Sudan plated lizard · Broadleysaurus major
The sudan plated lizard, in focus.
A Sudan plated lizard is an African rock-country tank: broad-bodied, earth-coloured, and wrapped in rectangular scales that overlap like carefully laid armor.
Most available animals have historically been imported and wary.
See what they needBefore you decide
Could a sudan plated lizard thrive in your home?
Picture the full-grown animal, the permanent enclosure, and the ordinary care you would still be happy to give years from now.
The honest fit
Would their everyday rhythm suit you?
Think about an ordinary week, including the days when you are tired, busy, or away from home.
Life together may suit you if…
- You want a substantial, calm-looking rock lizard
- You can provide a five-foot enclosure
- You enjoy mixed-diet preparation and live feeders
- You can wait for documented captive-bred stock
Pause if…
- The animal is an undocumented recent import
- You plan to stack loose rocks
- You want immediate handling
- You cannot provide very bright heat and UVB
A comfortable home
Build the home around their choices.
Build a long locked home with deep compactable soil, broad fixed rock ledges, several body-tight crevices, leaf and grass cover, a humid lower retreat, fresh water, guarded overhead heat, measured UVB, and all heavy decor supported from the base.
Measure where the animal actually rests
A real retreat from the warm side
Use a digital hygrometer and watch ventilation
Build light and shade as a gradient
The rhythm
What an ordinary week asks of you.
Warm the plated back
Check basking, cool crevice, UVB, water, locks, skin, eyes, and the secure rockwork before feeding.
Let confidence come outward
Offer measured food across cover and use a target rather than reaching into the lizard’s chosen crevice.
Test every stone
Pull-test modules, inspect the base beneath substrate, and repair any gap that can shift or trap a limb.
Care with tenderness
Learn what is normal for your sudan plated lizard.
Captive-bred is worth waiting for
Imports may arrive stressed or unwell. Ask for hatch, parent, feeding, and veterinary records.
Never pull from a crevice
Armor and claws anchor this lizard firmly. Offer privacy and let it emerge rather than risking injury.
Rock starts below substrate
Every heavy piece belongs on the enclosure base or a fixed platform so digging cannot undermine it.
Call for warning signs
Weight loss, swelling, skin sores, weak limbs, breathing changes, burns, or repeated refusal need a reptile veterinarian.
Good to know
Common questions, answered.
Open any question for a short, practical answer.
Life together
Could a sudan plated lizard suit a first-time keeper?
Maybe. Picture the full-grown animal and the care that fills an ordinary week. Would you still enjoy that life years from now?
How large do sudan plated lizards get?
Usually 40–50 cm (16–20 in)
How long do sudan plated lizards live?
Often 15–20 years. Individual lifespan varies, so plan around the longer end.
When are sudan plated lizards active?
A daytime rock basker, digger, and omnivorous forager
Do sudan plated lizards enjoy handling?
Voluntary supported sessions after trust develops. Watch the animal's posture and movement, support the whole body, and stop before calm turns into endurance.
Can two sudan plated lizards live together?
House alone
What do sudan plated lizards eat?
Varied gut-loaded invertebrates with a measured portion of greens and vegetables
How large should a sudan plated lizard's enclosure be?
Start with at least 150 × 75 × 75 cm for one adult. More usable room is valuable when it creates better gradients, cover, and movement choices.
Home and health
What temperatures does a sudan plated lizard need?
Provide a broad rock surface around 41–46°C (106–115°F), with a sheltered crevice around 23–27°C (73–81°F). Measure both where the animal actually spends time and control every heater appropriately.
Does a sudan plated lizard need UVB?
The reviewed plan calls for measured high UVB across the basking area, with deep shade. Fixture, reflector, mesh, distance, lamp age, and shade all change what reaches the animal.
What humidity does a sudan plated lizard need?
Generally 30–50%, with a humid retreat up to about 70–80%. Check it with a digital hygrometer. Keep fresh air moving through the enclosure, and let the animal choose between damp shelter and dry ground.
What should be inside the enclosure?
Build a long locked home with deep compactable soil, broad fixed rock ledges, several body-tight crevices, leaf and grass cover, a humid lower retreat, fresh water, guarded overhead heat, measured UVB, and all heavy decor supported from the base.
What substrate works for a sudan plated lizard?
Deep compactable soil-and-sand mix beneath securely supported rock
What does ordinary cleaning involve?
Remove waste and leftovers daily, refresh water, inspect skin and toes, and test every crevice, guard, and anchor.
What should I arrange before bringing a sudan plated lizard home?
Build and test the complete adult habitat, verify the readings over several days, identify a reptile veterinarian, check local and rental rules, and choose a responsible captive source or rescue.
Can a healthy-looking sudan plated lizard carry Salmonella?
Yes. Reptiles can carry Salmonella without looking ill, so handwashing and keeping habitat water, food, and cleaning equipment away from kitchens are part of ordinary care.
Still thinking about sudan plated lizards?
Put this animal beside the others on your shortlist. Then build and test the complete adult habitat before anyone comes home.
Compare reptilesSources and care boundaries
Exact targets depend on the measured location, equipment, animal, and veterinary context. This profile keeps source disagreements visible instead of blending them into one number.