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The green keel-bellied lizard (Gastropholis prasina) is a 10-14” long, diurnal, arboreal lizard native to Kenya and Tanzania. They are proficient climbers and spend most of their time in the forest canopy.

Green keel-bellied lizards have slender bodies with a tapered snout, large eyes, long toes, and  rectangular scales. True to their common name, they are primarily vibrant green or sometimes turquoise in color.

Green keel-bellied lizards are intermediate-level reptiles that can make lively, entertaining pets when kept properly.

Size

Up to 40cm

Lifespan

10-15 years

Enclosure

The absolute minimum terrarium size for a single green keel-bellied lizard is 36”L x 18”W x 36”H. Of course, larger is always better! These skinks like being up high and having plenty of vertical space.

Housing multiple green keel-bellied lizards in the same terrarium is not required for their wellbeing, but if you wish to keep a group of them, they generally get along well. However, do not house males and females together unless you plan to breed.

Heating & Lighting

Green keel-bellied lizards should have a basking temperature around 90°F, as measured by a digital probe thermometer with the probe secured to the basking branch. General ambient temperatures should stay between 70-80°F. Nighttime temps can drop as low as 65°F.

Green keel-bellied lizards require UVB lighting for their survival. UVB lighting helps provide a clear day/night cycle, provides all of the vitamin D that your pet needs, strengthens the immune system, facilitates better digestion, and other benefits. 

Substrate and Humidity

Providing a layer of naturalistic substrate (“bedding”) will help maintain correct humidity levels and also helps make your enclosure more attractive.

Green keel-bellied lizards are a tropical species, so the humidity inside their enclosure should be fairly high: 60-80% on average

Diet

Green keel-bellied lizards are insectivores, which means that they need to get the majority of their nutrition from insects. Juveniles should be fed daily, while adults can be fed 2-3x/week. Offer as many insects as the lizard will eat in a ~5 minute period. For best results, offer as wide of a variety of prey as possible.

Handling

Reptiles generally don’t appreciate petting and handling in the same way that dogs and cats do. Green keel-bellied lizards are one of those reptiles that are best to leave alone rather than attempt to handle regularly. If you want to interact with your pet, try hand-feeding it with a pair of feeding tweezers.