Any aquatic lizards that actually swim?

[David Tobler]

I think everyone wants you to get a caiman lizard. Really, next to the marine iguanas of the galapagos, they're the only lizards (that I can think of) that will dive deep down into the water. The Tribolonotus I think someone mentioned are really not that aquatic, more terrestrial really.

I think your best bet is the Shinisaurus. They're about 12 to 14 inches as adults, though I'm not entirely sure they'll dive deep into the water. I even had asked this very question to one of leading Shinisaurus experts in the US, and he wasn't even sure. They're often just kept in slightly swallow, stream type setups. The few I worked with also were pretty skittish and would bite if mishandled. They have a nasty bite too!

 

[rudukai13]

Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely love to be able to get a caiman lizard, but I just don't see myself being able to properly house it for a while, and I don't want to get it and not be able to care for it the way I should.

 

[foto69man]

I was looking at getting a caiman lizard, till i got orders to germany.......that derailed my plans. See here for all the info that was collected

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226834

 

[rudukai13]

Looks like you've got the same mindset as I do. I'd like to make sure I'm in a house that I'll be staying for a while so I could build a custom enclosure large enough to keep a small group of dracaena and breed them, but that will be a long way off from now. Until then I figure I could create a smaller setup similar to what I'd like to build eventually and keep something smaller. Looks like Shinsaurus might be a good option.

 

[foto69man]

Yeah the caiman lizards look like they require quite a large area. Just to give them adequate swimming room is at least 5-6 feet. I think the most difficult part of keeping them(besides the enclosure size), would be establishing a viable and productive apple snail colony...I could find next to nothing on information about them.



I saw a Chinese Croc Lizard at the Omaha Zoo...not too bad looking of a lizard if you ask me...just not sure of their price or availability.

 

[rudukai13]

You can easily go to a chinese deli and pick up frozen snail meat for very cheap. Comes in large packages and they'll eat it up. Just sprinkle some supplements and you're good.

 

[Blue Crab of PAIN!!!!]

From what I have gathered Caiman Lizards don't actually need a strictly snail-based diet in captivity. If I can find it I'll post it but I believe on tegutalk some people give theirs the same diet they give their B&W Tegu's (Ground Turkey with supplements, occasional egg and rodents, etc) minus the fruit and veggies.

If you're looking for a fully aquatic lizard I think I have found just the thing for you!

This website:
http://lizardkeepers.com/
has Itchyosaurs and Plesiosaurs available for sale for $20,000 and $30,000 each (or they should, it looks like its been a while since that site has been updated). Neither one of them are TRUE lizards though, so I'd get in contact with them and see if they can get you a mosasaur

In terms of taxonimy they're really nothing more than really, really big marine monitor lizards.




...Okay enough of me trolling. I had a red-eye croc skink a while back (before I left it in my parents' care during college....). She was a very cool lizard but didn't spend much time at all outside of her burrow. I only found her once in her water bowl. I agree with everyone else: they're not really aquatic at all. They're also not very personable or exciting MOST of the time. The few times she was out it was very cool, but those were only a FEW times.

 

[shells-n-scales]

I gave my input......There aren't any aquatic Lizards that fit......Sorry I didn't sugar coat it.......That gets annoying......

Unless you want to drop $500 on a Shinasaurus.......

I know of one person that has a Crocodile Tegu.......It was originally Dick Bartletts.......They are non-existant in the Trade.......Worth more as skins than live Exports.......

Anything else?......

I thought there where 2 in the states... I guess if Dick Barlett's animals is not longer his, then it must be Dan S.'s now correct? He offered it to me I named the right price...

Don't know if the breeder of this guy is in the states (hope he is), but I hope to get more info on them..

 

[varanio]

I thought there where 2 in the states... I guess if Dick Barlett's animals is not longer his, then it must be Dan S.'s now correct? He offered it to me I named the right price...

Don't know if the breeder of this guy is in the states (hope he is), but I hope to get more info on them..

OOOOhhh nice!!!! better get on that I smell a trade for mertensi in the future?

lol

 

[EricIvins]

I thought there where 2 in the states... I guess if Dick Barlett's animals is not longer his, then it must be Dan S.'s now correct? He offered it to me I named the right price...

Don't know if the breeder of this guy is in the states (hope he is), but I hope to get more info on them..

There's probably more than two in the States, but I only know of the one Dan has. They'd all be atleast 10 year captives though, if not 20 or 30........They are fairly common in some areas, but either the countries protect them for being a valuble commodity for the Skin trade, or they don't allow live animal Exports.......