Egernia stokesii

Desert/rocky-type terrestrial terrarium, well ventilated and secured, fitted with numerous crevices and stacks of stones.

Minimum dimensions for a pair; significantly increase the floor area and multiply the hides for a family group. Favour a horizontal terrarium (floor area > height).

A dry atmosphere. Nevertheless provide a humid hide (sphagnum/damp substrate) to facilitate shedding. Avoid high, prolonged ambient humidity.

Create numerous crevices and STABLE stacks of stones (wedged/fixed so they cannot collapse onto the animal) reproducing rocky fissures. Add ground-level hides and a humid hide. Avoid bare fine sand (risk of intestinal impaction).

Essential. A heliophilic species of arid environments: provide a powerful UVB tube (Ferguson zone 3, UVI 4 to 6 under the hot spot). Replace the UVB source every 6 to 12 months depending on the model.

A small bowl of clean water available at all times and renewed regularly. Avoid durably wetting the whole substrate.

Australia (arid and semi-arid regions of the centre, south and west; rocky outcrops and crevices).

Omnivore — Insects (roaches, beetles, crickets) and fibrous plant matter (dandelion, endive, edible leaves and flowers); occasional fruit.

Alternate animal protein and plant matter; the plant share increasing with age (roughly half-and-half in adulthood). Dust the prey with calcium (with or without D3 depending on the UVB) and vitamins. Limit fatty insects to prevent obesity.

Reproduction is often biennial (once every two years). Gestation of several months. Marked parental care: the parents tolerate and protect the juveniles within the family group. Delicate to breed, reserved for experienced keepers.

• Metabolic bone disease (MBD) from a UVB and/or calcium deficiency
• Obesity linked to an excess of fatty insects and lack of activity
• Retained shed (dysecdysis) in the absence of a suitable humid area
• Intestinal parasites, especially in wild-caught individuals
• Injuries, bites and stress due to intraspecific aggression (poorly managed cohabitation)