Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) Care Sheet
The Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) is a large, completely limbless anguine lizard native to a broad area of the central, eastern and south-eastern United States.
Despite its strongly snake-like appearance, it is a true lizard. Like other glass lizards, it possesses movable eyelids and external ear openings and has an extraordinarily long tail that may be deliberately shed when threatened.
The currently recognised species contains two traditionally recognised subspecies:
- Western Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus)
- Eastern Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus)
The species is primarily terrestrial and semifossorial, favouring grasslands, open woodland, prairies, sandy areas and other habitats with substantial ground vegetation and loose soil.
Slender Glass Lizards are active, powerful animals requiring considerably more space than their narrow body might initially suggest. Adults can exceed 3 ft (90 cm) total length, and particularly large individuals may approach or exceed 4 ft (120 cm), although much of this length consists of tail.
Successful husbandry requires:
- A large terrestrial enclosure
- Extensive usable floor area
- Deep, diggable substrate
- Numerous secure retreats
- Dense ground cover and leaf litter
- Moderate temperatures
- A controlled basking area
- A cooler retreat
- Appropriate UVB
- Moderate humidity with locally humid microhabitats
- Fresh drinking water
- A varied invertebrate-based diet
- Careful protection of the extremely long tail
- Minimal unnecessary handling
Captive-bred animals with documented provenance should be strongly preferred.
Quick facts
Scientific name: Ophisaurus attenuatus
Common name: Slender Glass Lizard
Family: Anguidae
Subspecies: O. a. attenuatus and O. a. longicaudus
Lifestyle: Terrestrial and semifossorial
Activity: Primarily diurnal
Adult size: Commonly approximately 2½–4 ft (75–120 cm) total length, with much of that length consisting of tail
Diet: Primarily live invertebrates
Day ambient temperature: Approximately 72–80°F (22–27°C)
Basking surface: Approximately 88–92°F (31–33°C)
Cool area: Approximately 68–74°F (20–23°C)
Night temperature: Approximately 60–70°F (16–21°C)
General humidity: Approximately 40–60%, with locally more humid retreats
UVB: Recommended
Suggested UVI: Approximately 2–3 at the principal exposed basking position, with extensive shade and hides approaching zero
Adult enclosure: At least approximately 4 × 2 × 2 ft (120 × 60 × 60 cm) for one adult; 5 × 2 × 2 ft (150 × 60 × 60 cm) or larger strongly preferred
Housing: Individual housing safest
Reproduction: Egg-laying
Typical clutch: Approximately 5–15 eggs, although variation occurs
Handling: Minimal
Experience level: Intermediate
Taxonomy
The accepted scientific name is:
Ophisaurus attenuatus
The species belongs to:
Family: Anguidae
Genus: Ophisaurus
It is currently recognised as a valid species.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are traditionally recognised:
Western Slender Glass Lizard
Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus
Eastern Slender Glass Lizard
Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus
Where genuine locality or subspecies information is available, it should be retained.
Do not assign an animal to a subspecies solely from:
- Colour
- Pattern
- Seller assumption
Similar species
Slender Glass Lizards can be confused with other North American glass lizards, particularly:
- Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis)
- Island Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus compressus)
- Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus)
Correct identification matters because their:
- Distributions
- Adult sizes
- Habitat preferences
- Conservation status
are not identical.
Glass lizard or snake?
The Slender Glass Lizard is:
not a snake.
Typical lizard characteristics include:
- Movable eyelids
- External ear openings
- A relatively inflexible skull and jaw
- A very long detachable tail
Natural distribution
The Slender Glass Lizard occupies a broad range across much of the:
central, eastern and south-eastern United States.
Its range includes portions of the Great Plains, Midwest, South and south-east.
Western and eastern forms
The Western Slender Glass Lizard occurs primarily across portions of:
- Central United States
- Great Plains
- Southern states
The Eastern Slender Glass Lizard occupies more easterly and south-eastern portions of the range.
Natural habitat
Typical habitats include:
- Prairie
- Grassland
- Open woodland
- Pine woodland
- Old fields
- Sandy uplands
- Dune systems
- Scrub
- Agricultural margins
The species is particularly associated with:
dense ground vegetation and loose soil.
Ground cover
Wild animals commonly move through:
- Long grass
- Leaf litter
- Low vegetation
- Loose soil
- Root systems
Captive housing should reproduce this sense of:
concealment at ground level.
Semifossorial behaviour
Slender Glass Lizards frequently:
- Burrow
- Push beneath leaf litter
- Use existing animal burrows
- Shelter beneath logs or debris
A captive animal should be able to disappear beneath its substrate.
Activity
The species is predominantly:
diurnal.
Individuals may emerge to:
- Bask
- Hunt
- Explore
- Move between retreats
Activity varies with season and temperature.
Behaviour
Slender Glass Lizards can be:
- Alert
- Fast
- Powerful
- Secretive
- Easily startled
Many spend substantial periods hidden.
This is normal behaviour.
Defensive behaviour
When frightened, an animal may:
- Flee rapidly
- Twist violently
- Defecate
- Attempt to bite
- Shed its tail
Tail autotomy
The tail is exceptionally long and can be:
voluntarily detached.
This defence mechanism is one reason the group became known as:
glass lizards.
Tail importance
The tail can comprise considerably more than half of the animal’s total length.
Never:
grab, lift or restrain a glass lizard by its tail.
Tail regeneration
The tail can regenerate after loss.
However, the replacement tail is generally:
- Shorter
- Differently shaped
- Differently scaled
- Structurally different from the original
Regeneration also consumes energy and nutrients.
Tail loss should be prevented whenever possible.
Enclosure size
For one adult, provide at least approximately:
4 × 2 × 2 ft (120 × 60 × 60 cm).
For large adults, approximately:
5 × 2 × 2 ft (150 × 60 × 60 cm)
or larger is strongly preferred.
Large individuals
Particularly large specimens benefit considerably from:
6 × 2 × 2 ft (180 × 60 × 60 cm)
or greater floor area where practical.
Why enclosure length matters
This species is:
- Long
- Active
- Terrestrial
- Exploratory
An adult should be able to:
- Fully extend
- Turn naturally
- Travel between different environmental zones
- Burrow
- Forage
without being confined to a tiny footprint.
Enclosure orientation
Prioritise:
length and floor area.
Extreme height is unnecessary.
Useful enclosure height
Approximately:
18–24 in (45–60 cm)
of height is generally sufficient when adequate floor area is provided.
This allows room for:
- Deep substrate
- Plants
- Lighting
- Heating
- Low furnishings
Escape security
Glass lizards are surprisingly powerful.
Check:
- Doors
- Door tracks
- Ventilation
- Cable ports
- Lid security
- Gaps around backgrounds
Ventilation
Provide good airflow.
The enclosure should support:
- Moist substrate pockets
- Humid retreats
without becoming permanently stagnant.
Substrate
Deep substrate is essential.
A suitable mixture can include:
- Organic topsoil
- Washed play sand
- Clay-rich soil
- Leaf mould
- Fine bark in limited quantities
Substrate texture
The substrate should:
- Allow easy digging
- Hold some structure
- Remain aerated
- Retain modest deeper moisture
A soil-and-sand mixture works particularly well.
Substrate depth
Provide at least:
4–6 in (10–15 cm).
For adults, approximately:
6–8 in (15–20 cm)
across substantial sections of the enclosure is preferable.
Deeper areas
Sections around:
8–10 in (20–25 cm)
can provide excellent burrowing and nesting opportunities where enclosure depth allows.
Moisture gradient
Keep deeper substrate:
slightly moist
while allowing much of the surface to remain relatively dry.
Avoid permanent saturation
Do not maintain the entire substrate:
wet or waterlogged.
Leaf litter
Provide a substantial layer of:
leaf litter.
It offers:
- Security
- Foraging enrichment
- Humidity buffering
- Surface concealment
- Natural texture
Grass and vegetation
Dense ground vegetation is especially useful.
Suitable enclosure cover can include:
- Live grasses
- Artificial grasses
- Low plants
- Leaf litter
- Branching scrub
Hides
Provide numerous hiding sites.
At minimum include:
- Warm hide
- Cool hide
- Humid retreat
Several additional shelters are preferable.
Hide design
Useful hides include:
- Cork flats
- Hollow logs
- Bark slabs
- Low artificial caves
- Partially buried tubes
Low, close-fitting hides generally offer better security than enormous open caves.
Humid retreat
Provide one or more retreats containing:
- Slightly damp soil
- Moist leaf litter
- Damp sphagnum
The material should be:
moist, not saturated.
Cork
Large cork flats are particularly useful.
Partially burying cork can create:
- Tunnels
- Chambers
- Artificial burrows
Heavy décor
All heavy furnishings must be:
securely supported.
A burrowing animal must not be able to undermine a large rock.
Temperature
Slender Glass Lizards require moderate temperatures with a distinct basking opportunity.
Day ambient temperature
Maintain most of the enclosure around:
72–80°F (22–27°C).
Warm side
Maintain the warmer portion around:
78–82°F (26–28°C).
Basking surface
Provide a limited basking surface around:
88–92°F (31–33°C).
Cool side
Provide cooler areas around:
68–74°F (20–23°C).
Thermal gradient
A useful gradient consists of:
basking zone → moderate open area → shaded cool end → cooler deeper substrate.
Avoid uniform heating
Do not keep the entire enclosure at:
basking temperature.
Thermal choice is essential.
Night temperature
Allow temperatures to fall toward approximately:
60–70°F (16–21°C)
at night.
Seasonal variation
Healthy adults can experience natural seasonal variation.
Winter conditions may include:
- Shorter photoperiod
- Reduced basking
- Cooler nights
- Reduced appetite
- Lower activity
Brumation
Wild populations experience winter inactivity to varying degrees depending upon latitude.
Deliberate captive brumation is not required for an ordinary pet.
Where it is used for breeding, it should only be undertaken with:
- Mature animals
- Excellent body condition
- Reliable temperature control
- Appropriate preparation
- Species-specific experience
Heating
Use primarily:
overhead heating.
A controlled halogen lamp works well for creating a warm surface.
Thermostat
All significant heat sources should be controlled by an:
appropriate thermostat.
Under-tank heating
Do not use under-tank heating as the primary heat source.
A burrowing reptile should normally encounter:
cooler conditions as it moves downward.
Temperature monitoring
Use:
- Digital warm-side thermometer
- Digital cool-side thermometer
- Infrared thermometer
Measure the actual basking surface.
Lighting
Provide a distinct day/night cycle.
The species is primarily:
diurnal.
Photoperiod
Approximately:
12 hours light / 12 hours dark
works well for routine husbandry.
Seasonal adjustment can be used.
Night lighting
Provide:
true darkness at night.
Avoid permanently illuminated:
- Red bulbs
- Blue bulbs
- Purple bulbs
- “Moonlight” bulbs
UVB
UVB is recommended.
As a primarily diurnal lizard capable of natural basking, Ophisaurus attenuatus should have access to appropriate ultraviolet exposure.
Suggested UV Index
Aim for approximately:
UVI 2–3
at the principal exposed basking position.
Also provide:
- Areas below UVI 1
- Shelters approaching UVI 0
UV gradient
UV exposure should always be:
optional.
Glass lizards spend substantial time beneath:
- Grass
- Leaf litter
- Logs
- Soil
They should be able to retreat completely from UVB.
Lamp type
A:
low-to-moderate output linear UVB lamp
covering part of the enclosure is generally appropriate.
Mesh
Mesh can substantially reduce UV output.
Consider:
- Lamp model
- Reflector
- Mesh density
- Lamp distance
- Basking height
UV measurement
Where possible, measure actual output with a suitable UV meter.
Measure UVI where:
the animal physically sits.
Humidity
General humidity around:
40–60%
is suitable for much of the enclosure.
Humidity gradient
Provide locally higher humidity:
- Beneath substrate
- Under cork
- Within humid hides
- Beneath dense leaf litter
Eastern populations
Animals from more humid eastern and south-eastern environments may naturally encounter higher moisture than individuals from some central and western localities.
Known locality information can therefore help refine husbandry.
Misting
Light misting approximately:
several times per week
is generally sufficient in many enclosures.
Adjust according to:
- Ventilation
- Local climate
- Substrate
- Season
Water
Provide a:
shallow, stable dish of clean drinking water at all times.
Hydration
Do not assume a burrowing animal receives enough water from substrate humidity alone.
Fresh liquid water must remain available.
Diet
Slender Glass Lizards are primarily:
invertebrate predators.
Natural diet
Natural prey includes:
- Grasshoppers
- Crickets
- Beetles
- Caterpillars
- Spiders
- Snails
- Slugs
- Other arthropods
Large individuals may opportunistically consume:
- Small lizards
- Small snakes
- Eggs
- Very small vertebrates
Captive staple diet
The captive diet should remain predominantly:
live invertebrates.
Suitable feeders include:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Roaches
- Earthworms
- Silkworms
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Hornworms
- Captive-produced snails
- Appropriate beetle larvae
Earthworms
Earthworms make excellent dietary variety.
Use:
commercially produced or reliably chemical-free worms.
Snails
Captive-produced snails can be valuable prey.
Avoid wild snails and slugs from areas exposed to:
- Slug pellets
- Pesticides
- Fertilisers
- Parasites
Rodents
Routine rodent feeding is:
unnecessary.
The fact that wild animals occasionally consume small vertebrates does not mean mice should form a captive staple.
Feeder variety
Avoid relying entirely upon:
crickets or mealworms.
Rotate several feeder types.
Gut loading
Feeder insects should be:
properly gut loaded.
Provide nutritious food and hydration before feeding.
Calcium
Dust feeders appropriately with:
calcium.
Multivitamin
Use a suitable reptile multivitamin according to a sensible schedule.
Vitamin D3
Dietary vitamin D3 requirements depend partly upon:
actual UVB provision.
Avoid chronic excessive supplementation.
Adult feeding
Healthy adults can generally be offered food:
2–3 times per week.
Juvenile feeding
Growing juveniles can be offered appropriately sized prey:
4–6 times per week.
Body condition
Monitor:
- Weight
- Body thickness
- Muscle condition
- Activity
Do not judge condition from tail length alone.
Feeding enrichment
Allow suitable prey to move naturally through:
- Grass
- Leaf litter
- Cork
- Loose substrate
This encourages:
- Searching
- Digging
- Stalking
- Natural predation
Uneaten feeders
Remove excessive uneaten crickets.
They can:
- Disturb resting lizards
- Bite animals
- Remain hidden in substrate
Handling
Routine handling should be:
minimal.
Why handling requires care
The species combines:
- A very long body
- A fragile detachable tail
- Strong twisting ability
- Rapid escape behaviour
Incorrect restraint can easily cause injury.
Correct handling
When necessary:
- Support the body at several points
- Allow the animal to move through your hands
- Keep it close to a safe surface
- Avoid squeezing
- Keep sessions brief
Never grab the tail
Never:
- Lift
- Catch
- Pin
- Restrain
a Slender Glass Lizard by the tail.
If the tail is shed
Tail loss is generally not immediately life-threatening, but the animal should be monitored carefully.
Keep the wound:
- Clean
- Free of abrasive contamination
- Protected from cage mates
Seek veterinary assessment if there is:
- Heavy bleeding
- Swelling
- Discharge
- Necrotic tissue
- Failure to heal
Biting
A defensive animal may bite.
The bite is not venomous but can:
- Hurt
- Break skin
- Bleed
Wash any broken skin thoroughly.
Social housing
Individual housing is the:
safest default.
Companionship
Slender Glass Lizards do not require a companion for welfare.
Risks of group housing
Group housing can create:
- Competition
- Feeding inequality
- Bites
- Stress
- Tail injuries
Breeding introductions
A male and female can be introduced for breeding.
Permanent pair housing is not required.
Sexing
External sexing can be difficult.
Adult males may develop:
- Broader heads
- More robust proportions
- Differences around the tail base and vent
Professional or experienced breeder assessment may be required.
Reproduction
The Slender Glass Lizard is:
oviparous — egg-laying.
Breeding condition
Only breed animals that are:
- Fully mature
- Healthy
- Well hydrated
- Feeding strongly
- In good body condition
- Receiving correct UVB and calcium
Seasonal reproduction
Breeding is associated primarily with:
spring and early summer.
Courtship and mating
Breeding behaviour may involve:
- Following
- Physical contact
- Gripping during mating
Monitor animals closely.
Separate them if interactions become excessively aggressive.
Clutch size
Females typically produce approximately:
5–15 eggs.
Clutch size varies according to:
- Female size
- Age
- Condition
- Geographic population
Nesting
Females require:
deep, slightly moist, diggable substrate.
Nest depth
Provide at least approximately:
6–8 in (15–20 cm)
in the principal nesting area.
Deeper sections are even better where practical.
Nest conditions
Suitable nesting substrate should be:
- Dark
- Secure
- Slightly moist
- Thermally stable
- Able to hold an excavation
Maternal attendance
Female glass lizards may remain:
coiled around or alongside their eggs.
This behaviour is characteristic of several Ophisaurus species.
An attending female should not be repeatedly disturbed.
Artificial incubation
If eggs must be artificially incubated:
- Handle gently
- Avoid unnecessary rotation
- Maintain approximate orientation
- Prevent excessive drying
- Avoid direct contact with standing water
Incubation temperature
A conservative incubation range is approximately:
75–80°F (24–27°C).
Avoid excessive incubation temperatures.
Incubation medium
Suitable media include:
- Vermiculite
- Perlite
- Carefully controlled soil-based media
The incubation environment should be:
humid but not saturated.
Incubation duration
Incubation commonly lasts approximately:
45–70 days,
although temperature can substantially influence development time.
Hatchlings
Hatchlings should generally be raised separately from adults.
Hatchling enclosure
Provide:
- Secure terrestrial housing
- Diggable substrate
- Leaf litter
- Small hides
- Shallow water
- Low-level UVB
- A gentle thermal gradient
Hatchling temperature
Maintain most daytime temperatures around:
72–78°F (22–26°C).
Provide a small basking surface around:
82–86°F (28–30°C).
Hatchling night temperature
Allow nighttime temperatures to fall toward:
62–70°F (17–21°C).
Hatchling humidity
Maintain approximately:
50–65%
with locally humid retreats.
Hatchling UVB
Provide approximately:
UVI 1–2
at an exposed position with ample shade.
Hatchling diet
Suitable foods include:
- Pinhead crickets
- Tiny roach nymphs
- Small earthworms
- Small black soldier fly larvae
- Fruit flies
- Other appropriately sized invertebrates
Hatchling feeding frequency
Offer food:
daily or near-daily during early growth.
Hatchling supplementation
Feeders should be:
- Gut loaded
- Lightly calcium dusted
- Supplemented appropriately with vitamins
Quarantine
All newly acquired animals should undergo quarantine.
At least:
90 days
is a sensible minimum.
Longer quarantine may be appropriate for:
- Wild-caught animals
- Animals of unknown origin
- Animals with suspected parasites
Quarantine setup
Even temporary quarantine housing must provide:
- Deep enough substrate for security
- Appropriate temperature
- UVB
- Hides
- Drinking water
A bare container that causes constant stress is not good quarantine husbandry.
Wild-caught animals
Wild-caught Slender Glass Lizards may carry:
- Internal parasites
- External parasites
- Injuries
- Dehydration
- Chronic stress
Captive-bred animals are strongly preferred.
Parasite screening
Veterinary faecal testing is particularly advisable for:
- Wild-caught animals
- Recent acquisitions of unknown history
- Animals losing weight
- Animals with persistent abnormal faeces
Common health concerns
Potential problems include:
- Tail loss
- Tail trauma
- Dehydration
- Overheating
- Retained shed
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Metabolic bone disease
- Obesity
- Parasites
- Respiratory disease
- Reproductive complications
Tail trauma
Tail injury may result from:
- Incorrect handling
- Cage-mate aggression
- Doors
- Falling décor
- Poor enclosure design
Always locate the:
entire animal
before closing an enclosure door.
Dehydration
Possible signs include:
- Sunken eyes
- Poor shedding
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
Review:
- Drinking water
- Humid retreat
- Substrate moisture
- Temperature
Overheating
Warning signs may include:
- Persistent escape attempts
- Open-mouth breathing
- Unusual lethargy
- Weakness
Ensure a genuinely cool retreat remains available.
Retained shed
Pay particular attention to:
- Tail
- Head
- Eye area
Persistent problems warrant a husbandry and health review.
Metabolic bone disease
Potential signs include:
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Jaw abnormality
- Spinal deformity
- Poor movement
Prevention requires appropriate:
- UVB
- Calcium
- Feeder nutrition
- Supplementation
Obesity
Overfeeding:
- Fatty larvae
- Vertebrate prey
- Oversized meals
may cause obesity.
Monitor body condition rather than feeding exclusively according to appetite.
Respiratory disease
Warning signs include:
- Wheezing
- Clicking
- Nasal discharge
- Open-mouth breathing
- Increased respiratory effort
Seek veterinary assessment.
Reproductive complications
Females may experience:
- Calcium depletion
- Poor body condition
- Egg retention
Warning signs include:
- Persistent swelling
- Straining
- Repeated digging without laying
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
Seek veterinary care promptly.
Veterinary red flags
Consult a suitably experienced reptile veterinarian for:
- Persistent anorexia
- Significant weight loss
- Severe dehydration
- Abnormal breathing
- Tremors
- Weakness
- Significant tail injury
- Major wounds
- Persistent abnormal faeces
- Prolapse
- Suspected egg retention
- Neurological signs
Cleaning
Spot-clean regularly.
Remove:
- Faeces
- Dead feeders
- Shed skin
- Mould
- Contaminated substrate
Water hygiene
Clean and refill the water dish regularly.
Bioactive housing
Slender Glass Lizards can be maintained in a correctly designed:
temperate or subtropical bioactive enclosure.
Clean-up crew
Suitable clean-up crew may include:
- Springtails
- Appropriate isopods
Bioactive substrate
A bioactive setup should still provide:
- Deep digging substrate
- Leaf litter
- Moisture gradients
- Dry exposed surfaces
- Good ventilation
Bioactive maintenance
Continue to:
- Remove large faecal deposits
- Remove dead prey
- Replace leaf litter
- Monitor drainage
- Check mould
- Clean water dishes
Conservation and sourcing
The Slender Glass Lizard remains broadly distributed, but conservation status can vary locally.
Some populations are affected by:
- Habitat fragmentation
- Agricultural change
- Road mortality
- Development
- Alteration of native grasslands
Wildlife collection
Never assume wild collection is legal simply because a species appears common.
Regulations differ between:
- States
- Protected areas
- Public and private land
- Export destinations
Captive-bred preference
Whenever possible obtain:
documented captive-bred animals.
Ask for:
- Hatch date
- Parentage
- Subspecies
- Locality where genuinely known
- Feeding history
- Health history
- UVB provision
Keep locality records
Because two recognised subspecies and substantial geographic variation exist, genuine locality data should be:
preserved rather than discarded.
Never release captive animals
Never release a captive glass lizard into the wild.
Even where the species naturally occurs, release may:
- Spread pathogens
- Mix unrelated geographic populations
- Violate wildlife legislation
- Harm the individual animal
Responsible rehoming is the appropriate alternative.
Common husbandry mistakes
Common mistakes include:
- Treating the animal like a snake
- Providing too little floor space
- Providing insufficient substrate depth
- Preventing normal burrowing
- Providing too few hides
- Keeping the substrate completely dry
- Keeping the substrate permanently saturated
- Providing no humid retreat
- Heating the entire enclosure uniformly
- Providing no cool area
- Heating primarily from underneath
- Providing no UVB
- Providing excessive UVB without shade
- Feeding only crickets
- Feeding rodents routinely
- Collecting unsafe wild snails or slugs
- Poor gut loading
- Incorrect supplementation
- Overfeeding
- Excessive handling
- Grabbing the tail
- Closing doors on the tail
- Housing incompatible animals together
- Providing insufficient nesting substrate
- Disturbing an attending female
- Incubating eggs excessively warm
- Failing to quarantine new animals
- Collecting wild animals without checking legislation
Responsible ownership
Before obtaining a Slender Glass Lizard, ensure you can provide:
- A large terrestrial enclosure
- At least approximately 4 × 2 ft of floor space
- Deep, diggable substrate
- Extensive leaf litter
- Dense ground cover
- Numerous secure hides
- A humid retreat
- Moderate daytime temperatures
- A controlled basking area
- Cooler shaded conditions
- Nighttime cooling
- Appropriate UVB
- Fresh drinking water
- A varied invertebrate-based diet
- Correct supplementation
- Minimal handling
- Protection of the extremely long tail
- Individual housing where necessary
- Quarantine
- Veterinary care
- Legal provenance
- Long-term commitment
Summary
The Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus) is a large, completely limbless terrestrial anguine lizard native to a broad area of the United States.
Two subspecies are traditionally recognised:
- Western Slender Glass Lizard (O. a. attenuatus)
- Eastern Slender Glass Lizard (O. a. longicaudus)
Adults commonly reach approximately:
2½–4 ft (75–120 cm) total length,
with a very substantial proportion consisting of the detachable tail.
For one adult, provide at least approximately:
4 × 2 × 2 ft (120 × 60 × 60 cm),
with:
5 × 2 × 2 ft (150 × 60 × 60 cm)
or larger strongly preferred.
Provide deep, diggable substrate at least approximately:
4–6 in (10–15 cm),
with:
6–8 in (15–20 cm)
or deeper sections preferable.
Include:
- Leaf litter
- Grass and vegetation
- Cork
- Logs
- Multiple secure hides
- A humid retreat
Maintain most daytime temperatures around:
72–80°F (22–27°C)
with a limited basking surface around:
88–92°F (31–33°C).
Allow nighttime temperatures to fall toward:
60–70°F (16–21°C).
Maintain general humidity around:
40–60%
while providing more humid underground retreats.
Provide UVB around:
UVI 2–3
at an exposed basking position, with extensive shaded retreats.
Feed a varied diet based primarily upon:
live invertebrates.
Routine rodent feeding is unnecessary.
Never restrain a glass lizard by its extremely long tail.
Individual housing is the safest default.
Females lay eggs, typically producing approximately:
5–15 eggs per clutch.
Females may remain with the clutch, and this behaviour should not be unnecessarily disturbed.
A conservative artificial incubation range is approximately:
75–80°F (24–27°C).
Captive-bred animals with genuine locality and subspecies information should be strongly preferred.
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