Description
- Common Name: Southern Alligator Lizard
- Scientific Name: Elgaria multicarinata
- Locality/Morph: Wild Type
- Sex: Unknown
- Age: 2025
- Source: Captive bred
- Native Range: Western United States (California, Oregon), northern Baja California, and parts of Nevada
- Natural Habitat: Woodland edges, grasslands, suburban gardens, and rocky slopes; often found under logs, debris, dense shrubs, and along stone walls
- Diet: Live insects—crickets, roaches, mealworms, silkworms, snails, earthworms; occasional pinky mice for adults if necessary
- Basking Temperature: 30–32°C
- Ambient Temperature: 22–26°C (night drop to ~18–20°C)
- Average Adult Size: 25–35 cm (including tail)
The Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) is a hardy, medium-sized anguid lizard with a long body, well-developed limbs, and a notably long tail. Its pattern typically consists of brown, tan, or grey tones with darker crossbands, giving it effective camouflage among leaf litter and scrub. This species is alert and capable of quick movements, but it generally settles well when kept in secure, structured enclosures.
In the wild, E. multicarinata is adaptable and occupies a wide variety of habitats, from coastal chaparral and oak woodland to suburban gardens. It spends much of its time hidden under logs, rocks, or dense vegetation, emerging to bask or forage. In captivity, a horizontally oriented enclosure with plenty of hides, branches, bark pieces, and ground cover works best. A loose substrate, such as soil or a soil-sand mix, allows for burrowing behaviour.
A moderate basking zone of 28-30°C should be provided, with cooler areas available throughout the enclosure. UVB lighting is recommended to support bone health and natural activity patterns. Ambient temperatures should remain mild, and humidity should be kept moderate, around 40–60%, depending on local conditions. Occasional light misting can be used, but the enclosure should not stay overly damp.
E. multicarinata feeds on a broad range of prey items. A staple diet of insects such as crickets, roaches, mealworms, silkworms, snails, and earthworms works well. Some adults may accept very occasional pinky mice, though these should not be a regular part of the diet. Calcium and multivitamin supplementation should be used consistently to ensure long-term health.
With proper care, the Southern Alligator Lizard is a robust and long-lived species. It can be shy at first but often becomes more confident once settled. Handling should be gentle and limited, as their long tails can be dropped if stressed. When housed correctly with ample hiding places and stable environmental conditions, Elgaria multicarinata displays a wide range of natural behaviours and makes a rewarding, engaging species to keep.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
