Chinese Crocodile Lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) Care Sheet
The Chinese Crocodile Lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is a highly distinctive, semi-aquatic lizard found naturally in a small number of cool, densely vegetated forest-stream systems in southern China and northern Vietnam.
It is the sole living representative of the ancient family Shinisauridae.
Adults possess a strongly ridged, crocodile-like tail, robust body and well-developed limbs. Their appearance, combined with their tendency to sit motionless on branches over water for long periods, has made the species highly sought after in specialist herpetoculture.
However, this is not a conventional tropical lizard.
Chinese Crocodile Lizards are specialists of:
- Cool forest streams
- Dense shade
- High environmental humidity
- Clean water
- Branches positioned directly over water
- Relatively low ambient temperatures
Research has shown that they actively use water to avoid overheating during hot conditions. Maintaining them like a warm tropical agamid or water dragon is therefore a serious husbandry error.
The species is also of major conservation importance. Wild populations have undergone severe declines through habitat destruction, fragmentation and collection. International commercial trade is consequently very tightly controlled.
Successful husbandry requires:
- A large semi-aquatic enclosure
- A substantial clean water area
- Excellent water quality
- Strong biological and/or mechanical filtration
- Cool ambient temperatures
- A limited optional basking area
- Protection from overheating
- High humidity with good ventilation
- Dense vegetation
- Numerous branches immediately above water
- Appropriate UVB
- A varied live-invertebrate diet
- Seasonal temperature variation
- Minimal unnecessary handling
- Documented legal provenance
This is best regarded as a:
specialist species rather than a beginner reptile.
Quick facts
Scientific name: Shinisaurus crocodilurus
Common name: Chinese Crocodile Lizard / Crocodile Lizard
Family: Shinisauridae
Distribution: Southern China and northern Vietnam
Lifestyle: Semi-aquatic and scansorial
Activity: Diurnal
Adult size: Approximately 35–45 cm (14–18 in) total length
Lifespan: Commonly 10–15+ years in captivity; potentially longer with excellent husbandry
Diet: Predominantly live invertebrates and other small animal prey
Day ambient temperature: Approximately 20–24°C (68–75°F)
Warm area: Approximately 24–26°C (75–79°F)
Local basking surface: Approximately 27–31°C (81–88°F), while retaining substantially cooler retreats
Night temperature: Approximately 16–20°C (61–68°F) during the active season
Water temperature: Approximately 18–22°C (64–72°F) is a useful general target
Humidity: Generally 70–90% with excellent ventilation
UVB: Recommended
Suggested UVI: Approximately 1–3 across commonly used exposed perches, with extensive shaded areas approaching zero
Adult enclosure: At least approximately 4 × 2 × 3 ft (120 × 60 × 90 cm) for one adult, with larger purpose-built semi-aquatic housing strongly preferred
Water: Large, clean, easily accessible aquatic area essential
Housing: Individual housing safest
Reproduction: Live-bearing
Pregnancy: Approximately 9–11 months under natural seasonal conditions
Typical litter: Approximately 2–12 young
Conservation/trade: CITES Appendix I
Experience level: Advanced/intermediate-specialist
Taxonomy
The accepted scientific name is:
Shinisaurus crocodilurus
The species is the only living member of:
Family Shinisauridae.
It represents an evolutionarily distinctive lineage of lizards.
Vietnamese populations
Vietnamese crocodile lizards were historically treated as part of the same population structure as Chinese animals.
Research has demonstrated important geographic differentiation between Chinese and Vietnamese populations.
Vietnamese populations have been described as:
Shinisaurus crocodilurus vietnamensis.
Where animals possess genuine geographic or lineage documentation, this information should be:
preserved carefully.
Do not assign locality or subspecies based purely upon appearance.
Natural distribution
The species has an extremely restricted natural distribution.
Populations occur in:
China
Primarily portions of:
- Guangxi
- Guangdong
Vietnam
Small populations occur in northern Vietnam, including areas associated with:
- Quảng Ninh
- Bắc Giang
The remaining populations are highly fragmented.
Natural habitat
Chinese Crocodile Lizards are specialists of:
densely vegetated rocky streams within cool forest.
Typical habitat includes:
- Narrow streams
- Pools
- Rocks
- Dense overhanging vegetation
- Branches
- High atmospheric humidity
- Substantial shade
Stream dependence
Water is not simply decorative for this species.
It forms a major component of its:
- Escape behaviour
- Thermoregulation
- Resting ecology
- Hunting environment
- Reproductive biology
Semi-aquatic lifestyle
Chinese Crocodile Lizards are:
strong swimmers.
When disturbed they may rapidly:
- Drop from branches
- Enter the water
- Swim underwater
- Hide beneath submerged structure
Arboreal use
Although often described as semi-aquatic, the species also spends substantial time:
perched above water.
Branches immediately over the aquatic area are therefore particularly important.
Perching behaviour
Wild and captive animals commonly rest for long periods on:
- Branches
- Roots
- Vegetation
This behaviour is so characteristic that the species has historically acquired local names associated with:
sleeping or inactivity.
Long periods of motionlessness can be completely normal.
Activity
The species is:
diurnal.
However, it is generally sedentary rather than constantly active.
Natural basking
Wild Chinese Crocodile Lizards do not behave like highly heliothermic desert lizards.
Research describes them as relatively sedentary animals that:
rarely bask extensively in their natural shaded habitat.
A captive basking opportunity should therefore be:
limited and optional.
Thermoregulation
Research has demonstrated that Chinese Crocodile Lizards regulate body temperature through:
microhabitat selection.
They move between:
- Water
- Shade
- Branches
- Warmer exposed areas
according to environmental conditions.
Water and overheating
During hot summer conditions, captive research animals spent more time:
in water to avoid overheating.
This demonstrates why a cool aquatic retreat is particularly important.
Enclosure philosophy
A successful enclosure should resemble:
a shaded forest stream bank
rather than a conventional tropical lizard vivarium.
Adult enclosure size
For one adult, provide at least approximately:
4 × 2 × 3 ft (120 × 60 × 90 cm).
Where possible:
5 × 2 × 3 ft (150 × 60 × 90 cm)
or larger is preferable.
Larger enclosures
Purpose-built enclosures around:
6 ft (180 cm) or more in length
can provide considerably better:
- Water volume
- Thermal gradients
- Vegetation
- Branch networks
- Behavioural choice
Floor plan
The enclosure should contain substantial:
- Aquatic area
- Terrestrial bank
- Elevated branch structure
Aquatic proportion
Approximately:
one-third to one-half of the usable enclosure footprint
can be dedicated to water.
The exact proportion is less important than providing a genuinely functional aquatic area.
Water depth
For healthy adults, approximately:
6–12 in (15–30 cm)
of water depth works well in many setups.
Deeper water may be provided where:
- Exit routes are abundant
- Filtration is suitable
- Animals can reach perches easily
Juvenile water depth
Juveniles should initially be given shallower water with:
- Easy exits
- Branches
- Rocks
- Cork
- Multiple resting points
Research on captive juveniles has successfully used water depths around:
10–11 cm (4–4½ in)
as animals grew.
Easy water exits
A lizard must never have to struggle to leave the water.
Provide:
- Sloping banks
- Cork
- Rocks
- Branches
- Roots
at several locations.
Branches over water
This is one of the most important enclosure features.
Provide numerous branches:
directly above the water.
Useful diameters vary, but adults should have branches thick enough to support the body comfortably.
Branch arrangement
Create multiple routes between:
- Water
- Land
- Vegetation
- Elevated perches
- Basking area
Dense vegetation
Provide substantial visual cover.
Suitable planting can include:
- Pothos
- Philodendron
- Ficus
- Ferns
- Other humidity-tolerant, non-toxic plants
Plant choice must also tolerate relatively:
cool conditions.
Shade
Large portions of the enclosure should remain:
shaded.
This species should not be exposed to intense heat and light across the entire enclosure.
Terrestrial substrate
Suitable land substrate can include:
- Organic topsoil
- Leaf mould
- Fine orchid bark
- Leaf litter
- Moss in appropriate areas
Substrate depth
Provide approximately:
3–6 in (8–15 cm)
where practical.
Deeper planted sections are useful.
Leaf litter
A substantial layer of leaf litter provides:
- Cover
- Humidity buffering
- Foraging opportunities
- Natural appearance
Hides
Provide several secure retreats including:
- Cork tubes
- Bark
- Root structures
- Dense foliage
- Rock crevices
Aquatic hides
Submerged or partially submerged structure can include:
- Smooth roots
- Cork
- Stable rocks
Ensure nothing can:
- Collapse
- Trap the animal underwater
- Create inaccessible narrow spaces
Water quality
Excellent water quality is essential.
The aquatic section must not become a stagnant pool of:
- Faeces
- Dead insects
- Food
- Bacteria
Filtration
A substantial water volume should normally use:
effective filtration.
Depending upon enclosure design, suitable systems include:
- External canister filtration
- Internal aquarium filtration
- Purpose-built sump filtration
Filter safety
Filter intakes should be designed so animals cannot:
- Become trapped
- Become pinned against suction
- Enter inaccessible pipework
Water movement
Moderate water movement is beneficial.
The natural habitat consists of:
streams and pools rather than stagnant swamp water.
However, avoid currents so powerful that resting or swimming becomes difficult.
Biological filtration
A mature biological filter helps process:
- Ammonia
- Nitrite
but does not eliminate the need for:
water changes.
Water testing
Aquarium-style testing is strongly recommended.
Monitor:
- Ammonia
- Nitrite
- Nitrate
Ammonia and nitrite should remain:
at or effectively at zero.
Water changes
Carry out regular partial water changes.
Frequency depends upon:
- Water volume
- Filtration
- Stocking
- Feeding
Dechlorination
Where tap water contains chlorine or chloramine, use an appropriate:
aquarium water conditioner.
Water temperature
A useful general water range is approximately:
18–22°C (64–72°F).
Avoid warm water
Do not heat the aquatic area to tropical aquarium temperatures such as:
26–28°C (79–82°F)
as routine husbandry.
The cool water acts as an important thermal refuge.
Temperature
Temperature management is one of the most important aspects of husbandry.
Chinese Crocodile Lizards are:
cool-adapted forest-stream reptiles.
Day ambient temperature
Maintain much of the enclosure around:
20–24°C (68–75°F).
Warm area
A limited warmer area around:
24–26°C (75–79°F)
is suitable.
Local basking surface
A small exposed perch may reach approximately:
27–31°C (81–88°F)
provided the animal can immediately retreat into:
- Shade
- Cooler branches
- Cool water
Research on captive juveniles has used localised basking surfaces around:
26–31°C.
Basking is optional
Do not turn the entire upper enclosure into a:
30°C+ hot zone.
The warm surface must occupy only a limited area.
Cool area
Provide shaded areas around:
18–22°C (64–72°F).
Night temperature
Allow nighttime temperatures to fall toward approximately:
16–20°C (61–68°F)
during the active season.
Seasonal cooling
Healthy adults naturally experience considerably cooler seasonal conditions.
Controlled winter cooling can be useful, particularly for:
- Reproductive cycling
- Natural seasonal behaviour
Overheating
This species is particularly vulnerable to:
excessive heat.
Research demonstrates behavioural avoidance of high temperatures and increased use of water during hot conditions.
Summer planning
Before acquiring this species, consider the maximum temperature reached by the reptile room during summer.
In warm buildings, active cooling may be required using:
- Air conditioning
- A dedicated cool reptile room
- Controlled ventilation
Simply switching off the basking lamp may not be sufficient if the entire room reaches excessive temperatures.
Temperature monitoring
Use digital thermometers to monitor:
- Warm area
- Shaded air
- Cool area
- Water
An infrared thermometer is useful for:
- Perches
- Branches
- Basking surfaces
Heating
Use gentle:
overhead heating
to create a local warm area.
Thermostat
All significant heat sources should be controlled by an:
appropriate thermostat.
Lighting
Provide bright but well-shaded daytime illumination.
Dense vegetation should create a patchwork of:
- Light
- Partial shade
- Deep shade
Photoperiod
Approximately:
12 hours light / 12 hours dark
is suitable during much of the active season.
Seasonal variation can be incorporated.
Night lighting
Provide:
complete darkness at night.
Do not use permanently illuminated red or blue bulbs.
UVB
UVB is recommended.
Although the species occupies shaded forests, it is diurnal and uses elevated branches where filtered natural ultraviolet exposure occurs.
Suggested UV Index
A practical target is approximately:
UVI 1–3
across exposed commonly used perches.
Provide simultaneously:
- Areas below UVI 1
- Dense foliage
- Retreats approaching UVI 0
Captive UVB research
Published observations of captive juvenile Shinisaurus have used a UV gradient approximately:
UVI 0–4
across the enclosure alongside local basking surfaces of approximately 26–31°C.
This supports providing a:
gradient rather than a single uniform UV level.
What this means in practice
A:
low-to-moderate output linear T5 UVB lamp
positioned above part of the enclosure is generally appropriate.
The dense planting should create naturally shaded areas.
Mesh and distance
Actual UV exposure depends upon:
- Lamp model
- Reflector
- Mesh
- Distance
- Branch height
UV meter
Where possible, measure output with an appropriate UV meter.
This is particularly useful in complex planted enclosures.
Humidity
Maintain generally high humidity around:
70–90%.
Humidity is not stagnant air
High humidity must be combined with:
good ventilation.
A permanently stagnant enclosure can contribute to:
- Skin disease
- Respiratory problems
- Excessive mould
- Poor environmental hygiene
Humidity cycle
Humidity may rise:
above 90%
following misting or during the night and then decline during the day.
Natural fluctuation is preferable to maintaining one fixed number.
Misting
Misting can occur:
daily or as required
to maintain vegetation and appropriate humidity.
Drinking
Although animals have constant access to water, droplets on:
- Leaves
- Branches
can provide additional drinking opportunities.
Diet
Chinese Crocodile Lizards are primarily:
animal feeders.
Their natural diet includes a range of small aquatic and terrestrial prey.
Suitable captive foods
A varied diet can include:
- Earthworms
- Crickets
- Roaches
- Locusts
- Silkworms
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Appropriate caterpillars
- Captive-produced snails
- Other suitable invertebrates
Earthworms
Earthworms are particularly valuable because they are:
- Moisture-rich
- Soft-bodied
- Readily accepted
- Behaviourally appropriate prey
Use worms from safe, chemical-free cultures.
Aquatic prey
Some individuals may take suitable aquatic invertebrates.
Any aquatic prey must be:
- Safe
- Disease-free
- Appropriately sized
Vertebrate prey
Small vertebrates may be taken opportunistically, but routine feeding of:
mice
is unnecessary.
A varied invertebrate-based diet is preferable.
Gut loading
Feeder insects should be properly:
gut loaded.
Calcium
Dust appropriate feeders with:
calcium.
Multivitamin
Provide an appropriate reptile multivitamin according to a sensible schedule.
Vitamin D3
Dietary D3 supplementation should be considered alongside actual:
UVB exposure.
Avoid chronic oversupplementation.
Adult feeding
Healthy adults can generally be offered food approximately:
2–3 times per week.
Adjust according to:
- Body condition
- Temperature
- Season
- Reproductive status
Juvenile feeding
Growing juveniles may be fed:
daily or near-daily initially,
moving toward several meals weekly as they mature.
Feeding over water
Take care when feeding around the aquatic section.
Remove uneaten prey before it:
- Drowns
- Decomposes
- Pollutes the water
Body condition
Monitor body weight and condition regularly.
Long periods of inactivity are normal and should not automatically be interpreted as illness.
However:
weight loss is not normal.
Handling
Routine handling should be:
minimal.
This species is best maintained as an observation animal.
Stress
Repeated handling can cause:
- Stress
- Escape attempts
- Defensive behaviour
- Reduced feeding
Necessary handling
When handling is required:
- Support the whole body
- Avoid squeezing
- Keep sessions short
- Work close to a safe surface
Tail
Do not restrain the animal by its:
tail.
Social housing
Individual housing is the:
safest general recommendation.
Territoriality
Wild adults occupy relatively small territories around stream sections and can show territorial behaviour.
CITES documentation describes adult territories of approximately:
10 m² in the wild.
This illustrates why crowding several adults into a small vivarium is inappropriate.
Male aggression
Adult males should not routinely be housed together.
Breeding pairs
A compatible male and female may be maintained or introduced for breeding in suitably large specialist accommodation.
Animals must be monitored for:
- Aggression
- Feeding suppression
- Stress
- Injuries
Reproduction
Chinese Crocodile Lizards are:
viviparous — live-bearing.
There are:
no eggs to incubate.
Sexual maturity
Wild animals generally reach maturity at approximately:
2–4 years of age.
Captive breeding should nevertheless be based on:
- Full physical maturity
- Body condition
- Health
rather than age alone.
Seasonal reproduction
Reproduction is strongly linked to:
seasonal temperature cycles.
Maintaining adults constantly warm throughout the year can disrupt normal reproductive timing.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is unusually long.
Published conservation information reports approximately:
9–11 months.
Temperature and pregnancy
Temperature has a particularly important effect on reproductive timing.
Research found that some captive females gave birth prematurely during:
autumn or winter
rather than the following spring, apparently associated with warmer captive conditions.
Young from these early births had poorer subsequent survival.
This is an important reason not to maintain breeding animals at artificially high temperatures year-round.
Litter size
Females generally produce approximately:
2–12 fully developed young.
Larger females tend to produce:
larger litters.
Birth
Young are normally born:
into or immediately beside water.
The neonates are fully formed and capable swimmers.
Pregnant female care
Pregnant females require:
- Excellent water quality
- Excellent hydration
- Appropriate calcium
- UVB
- Diverse nutrition
- Cool thermal conditions
- Minimal disturbance
Do not overheat gravid females
Increasing temperatures in an attempt to accelerate pregnancy is:
inappropriate and potentially harmful.
Neonate housing
Neonates should generally be separated from adults for reliable monitoring.
Neonate enclosure
Provide a scaled-down semi-aquatic setup containing:
- Shallow water
- Numerous easy exits
- Branches over water
- Dense cover
- Terrestrial retreats
- UVB
- Excellent water quality
Neonate water
Water must be:
- Clean
- Easy to enter
- Easy to leave
Avoid deep featureless containers.
Neonate temperature
Maintain daytime ambient temperatures around:
20–23°C (68–73°F).
Provide a limited warmer perch around:
26–29°C (79–84°F).
Neonate night temperature
Allow temperatures to fall toward approximately:
16–19°C (61–66°F).
Neonate UVB
Provide approximately:
UVI 1–2
at exposed perches, with abundant shade.
Neonate diet
Suitable foods include:
- Small earthworms
- Pinhead crickets
- Tiny roach nymphs
- Small black soldier fly larvae
- Other appropriately sized live invertebrates
Neonate feeding
Offer small meals:
daily or near-daily during early growth.
Neonate water quality
Small aquatic volumes become polluted extremely quickly.
This makes:
frequent water changes and careful filtration
particularly important.
Seasonal cooling
Seasonal cooling is biologically important for this species.
During cooler months:
- Photoperiod can decrease
- Ambient temperatures can decline
- Feeding reduces
- Activity decreases
Winter conditions
Experienced breeders commonly provide a substantial cool period.
The exact regime should be matched to:
- Animal origin
- Age
- Health
- Breeding objectives
Avoid uncontrolled brumation
Do not simply place the enclosure somewhere cold and assume the animal will be safe.
Cool-season management requires:
- Reliable temperature monitoring
- Clean water
- Appropriate humidity
- Protection from freezing
- Regular health observation
Quarantine
All newly acquired animals should undergo quarantine.
At least:
90 days
is a sensible minimum.
Quarantine and water
Semi-aquatic reptiles require particular attention during quarantine because shared:
- Water
- Filtration
- Equipment
can transmit disease efficiently.
Use dedicated equipment.
Parasite screening
Veterinary faecal examination is strongly recommended for:
- Newly acquired animals
- Animals of uncertain history
- Animals losing weight
- Animals producing abnormal faeces
Skin disease
Crocodile Lizards can develop serious:
cutaneous bacterial infections.
A published disease investigation identified Austwickia chelonae in granulomatous skin lesions of endangered crocodile lizards.
Any persistent:
- Nodules
- Ulcers
- Swelling
- Abnormal skin lesions
require veterinary investigation.
Common health concerns
Potential problems include:
- Overheating
- Poor water quality
- Dehydration
- Skin infections
- Respiratory disease
- Parasites
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Metabolic bone disease
- Trauma
- Reproductive complications
Overheating
This deserves particular emphasis.
Possible signs include:
- Prolonged immersion
- Persistent attempts to find shade
- Open-mouth breathing
- Lethargy
- Loss of coordination
- Collapse
Check environmental temperatures immediately.
Water-quality disease
Poor water quality can contribute to:
- Skin infections
- Eye problems
- Bacterial disease
Test and maintain the aquatic system as carefully as a:
well-managed aquarium.
Respiratory disease
Warning signs include:
- Wheezing
- Clicking
- Nasal discharge
- Open-mouth breathing
- Increased respiratory effort
Seek veterinary assessment.
Metabolic bone disease
Possible signs include:
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Jaw deformity
- Limb abnormalities
Prevention requires appropriate:
- UVB
- Calcium
- Diet
- Supplementation
Reproductive problems
Seek veterinary assistance for:
- Severe weakness
- Persistent straining
- Abnormal swelling
- Unexpected prolonged distress
- Apparent failure to complete parturition
Veterinary red flags
Consult a suitably experienced reptile veterinarian for:
- Persistent anorexia
- Weight loss
- Abnormal skin lesions
- Swelling
- Abnormal breathing
- Severe lethargy
- Neurological signs
- Major injuries
- Persistent abnormal faeces
- Reproductive difficulty
Cleaning
Spot-clean terrestrial areas regularly.
Remove:
- Faeces
- Dead prey
- Shed
- Mould
- Decaying plant material
Aquatic cleaning
Regularly:
- Remove debris
- Clean filter components appropriately
- Test water
- Perform partial water changes
Do not sterilise all biological filter media simultaneously, as this can destroy beneficial bacterial colonies.
Bioactive housing
A planted, naturalistic enclosure can work extremely well.
However, bioactive terrestrial substrate does not eliminate the need for:
proper aquatic filtration.
Conservation
The Chinese Crocodile Lizard has suffered severe wild declines.
Major threats include:
- Habitat destruction
- Stream alteration
- Forest loss
- Fragmentation
- Collection
- Illegal wildlife trade
Historical estimates documented a dramatic reduction in wild numbers.
CITES
Shinisaurus crocodilurus** is listed in CITES Appendix I.**
The species was transferred from Appendix II to Appendix I following CoP17 because of its small, fragmented and declining wild population.
What Appendix I means
Appendix I contains species threatened with extinction for which international commercial trade in wild-origin specimens is generally prohibited.
Captive-bred specimens can be subject to tightly controlled legal trade under specific conditions.
This means documentation is particularly important.
Documentation
Retain all relevant:
- Purchase records
- CITES documentation
- Import/export documents
- Breeder records
- Individual identification
- Parentage information
- Locality/subspecies records
for the life of the animal.
Do not buy undocumented animals
An unusually cheap or undocumented Shinisaurus should be treated as a:
serious warning sign.
The species has historically been affected by illegal collection and trade.
Captive-bred preference
Only obtain animals from:
reputable legal captive-breeding sources.
Never release captive animals
Never release captive crocodile lizards into the wild.
This could:
- Spread pathogens
- Introduce inappropriate genetics
- Compromise conservation programmes
- Violate wildlife law
Common husbandry mistakes
Common mistakes include:
- Treating the species like a tropical water dragon
- Keeping the enclosure too warm
- Maintaining warm tropical aquarium water
- Providing no cool aquatic refuge
- Providing a powerful basking area across too much of the enclosure
- Failing to plan for summer overheating
- Providing too little water
- Providing dirty water
- Providing inadequate filtration
- Allowing ammonia or nitrite accumulation
- Providing no easy exit from the water
- Providing no branches over water
- Providing insufficient vegetation
- Providing no deep shade
- Keeping humidity high without ventilation
- Providing no UVB
- Providing excessive UVB without shade
- Feeding only one prey type
- Feeding rodents routinely
- Poor supplementation
- Overfeeding
- Excessive handling
- Housing incompatible adults together
- Keeping breeding animals warm throughout winter
- Attempting to accelerate pregnancy with heat
- Assuming the species lays eggs
- Failing to quarantine new animals
- Sharing aquatic equipment between quarantine and established animals
- Buying animals without legal provenance
- Losing CITES documentation
Responsible ownership
Before obtaining a Chinese Crocodile Lizard, ensure you can provide:
- A large specialist semi-aquatic enclosure
- A substantial clean water area
- Reliable filtration
- Regular water testing
- Regular water changes
- Multiple easy water exits
- Numerous branches over water
- Dense vegetation
- Extensive shade
- Cool ambient temperatures
- A limited optional basking area
- Protection against summer overheating
- Cool water
- High humidity with excellent ventilation
- Appropriate UVB
- A varied live-invertebrate diet
- Correct supplementation
- Seasonal temperature variation
- Minimal handling
- Quarantine facilities
- Experienced reptile veterinary care
- Complete legal documentation
- Long-term commitment
Summary
The Chinese Crocodile Lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) is an evolutionarily distinctive, semi-aquatic forest-stream specialist from southern China and northern Vietnam.
It is the only living member of:
Shinisauridae.
Adults reach approximately:
35–45 cm (14–18 in).
For one adult, provide at least approximately:
4 × 2 × 3 ft (120 × 60 × 90 cm),
with larger purpose-built accommodation strongly preferred.
The enclosure should combine:
- A substantial aquatic area
- Clean, cool water
- Effective filtration
- Terrestrial substrate
- Dense vegetation
- Extensive shade
- Numerous branches positioned directly over water
Maintain most daytime temperatures around:
20–24°C (68–75°F)
with only a limited warmer area.
A local basking surface around:
27–31°C (81–88°F)
may be provided, but the animal must always have immediate access to cooler shade and water.
Allow nighttime temperatures to fall toward approximately:
16–20°C (61–68°F).
Maintain water around approximately:
18–22°C (64–72°F)
as a useful general target.
Humidity should generally remain around:
70–90%
with excellent ventilation.
Provide a UV gradient around:
UVI 1–3
across exposed perches with extensive deep shade.
Feed a varied live diet including:
- Earthworms
- Crickets
- Roaches
- Silkworms
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Other suitable invertebrates
Chinese Crocodile Lizards are:
live-bearing.
Pregnancy lasts approximately:
9–11 months,
and females may produce approximately:
2–12 young.
Temperature is particularly important during reproduction, as excessively warm captive conditions have been associated with abnormally early births and poorer offspring survival.
The species is:
CITES Appendix I
and has undergone severe declines in the wild. Only legally documented captive-bred animals should be considered.
This is a specialist reptile whose successful care depends particularly upon:
cool temperatures, excellent water quality, dense streamside structure and careful seasonal management.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This care sheet provides general husbandry guidance and does not replace species-specific research or veterinary advice. Individual requirements may vary.
Always check current legislation governing the acquisition, collection, import, transport, keeping, breeding or sale of reptiles in your jurisdiction.
If you have concerns about an animal’s health or care, consult a suitably experienced exotic or reptile veterinarian.
Information correct at the date of publication.
reptilecommunity.com | Revised: August 2026