too hot or the lizard feels threatened, the emerald swift retreats higher up in trees or hides under rocks, in burrows, or logs. These lizards share the same body shape and spiny texture on their scales as the fence lizards that are common throughout the southern US.Įmerald swifts are active and move fast, but they prefer to bask in the sun after they’ve hunted for insects in the morning. The emerald swift ( Sceloporus malachiticus) is native to the tropical and subtropical woodlands and cloud forests from southern Mexico to Panama. Emerald Swift Overview Common Name: Emerald swift, green spiny lizard Scientific Name: Sceloporus malachiticus Natural Habitat: Mountain, rainforest, and woodland habitats in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico’s Yucatán region, Nicaragua, and Panama Adult Size: 6–8 inches Average Lifespan: 5–10 years Diet: Insectivorous Housing: Minimum enclosure of 20 gallons for a single adult with full spectrum lighting for 12–14 hours a day the ambient day temperature of 75–80˚F and night temperature at 70˚F or more basking temperatures of 90–95˚F Experience Level: Intermediate Origin By maintaining the right temperature and humidity conditions, emerald swifts easily adapt to their captive environment. Exploring Tegu Lizards: 10 Species Colors & MorphsĮmerald swifts are popular terrarium display pets and fairly easy to care for once the correct environment is created. ![]()
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