Mary Allen
The dwarf girdle tail belongs to the belt lizard family. It belongs to the genus of the real belt tails (Cordylus). A fascinating animal that attracts more and more terrarium owners with its appearance and way of life.
Description and Characteristics of the Dwarf Girdle Tail
Dwarf belt tails can reach a total length of approximately 18 cm. Half of it falls on the tail, however. Dwarf belt tails have a triangular head that is clearly separated from the body. The trunk itself has strong scales and is somewhat rounded. On the sides of the body, you can see a spiked band that goes down to the neck. The back has a red-brown to the maroon-brown basic color. The belly is yellowish to light brown. Dwarf belt tails are very good climbers because of their powerful claws. The eyes of the dwarf girdle tail are very small.
Dwarf girdle tails can live to be around 15 to 20 years old. These animals are subject to species protection law. You must therefore register with the responsible species protection authority with a corresponding certificate of origin.
Distribution and Habitat of the Dwarf Belt Tail
The dwarf girdle tail is native to southeastern Africa. This ranges from Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, through the east of Zambia, Zimbabwe to the Republic of the Congo. But dwarf belt tails can also be found in the south of Ethiopia. In contrast to the other species of the Cordylus genus, they do not inhabit the dry savannahs or steppe areas. These animals prefer bush-like vegetation with lush trees because they like to live on dead wood or in the tree hollows of fallen trees.
The Dwarf Girdle Tail in the Terrarium
The terrarium for keeping dwarf belt tails should not be less than 100 x 50 x 50 cm. With these dimensions, you can even keep up to four animals. It is best to use a mixture of sand and some gravel as a substrate, which you fill up to about 10 cm high. Hiding places for the animals are also very important. For this purpose caves, stones, and collapse-proof stone piles, as well as pieces of bark, are used. You should also place climbing branches in the terrarium.
During the day, the humidity should be rather low. You can simulate the morning dew by spraying in the morning, it can be a little more humid in the caves. The temperature should be between 25 and 30 ° C. You can achieve this with two to three spotlights. A place in the sun where the temperature can reach 40 ° C is also essential. Of course, you also have to ensure an adequate supply of UV-B light.
Moisture is Absorbed Through the Skin
Dwarf girdle tails feed on common food insects such as house crickets, crickets, grasshoppers, or cockroaches. But first dust these feed animals well with appropriate vitamin preparations. Even if the water bowl should not be missing, dwarf girdle tails drink little because they can absorb the necessary moisture through their skin, for which the substrate in the depths and in the caves must always be slightly moist.