Emerald Swift

Sceloporus malachiticus

A shimmering highland lizard — males flash electric blue and green, females deep emerald — with the needs of a cool mountain forest, not a desert.

7–8 in5–10 years

Habitat

Enclosure

36×18×18 in minimum

Temperature

65–82°F

Humidity / Water

50–70% · light daily misting

Heating & lighting

Moderate basking spot 80–82°F with strong 10–12% UVB, cool side at 65–70°F. Mountain species — cooler than desert lizards but MUST have real UVB for calcium.

Diet

Feed these

Crickets
Small dubia roaches
Black soldier fly larvae
Occasional small waxworms

Never feed

Mealworms as a staple — impaction
No heat — they are mountain lizards, moderate temps only
Low UVB setups

Daily feeders dusted alternately with calcium and multivitamin. These are true mountain lizards — never cook them with tropical gecko-style heat.

Cohabitation

Can live with

Other emerald swifts — one male, several females

Never house with

Tropical species kept warmer Small geckos — eaten Anoles and other small lizards

One male per tank; females in groups with space. They are sprinters — secure lids and no escape gaps.