This small sized lizard has a total snout to vent length of 6.5cm, total sizes including its extremely long tail 36cm. This thin build lizard has a tail up to six times longer than its body. Its scales are large and keeled two lateral copper/gold stripes run the length of the body, overall colouration ranges from dark to light brown. Males are more colourful having green flanks the belly colouration in both sexes is cream white.

In its native environment this lizard, with its extremely long tail is perfectly adapted to life in amongst tall dry grasses and bamboos. It can also be found in secondary forests, between sea level and 1,500m. This sun loving lizard is diurnal and most active during sunny days.

The cage should be tall and as big as possible these are active lizards, moving with ease among the provided décor. A natural vivarium with vines and real or plastic plants should be used. The required humidity of around 75% should be provided with a daily light misting, a shallow open water dish should always be available.

Long-tailed lizards, as mentioned are diurnal, so a UVB light source must be provided for a period of 10-12 hours a day, the UVB tube must be changed every six moths. Heating is best provided through lamps on dimming thermostats. A day time “hot spot” of 85ºF and an overall background temperature of around 74-80ºF will suit them well. A slight night drop of 5ºF may be beneficial.

Food can consist of all suitably sized commercially produced live foods, and hedge sweepings, remember to only collect from areas you are sure pesticides have not been used. A good vitamin and mineral supplement should be used twice a week, or as per the manufactures instructions.

Long-tailed lizards are egg layers. Two to three eggs are laid at the bottom of grass clump. The eggs hatch in approximately six week as miniature replica’s of the adults. Males can easily be recognised by a large swelling at the base of the tail.

If the correct environment is provided these enchanting little lizards could live up to 4 years, and should provide young periodically. If the cage is large other species such as green anoles and house gecko can be added.