Best Food & Housing for Yellow Throated Plated Lizard

Question
QUESTION: My husband and son purchased "Chad" a yellow throated plated lizard from a reptile specialty store in St. Paul, MN.  Although we've done some research, I'm questioning whether we're providing the best environment for our new family member. Chad is about 12-inches long and we have no idea how old he is.  It looks like he may have lost his tail at one time. The staff at the reptile store said a 10-gallon tank with sand substrate are fine as housing. They also informed us that a UVB light is not necessary is Chad's tank is located by a window. Chad eats crickets and meal worms but has NOT touched the lettuce, spinach, bananas, cherrie, grapes or strawberries we've provided. Information we've found on various websites re: food and housing seems a bit conflicting. How many crickets (and or meal worms) per day are recommended? Should we be dusting them with protein? After reading answers on this website from Mick - I'm wondering if reptiles are good pets for kids. What about baths and humidity levels? Our family really likes Chad and we all hold him.  He seems very docile and content. Your advice is appreciated. Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: Hello Jill,

The 10 gallon tank wont be large enough as he could get anywhere from 16-28 inches in length.  A good sized enclosure should be at least a 48 x 24 x 18, really it should be 24 inches tall ideally.
Are you using a UVB light?  If so, what type & brand do you use?  Is it a flourescent tube bulb or a compact/coil light?

Since he is 12 inches I would say he is around 6 months old or so.  Right now, he should be eating at least 50+ feeders per day to grow, along with greens & veggies.  The best feeders are crickets, silkworms, hornworms, superworms, phoenix worms, butterworms, or roaches.  
I would hold off on the superworms until he is at least 16 inches in length.  
What type of lettuce are you referring to?  The dark green leafy veggies are mustard or collard greens, but limit the spinach because it is high in oxaltes which can bind the calcium absorption.  Bananas are fine but limit those too because they are high in phosphorus which can bind calcium absorption too.  
You will need to be using a calcium supplement 5 times per week right now since he is growing.  
They are great for kids, as long as they are good with them & don't handle them roughly.  
You can bathe him yes that is no problem, it will help keep him hydrated.  The humidity levels should be around 50% or so but no higher.  Otherwise he can be subject to getting a respiratory infection.

The basking temperatures should be around 95 or so.  The cool side should be around 78-82 or so.  Make sure that you take the temperatures with either a digital probe or a temp gun for best readings.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice Tracie! 50 feeders? Chad will eat 2 crickets max and not eat additional food after that.  I assume it has to do with the size of crickets but 50 of anything larger than a flea will be bigger than Chad.
The uvb bulb is a curly type.  Are these ok? How many hours a day if the cage gets indirect natural sunlight?

Answer
Hello Jill,

Chad is a cute name for him!  :-))
The feeders should not be any larger than the space between his eyes to avoid impaction.  He is not eating or licking the sand is he?  If you find that he is you may need to take the sand out because that can cause impaction as well especially if you are using calcium based sand.
He should be much more hungry than that.  
You could also try some phoenix worms which he would probably love, or some butterworms.  If you need help finding a place to purchase them from, let me know.
Unfortunately, the compact/coil type of UVB is not good.  They do not emit much if any UVB.  Plus, the UVB that alot of them do emit is harmful.  The wavelength frequency of UVB that most if not all of the put out is not conducive to D3 synthesis which will not allow him to absorb his calcium or vitamins properly.  
He needs a 12 hour light cycle.  During this time, he needs the basking light as well as the UVB to be on the entire time.  The best UVB you can  get right now, for the size tank you have is a Reptisun 10 flourescent tube bulb.  You can get one for a great price from here:

http://www.petmountain.com/product/reptile-fluorescent-bulbs/504983/zoo-med-rept

The basking light should be at one end, along with the flourescent tube bulb right beside it thus allowing the other end as the cooler side so he can get out of the heat if needed.  
Make sure you place the UVB light directly beside the basking light to look like this:

__________________O

UVB tube          Basking light


If the tank sits to where there is "indirect" sunlight, remember that sunlight will not do him any good going through glass.  All of the UVB is filtered out.  So, unless he gets direct sunlight, he needs a UVB for a decent period of time, daily especially while he is growing.  He will need it as an adult, but will most likely brumate after his first year too.

Can you post a picture of him for me?  Thanks!

Tracie