Species keeper protocol

Leiosaurus bellii

Bell's anole
A robust, secretive and frequently crepuscular ground lizard requiring open sandy-loam habitat, covered retreats and solitary management outside supervised breeding introductions.

Day ambient22-25 CWarm-side air target; preserve a cooler covered retreat

Night15-18 CAvoid sub-zero cooling without provenance evidence

Basking surface36-39 CProvide a broad, escapable surface near cover

UV at baskingUVI 2-3Retreats must remain below UVI 1

Keeper timer setting

T5 UVB: one hour later on, one hour earlier off

During active care — ON: 1 hour after daylight starts.
OFF: 1 hour before daylight ends.

During hibernation / full brumation: T5 UVB OFF (0 hours). In transition months, keep UVB off while dormant and use the active timer only once the animal is warmed and active.

October: daylight 11 h; T5 UVB 9 h.

The active T5 duration is the photoperiod minus two hours. Example: daylight 08:00–20:00 means UVB 09:00–19:00. Follow the monthly UVI strength measured beneath the tube and provide access to shade. This timing rule does not introduce hibernation for species whose schedule has only a mild or active winter rest. If an older combined heat / UV column is present, the new T5 UVB duration column governs UVB timing; existing heat settings are preserved.

UVI beneath the optional T5 tube

Working exposure target

October target at normal back height

UVI 2-3directly under the tube when it is on

The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.

Your measuring point

Measure at the animal's normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the T5 strip, positioned toward the middle/back. The animal can enter and leave this area freely.

Keep a lower-UVI gradient and fully covered refuges near UVI 0. This is the optional exposure area, not the average across the cage.

Use a UV Index meter, such as a Solarmeter 6.5/6.5R. Warm the tube for about 30 minutes; keep reflector, guards and mesh in place. Raise or lower the fixture within its manufacturer's minimum-distance guidance, then recheck the reading and every higher accessible surface.

Evidence level: Provisional retention. These are working recommendations, often inferred; exact species optima and seasonal UV dose usually have not been measured. Log lamp-on time and animal behaviour as well as UVI.

Baines et al. (2016), UV-Tool · Muryn, Baines and Dishman (2026), Reptile Lighting Guide V10

October management

Selected automatically using the Netherlands date

Autumn taper

Temperate Monte shrubland and Patagonian steppe - Argentina

22-25 CDay ambient

15-18 CNight

36-39 CBasking

6 hLamp

11 hPhotoperiod

9 hT5 UVB duration

2-3T5 UVI*

30-40%Surface RH

40-55%Retreat RH

2-3 feedsFeeding

Annual schedule

Scroll sideways on smaller screens

Month	Day ambient	Night	Basking	Lamp	Photoperiod	T5 UVB duration	T5 UVI*	Surface RH	Retreat RH	Feeding	Season
January	20-23 C	14-17 C	34-37 C	5 h	9.5 h	7 h 30 m	2-3	30-40%	40-55%	2 feeds	Cool maintenance
February	22-25 C	15-18 C	36-39 C	6 h	10.5 h	8 h 30 m	2-3	30-40%	40-55%	2-3 feeds	Staged warm-up
March	24-27 C	17-20 C	38-41 C	8 h	11.5 h	9 h 30 m	3-4	30-40%	40-55%	3-4 feeds	Conditioning
April	26-29 C	18-21 C	40-43 C	9 h	12.5 h	10 h 30 m	3-4	25-40%	40-55%	4 feeds	Courtship watch
May	27-30 C	19-22 C	40-44 C	10 h	13.5 h	11 h 30 m	3-4	25-40%	40-55%	4 feeds	Pairing / mating
June	28-31 C	20-23 C	41-44 C	11 h	14.5 h	12 h 30 m	3-4	25-40%	40-55%	4 feeds	Mating / follicles
July	28-31 C	20-23 C	41-44 C	11 h	15 h	13 h	3-4	25-40%	40-55%	4 feeds	Gravid / laying watch
August	27-30 C	19-22 C	40-43 C	10 h	14 h	12 h	3-4	25-40%	40-55%	4 feeds	Laying / recovery
September	25-28 C	17-20 C	38-41 C	8 h	12.5 h	10 h 30 m	3	30-40%	40-55%	3-4 feeds	Recovery
October	22-25 C	15-18 C	36-39 C	6 h	11 h	9 h	2-3	30-40%	40-55%	2-3 feeds	Autumn taper
November	18-21 C	12-15 C	32-35 C	4 h	10 h	8 h	1-2	30-40%	40-55%	1-2 feeds	Pre-cooling
December	14-18 C	8-12 C	Off / 30-32 C	0-3 h	9 h	Off during rest; 7 h when active	Off / 1	30-40%	40-55%	None or 1	Optional cool rest

Keeper notes

Use measured gradients and animal behaviour, not single thermostat readings

T5 UVI measurement

Measure UVI at normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the optional T5 strip. Place the strip toward the middle/back with free access to and away from it; preserve a gradient into fully covered refuges near UVI 0. These numbers describe the exposure area, not the whole enclosure or a daily average.

UVI review

Range and natural history

Endemic to Argentina from Mendoza south to Santa Cruz. It occurs in temperate Monte shrubland and transitional Patagonian steppe, often on sandy or sedimentary soil with scattered stones, open scrub and bare ground.

Enclosure and social management

Use at least 120 x 60 x 60 cm for one adult, with 150 x 75 x 75 cm preferred. Provide 15-25 cm of compactable sandy loam, ground cover and several secure hides. Individual housing is the safest default.

Heat and UVB

During full activity provide 27-31 C warm-side air, a 22-25 C cooler zone and a broad 40-44 C basking surface. Target UVI 3-4 at body height, with complete shade and low-cover travel routes.

Diet and water

Feed varied gut-loaded captive-bred invertebrates, including beetles and larvae, roaches, crickets and locusts. Keep shallow fresh water available and a mildly humid retreat while preserving a dry, well-ventilated surface.

Breeding and incubation

The species is oviparous, but reliable captive clutch and incubation data are sparse. Use only supervised introductions. Provide a 25-30 cm covered laying zone; 26-28 C is a conservative first incubation trial, not a proven standard.

Keeper warning

Regional sources describe strong aggression and occasional cannibalism. Never leave introductions unattended, avoid mixed-size juvenile groups and separate immediately for biting, pinning, refuge exclusion or declining mass.